Medical University–Varna presented the results of the implementation of the project “Enhancement of Translational Excellence Achievement in Medicine (MUVE-TEAM)” during a final conference combined with the high-tech forum MUVATHON 2026. The event reinforced the role of the University as a leading centre for research, innovation and knowledge transfer from medicine into practice, bringing together prominent scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs from Bulgaria and abroad.
During the conference, the University management and the Management Committee of the MUVE-TEAM project presented to journalists the achievements of the research teams and scientific units. The implementation of the initiative was launched in early 2023 with funding from EC NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Component Innovative Bulgaria, Investment 1: Programme for accelerating economic recovery and transformation through science and innovation, with a budget of EUR 14.3 million and an implementation period until 30 June 2026.
“The MUVE-TEAM project has already been fully implemented, with all target indicators achieved and a large number of them exceeded,” emphasized Prof. Diana Ivanova, Chair of the Management Committee. She added that within MUVE-TEAM, nine core scientific groups were established, along with additional teams working on 15 applied and innovation projects. The researchers worked in areas of strategic importance to the University - Neuroscience, Oncology, Regenerative Medicine and Nutrition, as well as in new fields - Ophthalmology, Sleep Medicine and Vascular Biology.
“We have several patent applications filed for smaller-scale projects, as well as a significant number from the main research teams,” pointed out Prof. Ivanova. According to her, the results regarding international patents are particularly noteworthy: with an initial target of five applications, nine have been flied to date along with seven partnerships established with businesses. These partnerships are in the fields of combating and diagnosing oncological diseases, as well as nutritional and immunostimulating supplements. Regarding international cooperation, Prof. Ivanova underlined that the University has significantly expanded its participation through joining five new international research networks and participating in five additional international consortia with universities and business partners under European programmes.
Significant progress has also been made in developing scientific capacity: “We exceeded our targets both for newly appointed young scientists and lead researchers, managing to engage nearly one-third of the University’s academic staff,” underscored Prof. Ivanova. She added that one of the most valuable outcomes is a shift in mindset, “We observe a real transformation in thinking—scientists are more confident, more active, and increasingly initiating their own ideas for innovation, patents, and international partnerships.”
The Rector of MU–Varna, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov, stated that the completion of the MUVE-TEAM project is among the major achievements of the University, and ranks it among the established leaders in Bulgarian science with strong traditions in international cooperation. “Our present mission is to create our own scientific discoveries and to find pathways for their real-world application.”
Prof. Dr. Violeta Yotova – Vice–Rector for Science and Research, added, “What we have learned during the project and the achievements we are presenting today at MUVATHON serve as a bridge to the future sustainable development of science and innovation at Medical University–Varna.” According to Prof. Yotova, the initiative is a part of the programme of the Ministry of Education and Science for future funding of research universities, under which they are expected to receive a 40% increase in funding for training by 2030. “This is Bulgaria’s science strategy, aligned with international requirements,” she clarified, noting that the success of MU-Varna in MUVE-TEAM guarantees its inclusion in this process. She also highlighted another significant achievement—MU–Varna ranks 3rd in scientific output among 51 educational institutions in Bulgaria engaged in research.
Prof. Dr. Anton Tonchev, Director of the Research Institute at MU-Varna, added, “From 5th place when the research higher education institutions were first established, we are now in the prestigious 3rd place in terms of research outcomes, and we will continue to move upward!”
Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov, Chair of the General Assembly of MU-Varna, summarised the implementation of MUVE-TEAM as follows, “An exceptional success for Medical University-Varna and a logical continuation of our long-term strategy to establish ourselves as a leading research institution. With the acquisition of research university status and the establishment of a Research Institute, we laid the foundations for this vision.” According to Prof. Ivanov, today’s results are a part of a large-scale scientific programme, within which MUVE-TEAM stands out as the largest project implemented so far. A particularly significant achievement is that the initiative has united different faculties, departments, and units that now work in synergy. This represents a substantial change from the past and proves that an interdisciplinary approach is key to addressing complex challenges in medicine.
“Our goal is to transform scientific ideas into real solutions—developing personalised medicine, creating new therapies, molecules, and treatment strategies tailored to the individual patient,” Prof. Ivanov stressed, adding that through patents and developments, the University not only advances science but also enables these achievements to reach the global medical community. All this reinforces the position of Medical University–Varna as an internationally recognised institution, a fact further confirmed by the growing number of international students.
Prof. Dr. Ruzha Pancheva, Deputy Director for Research and Project Activities at the Research Institute of MU-Varna, added, “A particularly important outcome of MUVE-TEAM is the significant enhancement of the capacity of young scientists. While initially 10–11 researchers were planned, more than 50 young scientists were recruited within the initiative, along with a large number of students actively engaged in research and innovation.”
The created environment and energy led to an expansion of the University’s policies in support of young researchers—encouraging publications in prestigious international journals, providing targeted training to develop research and presentation skills, and offering opportunities to participate in international scientific forums. All these measures reflect the long-term commitment of the University to developing the next generation of Bulgarian scientists and ensuring the sustainability of research results and initiatives. This momentum is expected to continue even after the completion of MUVE-TEAM. Follow-up funding will be sought to allow for the continued development and commercialisation of the created innovations and to build upon the results achieved.
The management of MU-Varna, the Management Committee of the project “Enhancement of Translational Excellence Achievement in Medicine (MUVE-TEAM)” and the management of the Research Institute would like to express their gratitude to the funding institution EC NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
