On Rare Disease Day (29 February), Medical University – Varna officially launched the first Winter School on Rare Endocrine Diseases, gathering prominent specialists and researchers from across Europe in the sea capital of Varna. The event was held from 28 February to 3 March 2026 and was organised by Medical University – Varna. The initiative received approval from the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN), of which UMHAT “St. Marina" – Varna is a member institution. The majority of the lecturers participating in the scientific programme are internationally recognised experts who have made significant contributions to the diagnosis and management of rare diseases in Europe. Young physicians from more than ten countries participated in the programme as trainees.
It is estimated that more than 30 million people in Europe are affected by rare diseases, and the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN) aims to improve access to high-quality healthcare for patients with rare endocrine disorders.
The scientific programme focused on the presentation and discussion of recent advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of several rare endocrine disorders, including non-diabetic hypoglycaemia, lipodystrophy, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Silver–Russell syndrome, Temple syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, non-functioning pituitary adenoma, and prolactinoma.
In addition to the lecturers—among whom were several renowned specialists and scientists, including Alberto Pereira and Nienke Biermasz (the Netherlands), Faisal Ahmed (United Kingdom), Pietro Maffei and Marco Bonomi (Italy), Corinna Graßmann (Germany), Irene Netchine and Anu Bashamboo (France), Svetlana Lajić (Sweden), Sally Ann Lynch and Susan O'Connell (Ireland), Grace Villa (Austria), Barış Akıncı and Doğuş Vuralli (Turkey), and Violeta Yotova, Sonya Galcheva, and Savi Shishkov (Bulgaria)—the event also brought together patient representatives and young physicians from across Europe. The comprehensive programme of the first Winter School on Rare Endocrine Diseases included interactive training in small groups, clinical case presentations and analyses, as well as discussions addressing current challenges and collaborative work within the network, with particular emphasis on future joint scientific initiatives. Special attention was given to large-scale rare disease registries, which support comprehensive data collection and processing and enable the establishment of coordinated treatment systems for a variety of rare conditions.
The event was funded by the European Union's NextGenerationEU initiative, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, under project № BG-RRP-2.004-0009, titled “Medical University – Varna: Enhancement of Translational Excellence Achievement in Medicine (MUVE-TEAM)".
Velina Markovska
