Since its founding in 1963, the Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics has systematically worked on all divisions of pediatric science. Gradually, the following areas have been developed as the main directions in the research activity of the team:
- epidemiology of diabetes mellitus;
- growth and development;
- rare diseases;
- obesity;
- congenital anemias;
- coagulopathies;
- early and late effects of antitumor chemotherapy;
- diseases of the urinary system;
- hypertension;
- congenital heart abnormalities;
- nutrition;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
- intensive pediatrics;
- preventive pediatrics.
In recent years, 7 projects have been won with the participation of the department, funded by Horizon2020, 7th Framework Program of the European Commission, EU4HEALTH, the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers to the EC, COST, the National Research Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science and the Medical Science Fund. Over 1,500,000 BGN have been attracted for the scientific activity of MU-Varna. Every year, it participates in new large-scale project proposals with a real chance of funding. In addition to a European basis, research contacts and projects with teams from the USA and Israel are actively developing. The department actively participates in the MUV project – MUVE-TEAM.
Representatives of the Department and young scientists have won international awards, scholarships for high scientific achievements (including a one-year scholarship from the Bulgarian Medical Academy for 2012 and 2014) and highly competitive places in international events (Summer and Winter Schools in Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Growth, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Thalassemia, Haemophilia, etc.), as well as scientific projects funded by international sources (ESPE Research Grant, DiaMond and EURODIAB). Opportunities for specializations abroad are actively used, as a result of which high-impact publications are realized. More widespread participation is beginning, such as ERASMUS+, scientific exchange within the framework of MUVE-TEAM, use of scholarships from sources outside the country, etc.
The total publication activity of the department's collaborators amounts to over 50 articles per year, including in international journals with IF (New Engl J Med, Cancer Genet, Eur J Hum Genetics, Pediatr Diabetes, Obesity Reviews, Int J Obesity Child, Arch Dis Child, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, BMJ, Pediatric Emergency Care, BMC Public Health, PlosOne, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab, ORPHANET j Rare Dis, Haemophilia, etc.). The scientific articles of the Department's collaborators are highly cited, with between 5 and 10 scientists ranking among the top 10% of publishing members of the academic staff of the MUV. Annually, participation is taken in all pediatric and narrow-profile scientific events in our country, as well as in numerous prestigious scientific forums abroad, with abstracts published in reputable journals. In 20 23-2024, over 50 articles with high IF were published. Over the past 10 years, 14 full-time and part-time doctoral students successfully defended their scientific and educational degrees of PhD in the department. Currently, 8 full-time doctoral students are being trained.
An expression of the high scientific achievements is the number of habilitated persons - 1 professor with the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences", 2 Professors with the scientific degree "Doctor" and 3 Associate professors. Six of the non-habilitated members also have a defended PhD degree. Associates of the department are invited as lecturers in the USA, Germany, Kenya, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Greece, Macedonia, Tanzania. Of the institutional scientific goals valid for MU - Varna, the priority topics for the Department are "Food and Nutrition", " Oncology and Rare Diseases", " Disease Management ".
