The Department of Nuclear Medicine, Metabolic Therapy, and Radiotherapy conducts scientific research in a wide range of fields.
The Department and the Educational Unit (EU) of Nuclear Medicine and Metabolic Therapy are a national innovator in several practical and technological areas, resulting in high levels of research and publication activity among academic staff. Most notably, the Clinic was the first in Bulgaria to introduce Positron Emission Tomography combined with Computed Tomography ([F-18] FDG PET/CT), which triggered rapid scientific advancement and numerous pioneering publications in the field of oncology (head and neck cancers, sarcomas, gastrointestinal tract, prostate cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma), as well as in neurology (dementia, movement disorders).
The Educational Unit (EU) of Nuclear Medicine and Metabolic Therapy has longstanding expertise in metabolic therapy, having conducted research in the field of palliative treatment for bone metastases since the year 2000. It is also actively involved in research on radioiodine therapy for benign and malignant thyroid diseases.
In 2013, the first cyclotron facility in Bulgaria was commissioned at the Clinic of Nuclear Medicine and Metabolic Therapy, which significantly boosted scientific development in the field of radiochemistry. In 2019, the Clinic once again led technological innovation by introducing the country's first Ga-68/Ge-68 generator, enabling the production of isotopes used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors—specifically Ga-68-PSMA and Ga-68-DOTATATE. This milestone led to the development of novel scientific studies and numerous publications in both oncology and radiochemistry.
During the 2023–2024 period, the Nuclear Medicine EU published 33 scientific articles and reports indexed in WoS and Scopus, along with 19 participations in national and 48 in international conferences.
The Radiotherapy EU aims to maintain a high standard of academic and clinical expertise through high-quality, modern education; development of innovative scientific research; and the training of specialists with strong ethical, academic, and professional competence. The faculty members demonstrate high publishing activity and regularly participate in national and international congresses.
The Radiotherapy EU is a well-established center for doctoral training focused on research in radiation oncology. Through modern scientific infrastructure and opportunities for involvement in both clinical and experimental research projects, the unit provides a supportive environment for the development of young scientists and the formation of highly qualified researchers.
