Official Visit of the Minister of Education and Science to the Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology

On July 22, 2025, the Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology hosted an official visit by the Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Krasimir Valchev, and the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva.

The visit began with a presentation by Prof. Penka Petrova, Director of the Institute, who delivered a concise lecture highlighting the Institute's main scientific directions and achievements in the fields of fundamental and applied microbiology, immunology, and biotechnology. Special attention was given to the outcomes of significant national and international research projects, as well as the Institute's role in training young researchers.

During the tour of the Institute's infrastructure, the guests visited several departments and laboratories:

- Department of General Microbiology headed by Prof. Penka Petrova, where young scientists presented current research on microbial biodegradation of plastics.
- Laboratory of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Probiotics, led by Prof. Dr. Svetla Danova, showcased developments in probiotics and microbiome research with potential applications in healthcare and the food industry.
- Department of Biotechnology, headed by Prof. Lyudmila Kabaivanova, where the Minister of Education and Science and the BAS President met with the research team and learned about progress in biotechnological studies.
- Laboratory of Metabolomics, part of the Biotechnology Department, where Prof. Milen Georgiev introduced the latest research involving plant extracts for the development of new health-promoting preparations.
- Department of Immunology, led by Prof. Andrey Chorbanov, and the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, where Dr. Nikola Ralchev demonstrated new equipment and ongoing experiments using mouse model systems.
- Laboratory of Cytotoxicity and Signal Transduction, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maya Zaharieva.

The visit took place in a constructive and collaborative atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of close cooperation between academic science, education, and state policy in support of innovation and the sustainable development of scientific infrastructure in Bulgaria.