Sofia Medical University Visits UKZN

As part of the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, academics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) College of Health Sciences (CHS) hosted staff from Sofia Medical University in Bulgaria for an exchange visit.

The delegation spent a week at CHS exploring research collaboration opportunities.

Professor Busisiwe Ncama, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of CHS, welcomed the delegation, saying, ‘We want to be part of global initiatives and partner with you on joint projects. We are so appreciative of your efforts to spend this week with us.’

Sofia Medical University, Bulgaria’s oldest Medical institution, celebrates its 108^th anniversary this year. It houses a medical college offering sub-bachelor’s qualifications in radiography, dental technology, pharmacy assistance, medical cosmetics, and medical rehabilitation. With an enrollment of 11 000 students, Sofia Medical University was the first in Bulgaria to offer professional degrees in Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.

The delegation expressed strong interest in collaborating with UKZN, particularly in the field of Pharmacy.

The university’s Faculty of Pharmacy comprises six departments: Drug Technology, Chemistry, Economics, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Their research efforts focus on drug design, development, and nanotechnology, with a special emphasis on oncology research. Additionally, Sofia Medical University offers a Master’s degree in Clinical Trials, which UKZN is eager to implement.

Several key areas of synergy were identified, including Pharmacy, e-Health, Clinical Trials, and Public Health.

The two institutions agreed to collaborate on joint grant applications, co-supervision of students, joint publications, and clinical trials.

Professor Percy Mashige, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, expressed his support for a partnership in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as nanotechnology research.

Professor Daya Moodley, Head of UKZN’s Clinical Trials Unit, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, saying, ‘At UKZN, we have been conducting clinical trials for the past 25 years, beginning with HIV and Antiretroviral Therapy, aiming to develop long-acting injectables. Funding cuts have impacted our current trials, and we are looking to collaborate with non-United States countries to build capacity for young scientists to develop their own clinical trials.’

This month, UKZN will send two PhD candidates and one master’s student to Sofia Medical University to collaborate on public health projects.

Professor Leonard Marais, Acting Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine, and Professor Musa Mabandla, Dean of the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. They identified opportunities for collaboration in a master’s degree in health professions education, a master’s in clinical research, and various laboratory medicine projects.

The institutions plan to submit a joint application for the fourth round of Erasmus+ funding, further strengthening their partnership and advancing international research collaborations.

Words and photograph: Maryann Francis