The major goals of the Laboratory for Medical and Biological Research are:

1. Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology; 2. Heart Failure; 3. Hypertension and Diabetes; 4. Food, Antioxidants and Stress Elements in Cancer; and 5. Role of the nano-particles in human health and environment; 

To realize these goals we lead active research programs, which deal with a broad range of cardiovascular problems. The types of analyses range from basic studies of protein modifications, to the dissection of genetical, molecular and cellular mechanisms, to investigations conducted in animal models and in humans.

1. Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology are the first area of emphasis in the Laboratory for Medical and Biological Research. Cell adhesion, intracellular signalling events and pathways, and regulation of the cytoskeleton represent specific cellular processes which contribute to complex physiologic and pathophysiologic responses such as angiogenesis, atherosclerosis and restenosis. By using a proteomics approach, we are examining a number of the key events in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis in experimental animals and cell models. Our goal is to determine what triggers the disease, and to examine the effectiveness of various treatments designed to halt the disease and promote its regression. Currently our lab is studying the relationship between metal homeostasis and homocysteine in different models of atherosclerosis. This project focuses on the response of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and monocyte/macrophages to Cu-homocysteine complexes.

2. A second major emphasis of research in the laboratory is heart failure. Heart failure has become a major health problem in Bulgaria reaching epidemic proportions. To meet this challenge, we have dedicated research efforts in this area. Our laboratory seeks to identify the molecular players involved in the initiation and progression of heart failure and seeks to develop an useful strategies to prevent the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure. Members of our laboratory are also involved in research to characterize the metal (Zn and/or Cu) complexes of vasoactive peptides (endothelins and atrial natriuretic peptide) and its interactions at a basal level. These metal-ligand-receptor systems are believed to play a central role in angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, hypertension and the heart failure response.

Together, these studies seek to gain insights into the processes underlying atherosclerosis, restenosis, and therapies for these diseases, down-stream signalling events and cytoskeletal linkages.

3. One of the leading causes of mortality for diabetic patients in the World is the cardiovascular complications. Molecular and cellular mechanisms, which are in the base of these complications in diabetes and cardiac failure, are unknown. The establishment of these mechanisms is of grate importance, because they will reveal new opportunities for treatment.

For this purpose we have proposed a comprehensive set of studies including chemical, biochemical, molecular and immunohistochemical techniques. It is envisaged that the results obtained from these studies will reveal novel avenues for targeting prevention and treatment of diabetes and its vascular complications.

4. Our investigations in fourth major area will exploit recent advances in biologic knowledge about the human genome to advance the cancer epidemiologic research. The most promising areas for pursuit will incorporate high-throughput approaches to molecular and biochemical analysis in large-scale population-based research. High-throughput expression and proteomic profile analyses will be incorporated into clinic-based research to help determine the risk profile for indolent versus aggressive cancer.

5. The fifth research area aim to provide investigative support for the elucidation of the toxicological impact of nanoparticles on human health and the environment . It is aimed at area of the Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, Knowledge Based Multifunctional Materials, and New Production Processes.