Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" will build a Genome Center - a bioinformatics laboratory - this year. It will be located in the Center for Excellence "UNITE" and will be the first of its kind in the region, the university announced.
The new laboratory will provide conditions for genetic and bioinformatics research. It will analyze data related to the functioning of the genome, which has direct application in medicine, biotechnology, and food safety. The main activities will be aimed at processing and analyzing genetic information, modeling biological processes, and studying DNA and RNA. Part of the developments are related to personalized medicine and the control of diseases and pathogens.
The laboratory will use technologies that will allow precise investigation of genetic data. The project manager, Prof. Stanislav Simeonov, points out that the available computer infrastructure will support the processing and analysis of large volumes of information. The head of the genetic laboratory is Assoc. Prof. Katya Gabrovska. The scientific team includes Prof. Sotir Sotirov, Prof. Ivanka Stamova, Assoc. Prof. Veselina Bureva and Assoc. Prof. Neli Simeonova.
The Genome Center will offer research with practical application, including genetic analyzes for medical purposes, microbiome research, and food control. It is planned to support hospitals, train specialists from the region, and work jointly with other national scientific structures, the university adds.