The cooperation between the Medical University of Varna (MU - Varna) and the National University of Pharmacy in Kharkov, Ukraine (NUPH - Kharkov) dates back to October 2012, when Prof. Sergey Popov - Vice Rector for Science, Education and International Relations of the Ukrainian University visited MU-Varna. During the visit, the representatives of both universities discussed the possibilities for future cooperation. In June 2013, a bilateral contract for academic cooperation was signed and in 2014 MU-Varna hosted the visit of a guest lecturer from NUPH – Kharkov - Prof. Larissa Lenchyk from the Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs. She delivered lectures on pharmacognosy to the 4th year students in pharmacy at MU-Varna. Prof. Lenchyk had several meetings with the management of the Faculty of Pharmacy and the management of the University as well as with the Department of International Relations at MU-Varna. The possibilities for а more effective cooperation, including mobility of lecturers and students were discussed. The representatives of both universities shared experience on the scientific activities of the Faculty of Pharmacy at MU-Varna and NUPH - Kharkov. They planned joint research with the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, which works on the isolation and purification of biologically active substances from natural products and the study of their biological effects.
In March 2015, MU-Varna and NUPH-Kharkov agreed to organize teaching staff exchange within the framework of the "Erasmus+" Programme and to apply for a credit mobility project.
The project deepens and expands the cooperation between the universities. NUPH-Kharkov is an international center for pharmaceutical education and training with highest level of accreditation. The project enabled teachers from the young Faculty of Pharmacy in Varna to benefit from over two hundred years' experience and traditions in the pharmaceutical science of NUPH - Kharkov.
In the period 27th February – 3rd March 2017 the Ukrainian partner sent to MU-Varna two lecturers for conducting Erasmus teaching staff mobility. Assoc. Prof. Viktoria Prospinova from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy and Assoc. Prof. Larissa Lenchyk from the Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds at NUPH-Kharkov delivered lectures on pharmacognosy and clinical pharmacology to the 3rd and 4th year students in pharmacy at MU-Varna. Workshops with the participation of guest lecturers and the academic staff of the Departments of Pharmaceutical Technologies, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics were organized where the curricula for the respective disciplines and the opportunities for further academic exchange and collaboration were discussed.
From 24th to 28th April 2017 Prof. Bistra Galunska and Assist. Prof. Miglena Todorova from the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics at MU-Varna carried out a one-week staff teaching mobility at NUPH - Kharkov. During the visit, the teachers met the Rector of the University and the Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages. They visited the analytical sector with state-of-the-art high-tech equipment and the facilities of the Departments of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology, Natural Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. The professors from MU-Varna held numerous meetings with the academic staff of NUPh – Kharkov and visited the Clinical Diagnostic Center, conducting bioequivalence studies of various preparations and Phase I-IV clinical trials involving both healthy volunteers and patients.
During the visit, the professors delivered lectures to the students, PhD students and lecturers in NUPh - Kharkov about the non-classical effects of two important fat-soluble vitamins - cholecalciferol and menacinon.
The representatives of both institutions exchanged practical experience in the isolation and analysis of polyphenol compounds and polysaccharides from medical plants with the participation of the academic staff of the Department of Chemistry of Natural Products at NUPH-Kharkov headed by Prof. Kislichenko and the methodological assistance of Prof. Olena Novosel, Prof. Zinaida Omelchenko and Assoc. Prof. Larisa Lenchyk.
The partnership between MU - Varna and NUPH-Kharkov has been successful for several years. The completed credit mobility project became a foundation for expanding the cooperation and planning of teaching and student mobility between our institutions as well as join
