Professional biography:

Major field of scientific research: immunobiology of pregnancy, maternal-fetal immune interactions and tolerance, implantation and inflammation, γδ T cells in pregnancy, γδ T-cell immunity during fetal and neonatal development, 3D models for embryo implantation, placentobiome and pregnancy

Education

2004-2008 – PhD in Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria. Thesis „Local cellular immunity

during the implantation and early pregnancy in epitheliochorial type of

placenta”, Specialized Scientific Consul for Microbiology, Virology and Immunology at High Attestation Commission, Bulgaria, Doctor of Immunology, 2008

1985-1991 – Master degree (DVM) at Trakia University, Faculty of Veterinary

Medicine, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Work Experience

2015-on Associate Professor

Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian

Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

73, Tzarigradsko Shosse, 1113 Sofia

2013-2014 Assistant Professor

Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,

Bulgaria

2009-2012 Post Doctoral Researcher

Institute for Medical Immunology, Universite Libre de Bruxelles,

Brussels, Belgium

2001 – 2009 Assistant Professor, Chief Assistant Professor

Dept of Immunobiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biology and

Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,

Bulgaria

1996-2001 Assistant Professor, Senior Assistant Professor

Dept. of Cytology, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of

Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Bulgaria

1991-1996 Maternity leave

Teaching activity: undergraduates, masters and PhD students

Undergraduates

1996-2001 “Cytology and Histology” – tutor

“Embryology” - tutor

Dept. of Cytology, Histology and Embryology,

Trakia University, Bulgaria

2019-2020 “Cytology and histology” in Bulgarian and in English – part-time lecturer

2020-2021 undergraduates Veterinary medicine, University of Forestry, Sofia.

“Embryology” in Bulgarian and in English – part-time lecturer

undergraduates Veterinary medicine, University of Forestry, Sofia.

2021-2022 “Embryology” – part-time lecturer

2022-2023 Faculty of Basic Education, New Bulgarian University, Sofia.

2023-2024

Supervisor of master students

2007 Stina Viklund, “Investigation of the Influence of hormonal Oral Contraceptives on the Numbers and Cytokine mRNA profile of Peripheral CD4/CD25 T regulatory Cells”

2015 Albena Ivanova, “Activation and migration of maternal immune cells at maternal-fetal interface in superficial implantation and the role of the proinflammatory chemokine CXCL10 and its receptor CXCR3”

2020 Diana Manchorova, “Cytotoxic potential of gamma/delta T lymphocytes in human pregnancy”

2022 Victoria Robovska “HLA-G in human pregnancy”

2023 Mariela Ivanova “"3D trophoblast model for impaired implantation due to excessive inflammation"

Supervisor of PhD students

2016-2019 Antonia Terzieva-Karaivanova, “Role of gamma/delta T cells in human pregnancy”

2020-2023 Diana Manchorova, "Study on the mechanisms of control of γδT-cell cytotoxicity at the maternal-fetal border during implantation and early human pregnancy"

Work related courses

_____________________________________________________________

1999 (1 month) – Pedagogic course, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, funded by

Veterinary Faculty, Trakia University

09.1997-01.1998 – Regular Course Study for higher qualification and professional

training in English language, Dept of Foreign Languages, Trakia University,

Bulgaria, Certificate series BC-96, №0227, funded by Veterinary Faculty, Trakia

University

Lab Experience

 Histological analysis and microscopy– cytometry, micromorphometry

 Immunological methods – Flow cytometry, Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, WB

 Cell manipulation techniques – isolation of human trophoblast cells, isolation of human decidual mononuclear cells, isolation of porcine endometrial mononuclear cells, immunomagnetic-based separation of cells, cell cultures, T cells assays

 Molecular biology techniques – RNA extraction, RT-PCR,

 TCR spectratyping, TCR sequencing

 Laser Capture Microdissection

 3D modeling of human placenta

Computer Skills

Windows, Excel, Power Point, Photoshop, GraphPad, Peak Scanner, BioEdit, Summit

CellQuestPro, FloJo

Language Skills

Bulgarian –native

English – fluent

Russian – fluent

French - basic

Scholarships, Grants and Awards

2018 (6 months) – Fulbright Scholarship, Visiting Scholar in Dept of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reprod. Sci, School of Medicine, Yale University

Group of Dr. Gil Mor – working on 3D models for embryo implantation, implantation and inflammation, immune rejection of the embryo.

2013 (1 month) - Scholarship for training in high-techs in Europe, OP Development of human resources, funded by European Social Fund - TCR sequencing training - Institute for Medical Immunology, ULB, Belgium

2007 (4 months)- Scholarship Pre-Doctoral Program

education in Laser microdissection technique,

Project „Isolation of lymphoid cell clusters from early pregnancy

decidua using laser microdissection and determination of their cytokine

mRNA profile and RAG1 and 2 gene expression”,

2006 (9 months) - Scholarship from Swedish Institute, Fellow Researcher in Dept. of

Clinical Immunology, Institution of Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Umea University, Sweden

Project - Isolation and characterization of T regulatory (Treg) cells from human pregnant uterine mucosa

2005 (4 months) - Scholarship from Norrland Cancer Foundation,

Fellow Researcher

Institution of Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Umea University, Sweden

Project - Investigation of the Influence of hormonal Oral Contracepti-ves on the Numbers and Cytokine mRNA profile of Peripheral CD4/CD25 T regulatory Cells

2005 (2 weeks) - 1st EMBIC Summer School, Malinska, Croatia. Embryo implantation: from basics to clinics – funded by EMBIC EU Project - Framework 6th, scholarship from ESRI

Projects

2019-2024 KP-06-DV-3 VIHREN Innovative 3D organotypic models to evaluate

embryo- maternal immune cells interactions in (un)successful human implantation, funded by Bulgarian Science Fund (1 000 000 Leva), leader

2016-2020 DN 03/5, Profile of γδ T lymphocytes in normal pregnancy and in placental microbiome of BCG vaccinated pregnant women, funded by Bulgarian Science Fund (120 000 Leva), leader

2011-2014 ACIP project Inter-Pasteurien Concerted Actions, Pasteur International № А-08-2010, Role of migrating birds and their feeding ticks on the dissemination of some medically important zoonotic pathogens along the East-European flyway, funded by Pasteur Institut France, PI prof. H. Najdenski, participant

2009-2012 Hainaut-Biomed project Region Wallon/FEDER (European Commission)

‘Immunomonitoring of γδ T cells’ [378,000 EUR]; in collaboration with ImmuneHealth (GSK) – PI Dr David Vermijlen, post doc

2010-2012 J.0078.13 Project Ontogeny of fetal and cord blood γδ T cells, PI Dr David Vermijlen, Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research, participant

2013 BG051PO001-3.3.05-0001/ 2013, 5000 eu, γδTCR sequencing, IMI, Belgium- PI Dr D. Vermijlen

2007-2013 BG051PO001-3.3.06 -0059 “Fundamental and applied education of PhD students, post docs and young scientists in interdisciplinary biological directions and innovation biotechnologies, funded by OP Development of human resources 2007-2013, co-funded by European Social Fund, PI M. Murdjeva, teacher.

2005 - 2008 NB 1537 IBIR-BAS, funded by National Fund for Research at Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria, PI R. Georgieva, participant

2005-2008 NB-517/05 IBIR-BAS, funded by National Fund for Research at Ministry of Education and Science Bulgaria, PI T. Daneva, participant

2002 - 2005 MU-К-1204 IBIR-BAS, funded by National Fund for Research at Ministry of Education and Science Bulgaria, leader

2000 –2004 К-1006/00 IBIR-BAS, funded by National Fund for Research at Ministry of Education and Science Bulgaria, PI Prof. R. Georgieva, participant

Publications: