GIS - TRANSFER CENTER FOUNDATION

11. GIS-TC on "Food, Health and Well-being”

26, Acad. G. Bonchev, Str., Lab. 415;
Sofia, 1113
phone: + 359 887297811
behealth@gis-tc.org

The GIS-TC#11 has been established in 2017 as a result of new social demand for more effective coordination between science and practice in the field of nutrition and health. With new understanding on the role of functional food as a way to create health and to reduce disease, our aim is to establish more effective mediations between researchers, business partners and different consumers’ groups. Scientific achievements have to be implemented rapidly into the practice, helping producers to answer on the market’s demands, as well as helping consumers to be health. With this aim new models and mechanisms for collaboration and implementation into practice will promote. We help SME to be informed for novelty in the field, with direct impact on knowledge & technology transfer into the practice.
Main activities of the GIS-TC#11 are oriented to innovations, carrying out research and innovation projects, expertise, analysis and diagnostic of new scientific solutions, technologies and methods, able to promote new products and services, with impact on common desire for health and longevity.

Our experts provide consultancy and training on:

• mediation and establishing contacts with stakeholders, companies, government bodies, independent experts for innovation in the field of health, biotechnology, applied microbiology, food/functional food (dairy technology), probiotics;
• carrying out studies and analysis concerning strategies and development of new technology;
• research, consultancy and expertise on evaluation capacity for innovation;
• consultancy for project application and project management;
• identification and implementation food and medical innovation, based on knowledge and technology transfer;
• consultancy and training for sectoral collaboration and team work
• providing public campaign and presenting social innovations on local and national level.

Manager - Assoc. Prof. Svetla Danova, PhD, DSc

Director of GIS-TC on "Health, Food, Innovation” is Associate Professor and Head of Laboratory of Lactic acid bacteria & Probiotics in the Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, (Sofia, Bulgaria), a Member of International Network of Institute Pasteur.

Dr. Danova has a PhD on industrially and medically important microorganisms (antibiotic producers) and DSc on Probiotics (Pro-for & bio-life) and Functional foods. She has a strong background in the field of molecular biology and microbiology, food microbiology, probiotics and synbiotics and new functional food and technology. Her 25 years fundamental and applied research resulted in more than 100 publications, 1 student’s book and several expertises. She has been advisor of 7 PhD and 39 MSc students. Her experience is on theoretical level, based on different student courses, seminars and practical level- participating and managing several projects (9 International projects - Danon, Tempus; COPERNICUS; ACIP-RIIP- SfP-NATO 2007-1; SEE-ERA Nет INTAS-1; RILA,-1). and international intensive Programs (Project de coopération scientifique inter- Universitaire Ref. AUF 6301PS321 “Les microorganismes d’intérêt laitier: de la physiologie à la biologie moléculaire”–Agence universitaire de la Francophonie 2003-COCOP-APPUI; 2004-67256-IC-1-2002-1-BG-ERASMUS-EUC ); Dr. Danova is an external expert to the Executive agency “Bulgarian accreditation service” and member of Accreditation committee (ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025).

She has been a member of Advisory board to the Ministry of Health, expert to National Innovation found, reviewer to Executive agency of SME – Ministry of Economics and expert to National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency. As a member of Expert Council on Biotechnology and Food and Expert Council on Biodiversity and Ecology, BAS, she meets several research teams.

The team of the GIS-TC#11 combines experts with experience in bio-medical research and knowledge transfer, diagnostic of health situations.

Our partners are academic institutes and universities, SME and NGOs providing research and innovation health related services, local authorities.

• Joint project with JINR, Dubna, Russian Federation: Studying of Effects of Accelerated Charged Particles on Skin Cancer Cells, 2018
• BAS-WBI- Wallonie, Belgium:” Molecular analyses and new approaches for monitoring of microflora of fermented foods”, 2012-2015;
• NSF, Bulgaria «Molecular characterization, immunomodulation activity and mechanisms of healthy benefits of original lactobacilli from different ecological niches », 2009-2012
• NSF, Bulgaria Bioprotective role and probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria and their bacteriocins in dairy products”, 2005-208