Head of Department
Director of MSc Program Developmental Biology
Room 225
Phone: (+359 2) 8167 291
E-mail: r.konakchieva@biofac.uni-sofia.bg
| Affiliation | Sofia University “Sv. Kl. Ohridski”, Faculty of Biology, Chair of Cytology Histology & Embryology 8, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., Sofia-1164, R.225 |
| Position | Professor in Biology (Histology) 28.06.2016 – present Head of the Department of Cytology, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski Personnel recruitment, qualification and promotion, curricula development in histology and developmental biology, research project supervision, administrative management of HR, facilities and funds |
| Courses |
"Histology" (compulsory) for 2nd year graduate students, specialty Molecular Biology; "Intracellular and intercellular signaling communications" (elective for 3rd and 4th year graduate students, specialty Molecular Biology; "Hormonal control of reproductive system in mammals" (compulsory) for MSc students in Developmental Biology; "Developmental Biology of mammals" (compulsory) for MSc students in Developmental Biology; "Cell signaling" for MSc students in Cell Biology and Pathology, Developmental Biology |
| Academic experience | 1989 – 2000 – Research Associate, Inst Biol & Immunol Reprod, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2001 - 2012 – Part-time Lecturer at Chair of Cytology Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University 2012 – 2013 – Professor of Human and Animal Physiology, Inst Biol & Immunol Reprod, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 2013 – onwards – Full-time Professor at the Chair of Cytology Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University |
| Education & academic awards | 1982 High education, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University 1990 – PhD in Biology, Inst Biol & Immunol Reprod, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 2010 – Doctor of Biological Sciences (Animal and Human Physiology), Inst Biol & Immunol Reprod, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences |
| International Awards | 1990 Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences,Warsaw, Poland. 1993-1994 Centre for Reproductive Biology, MRC Unit, Edinburgh, UK, IAEA, Vienna 1996 Neuroadaptations Group, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. DAAD, Bonn 1998-1999 Laboratory of Neurobiology and Circadian Rhythms, CNRS, Louis-Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France CNRS, Paris 2000 Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany. МААЕ, Vien 2001 Neuroadaptations Group, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. DAAD, Bonn 2012 - Germany, Jena University Placenta laboratory, FP7 –ReProForce |
| Skills & competences | Organization and conduction of qualification courses and curricula development Organization and coordination of extramural collaborations, mobile exchange of students and lecturers funded under European educational and scientific programs Organization and equipment of laboratories for research and training of undergraduates and young researchers. Supervision of Master and PhD theses |
| Principal Investigator/WP Leader: | 2017- on Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education - EAC/A03/2016 586181-EPP-1-2017-1-RS-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP Curricula Development in the Fields of Reproductive Biology/Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Regenerative Medicine in Serbia; P4 Coordinator 2017 – on Research Infrastructure for Cell Technologies in Biomedicine, National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2017-2023, Coordinator 2013 – 2015 ESF/OP HR BG051PO001-3.3.06-0059 Fundamental training and practical training of PhD students, post-docs, specialists and young scientists in interdisciplinary biological disciplines and innovative biotechnologies - 2009 - 2013 FP7 REGPOT – 2009-1. ReProForce Grant. WP2 LeaderTechnological equipment of IBIR-BAS 2006 - 2010 National Science Fund of Bulgaria. Antioxidant role of melatonin in the idiopathic male infertility and varicocele 2001 – 2004 University of Skopje, Macedonia. Institute of Animal Husbandry. Stress and adaptation in farm animals. 1999 - 2001 R & D Division, Sopharma & University of Chemistry and Technology, Sofia. Comparative bioavailability studies of steroids in volunteers under different prescription regime. 1999 - 2002 National Science Fund of Bulgaria. Endocrine and immune correlates of impaired adrenocortical function in patients with active Cushing,s syndrome. 1997 - 1998 R & D Division, Jenapharm GmbH & Co. KG. In-vitro studies of steroidal effects on cytokine production by lymphoid cells. 1996 - 1998 National Science Fund of Bulgaria, Bulgaria. Pineal gland and the control of the HPA axis. 1992 – 1995 National Science Fund of Bulgaria, Bulgaria. Effect of melatonin on lymphoid cells function. |
| Most relevant scientific papers | Theses and monographs 1. Konakchieva R (1989) Role of adrenal glands in the regulation of gonadal cycle in ewes. PhD Thesis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 2. Konakchieva R (2009) Melatonin and plasticity of physiological mechanisms governing adaptation. DSc Thesis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 3. Konakchieva R, Stefanova N (2016) General Histology, Textbook (bulg.), Publishing House of Sofia University, Sofia Selected Publications Marinova, C., Persengiev, S., Konakchieva, R., Ilieva, A., Patchev, V. (1991) Melatonin effects on glucocorticoid receptors in rat brain and pituitary:significance in adrenocortical regulation. Intern J Biochem 23:479-481. Kanchev, L., Konakchieva, R., Angelova, P., Davidoff, M. (1995) Substance P modulating effect on the binding capacity of hamster Leydig cell LH receptors. Life Sciences 56: 1631-1637. Angelova PA, Kanchev LN, Davidoff MS and Konakchieva R. (1995). LH receptors in hamster Leydig cells: effect of Substance P. Exp Clin Cancer Res 14, Suppl. 90, 90-91. Konakchieva, R., Kyurkchiev, S., Kehayov, I., Taushanova, P., Kanchev, L. (1995) Selective effect of methoxyindoles on the lymphocyte proliferation and melatonin binding to activated human lymphoid cells. J. Neuroimmunol 63:125-132. Konakchieva, R., Mitev,Y., Almeida, OFX., Patchev, V. (1997) Chronic melatonin treatment and the HPA axis in the rat: Attenuation of the secretory response to stress and effects on hypothalamic neuropeptide content and release. Biology of the Cell 89:587-596. Konakchieva, R., Mitev, Y, Almeida, OFX, Patchev, V. (1998) Chronic melatonin treatment counteracts glucocorticoid-induced dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat. Neuroendocrinol 67:171-180. Konakchieva, R., Manchev, S., Pevet, P., Masson-Pevet, M. (1999) Autoradiographic detection of (125I)-iodomelatonin binding sites in immune tissue of rats. Adv Exp Med Biol series, 460:411-415, Plenum Press, NY. Таushanova P., Georgiev G, Manchev S, Konakchieva R. (2007) Localization and physiological significance of (125I)-iodomelatonin binding sites in immunne tissue of rats. Comptes Rendus de l, Academie des Sciences , 60:899-902 Stephanova E., Topouzova-Hristova T., Konakchieva R. (2008) Mitochondria are involved in stress response of A549 alveolar cells to halothane toxicity. Toxicology In Vitro, 22(3):688-694 Tomova A., Kumanov P., Robeva R., Manchev S., Konakchieva R. (2008) Melatonin secretion and non-specific immune responses are differentially expressed in corticotropin-dependent and corticotropin-independent Cushing’s syndrome. Med Sci Monitor 14(6): CR327-332. Todorov P., Hristova E., Konakchieva R., Michova A., Dimitrov Y. (2010) Comparative studies of different cryopreservation methods for mesenchymal stem cells derived from human fetal liver. Cell Biol. Int. 34: 455-462. Vachkova E, Penchev I, Georgiev B, Biviloarski B, Konakchieva R. (2010) Relationships between plasma concentrations of Epidermal Growth Factor, insulin and iodated thyroid hormones in early andnormal weaned rabbits. Revue Méd. Vét., 161, 1, 30-36. Vachkova Е, Bivolarski B, Gulubova M, Konakchieva R, Georgiev I, Simeonov R. (2011) Immunohistochemical localisation of EGF receptors in the intestinal tract of growing rabbits in relation to age. Livestock Science 142:216–221. Konakchieva R, Todorov P. (2011) Melatonin protects human spermatozoa from apoptosis via melatonin receptor- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mediated pathways. Fert Steril, 96: e159. Dimitrov, R., Georgiev, G., Todorov, P., Dimitrov, Y., Konakchieva, R. (2012). Membrane melatonin receptor type MT1 expression in human ejaculated spermatozoa, Comptes Rendus de L'Academie Bulgare des Sciences 65 (7), 947-952. Todorov P., Konakchieva R, Dimitrov Y., Novachkov V., Kyurkchiev D., Tchoob N., Gorohova N. (2006) Morphological and functional assessment of human fetal liver cells in long-term culture. Problems of Cryobiology, 16 (2): 201-206. Dineva J., Vangelov I., Nikolov G., Konakchieva R., Ivanova M. (2008) Nitric oxide stimulates the production of atrial natriuretic peptide and progesterone by human granulose luteinized cells with an antiapoptotic effect. Endocrine Regulations, 42 (2-3):45-51. Todorov P., Stamenov G., Todorov I., Novachkov V., Dimitrov Y, Konakchieva R. Evaluation of the secretory capacity of ovarian tissue after treatment with different cryoprotectants by in vitro culture system. Comptes rendus de l’Academie bulgare des Sciences 2002, 55, 3: 103-108. Todorov P., Konakchieva R., Stamenov G., Todorov I., Novachkov V., Dimitrov Y. In vitro stimulation of the secretion of 17-b –estradiol and progesterone in a primary ovarian cell culture. Comptes rendus de l’Academie bulgare des Sciences 2002, 55, 6: 111-115. Todorov P, Konakchieva R, Dimitrov J, Chub N, Petrenko Y. Vitrification of human embryonic stem cells for cryopreservation. Comptes rendus de l’Academie bulgare des Sciences 2005, 58, 9: 1095-1100. Dineva J, Nikolov G, Vangelov I, Konakchieva R, Ivanova M. Apoptosis of human granulosa luteinized /GLC’s/ and cumulus cells /CCs in relation to age of women. Comptes rendus de l’Academie bulgare des Sciences 2004, 57, 8: 113-116 Todorov P., Konakchieva R., Dimitrov J., Chub N., Petrenko Y. Vitrification of human embryonic stem cells. Comptes rendus de l’Academie bulgare des Sciences, 2005, 58, 9:1095-1100 |