MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NATIONAL CENTER OF RADIOBIOLOGY AND RADIATION PROTECTION

 
 
     In 1963 according to Regulation N617/14.08.1963 of the Ministry of Health (MH), Scientific Institute of Radiology and Radiation Hygiene was established and was headed by Dr. Ivan Nikolov. 
During its existence the Center went through many administrative and organizational changes which reflected on the name also: 
  • Scientific Institute of Radiology and Radiation Hygiene (1963-1972), 
  • Scientific Institute of Radiobiology and Radiation Hygiene (1972-1976), 
  • Scientific Institute of Roentgenology and Radiobiology (1976-1988), 
  • Scientific Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Radiobiology and Radiation Hygiene (1988-1991).
     By Government Decree N197/07.10.1991 a National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection (NCRRP) was established and subordinated initially to the Medical Academy and since 1992 – to the MH. 
     Over the first decade of its existence many experts worked there: Dr. Dimitur Zografov, Dr. Hristo Dermendzhiev, Dr. Iliya Baev, Dr. Dimitar Keslev, Prof. Stefan Robev, Prof. Svetoslav Todorov, Prof. George Kiradzhiev etc. 
     During the years past the activities were directed at two main fields – organization-and- methodology and scientific research. Up to the middle 80’s the attention was focused on protection of the population in wartime when high radiation doses were typical. An intensive study on biological influence of high radiation doses was carried out and a lot of chemical agents were synthesiesed and their qualities as radio-protectors were estimated.
     Later than 1985, in view of the nuclear energy development in our country and the accident in the Chernobyl NPP, the investigations were targeted at low dose radiation effects and protection of persons occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation as well as monitoring of population groups living in risk regions. Thus protection against serious deterministic effects and reasonable reduction of stochastic effects were considered as basic concepts.

STATUS:
NCRRP is a scientific organization and an independent corporative body.

ACTIVITIES:
Organizational and methodological, scientific-applied, prophylactic, diagnostic and treatment activities in the field of radiation protection of the Bulgarian population.

FUNCTIONS:
NCRRP is a special unit of the MH on the problems of radiobiology and radiation protection.
CURRENT STRUCTURE OF NCRRP

Radiation Protection Department
Laboratories:

  • Radiation measuring, internal dosimetry and expertise
  • External irradiation dosimetry
  • Medical radiation exposure - patient protection 


Radiation Control Department
Laboratories:

  • General Radiation Control Inspectorate
  • Nuclear Energy Control Inspectorate
  • Public Exposure Monitoring Laboratory 


Radiobiology Department
Laboratories:

  • Radiation biochemistry, hematology and immunology
  • Radiation mutagenesis and embryology
  • Vivarium


Medical Radiation Protection and Epidemiology Department
Laboratories:

  • Radiation medicine
  • Radiation epidemiology


Information and Education Section 

Functional units

  • Post for 24 hours measurement of gamma-background radiation and accident information
  • Radiological Emergency Response Team


Financial and Administrative Section

Technical and Economic Service
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