Institute of Medical Biotechnology

Institute of Medical Biotechnology

Director: Dr. Masoumeh Fakhr Taha
The IMB was launched in March 2014 by merging three active research departments of the NIGEB, (i.e. Medical Genetics Department, Basic Sciences Department and Stem Cell Department). The faculty members of the IMB contribute to pave the way to solve the problems and meet the needs of the country through implementing the mission-oriented projects in the area of cancer, genetics of multiple sclerosis (MS), stem cell and various research projects in the area of medical biotechnology. The IMB provides training opportunities to the guest students of other Iranian universities in the framework of internship or conducting M.Sc. theses and Ph.D. dissertations. Besides, the IMB independently provides education opportunities in medical biotechnology areas.
 
Departments
 
1. Medical Genetics Department


Head: Dr. Mehdi Sadeghi
Research Interests
    Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
    Study of Genetic Mitochondrial Diseases
    Study of Molecular Pathology of Genetic-Based Immune Diseases
    Molecular and Genetic Diagnosis of Cancer
    Chromosomal Abnormality in Human Disease
    Neuro-ImmunoOnco Psychogenetic Studies
    Bioinformatics and Modeling
    Diagnosis of Genetic Diseases (single-gene and multi-factorial disorders)
    MicroRNA and Gene Expression Profiling
    Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases
    Genetics of Hyperthyroidism
    Cardiovascular and Diabetes Treatment Studies
    Pharmacogenetics
    Application of FISH Technique in Cancer

 

2. Molecular Medicine Department
Head: Dr. Zahra-Soheila Soheili
Research Interests
    Molecular Mechanisms and Cell Signaling pathways in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease
    Isolation and Study of Anti-cancer and Anti-inflammatory Compounds from Iranian Folk Plants
    Differentiation-Therapy Approaches in Cancer
    Application of Nanophotocatalysts and the Role of Genes in Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer
    Non-coding RNAs and Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression
    Gene Expression Patterns in Cancer and Development of Diagnostic Kits
    Roles of miRNAs in Development and Human Diseases
    Neuroinflammatory Factors and Cell Therapy in Neuronal Damage Diseases
    Establishment of Drug Delivery Systems and Nanobiopharmaceutics
    Gene Transfer Systems Based on AAV and Lentiviral Vectors
    Novel strategies in Production of Recombinant Medicinal Proteins
    Study the Mechanisms of Angiogenesis and Plant-derived antiangiogenic Inhibitors
    Production of an Angiogenesis Inhibitor for Gene Therapy of Cancer, Blindness and Metastasis
    Molecular Mechanisms and Cell Signaling Pathways in Stem Cell Differentiation toward Neural Cells
    Molecular Mechanisms and Cell Signaling Pathways in Neuroglial Cells Using Blocks and Inducers of Defined Pathway
    Evaluation of Therapeutic Strategies in Animal Models of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
    Mechanisms of Toxins Secreted from Colonized Bacteria in Large Intestine in Colorectal Cancer
    The Role of Apoptosis and Autophagy in Cancer Modulation
    Gene Expression Profiling in Cancer
    Living Organisms' Natural Products as Valuable Sources of Anti-cancer Drugs
    Gene-expression Tools for Metabolic Engineering of Diseases
    Cell Replacement Therapy in Neurodegenerative Disease
    Cancer Imvnothorapy and cell therapy
    CRISPR (knock-in/knock-out)
    Drug discovery for autophegy & EKstrm markers

 
3. Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Department
 
Head:  Dr.Sara Shafiei
Research Interests
    Spermatogonial stem cells and fertility
    Cancer stem cells
    Molecular mechanisms and cell signaling in cancer
    Studying non-coding RNAs in cancer
    Application of miRNAs for reprogramming of cancer cells
    Application of miRNAs for reprogramming of skin fibroblasts and adipose tissue-derived stem cells
    Reconstruction of an artificial human skin for research and therapeutic purposes
    Reprogramming of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells by small molecules
    Nano-drug delivery
    Gene editing by CRISPR/CAS9
    Production and development of biomaterials and nanobiomaterials
    Decellularization of rat brain and neural induction of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells on the decellularized scaffold
    The impact of epigenetic modifications on cancer treatment
    Hard tissue engineering (bone substitutes and implants)
    Production of human iPS cells and studying their differentiation potential
    Neural and cardiac differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells
    Production of chimeric antibodies
    Construction of Bioactive Glass-Ceramic
    Construction of implantable brain scaffolds for treatment of Parkinson’s disease
    Nanoplatforms for tissue engineering
 
Human Resources
Full Professors: 4
Associate Professors: 10
Assistant Professors: 8
Lecturers: 1
Research Assistants: 6
Post-graduate Students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.):71


 
Mission

Regarding the fact that cancer is among the leading causes of death in Iran and in the world, and due to the fact that the statistics prognosticate its growing rates for the developing countries in the coming years, the main mission of the IMB has focused on the development of new methods for diagnosis and treatment of cancer through: