Iran Among Top 10 Pioneering Nations in Reproductive Medicine
WANA (Aug 25) – Royan Institute will host three flagship events from September 1 to 3, kicking off with the opening ceremony followed by main sessions: the 27th Royan International Congress, the 22nd International Stem Cell Congress, and the 21st Nursing and Midwifery Symposium.
This upcoming scientific gathering will bring together 1,200 participants and 84 national and international speakers from 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, to share the latest findings in biotechnology and cellular sciences.
In a press conference held on August 25 ahead of these events, Royan officials outlined the key achievements, statistics, and main agenda of the congress, highlighting compelling and novel aspects of Iran’s scientific advancements.
Most notably, they emphasized the consolidation of the country’s status among the top 10 global pioneers in reproductive biology according to the SCImago International Rankings, securing the 9th position worldwide in this domain. Domestically, the institute ranks first in male and female infertility research and fourth in cancer research.
Royan Institute Press Conference on Aug 25, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Dr. Abdulhossein Shahverdi, President of Royan Institute, emphasized self-sufficiency in this field during the briefing, noting: “Today, not only do patients no longer travel abroad to receive medical care in this field, but based on the capabilities developed, we are also hosting foreign patients.”
This self-sufficiency and attraction of international patients demonstrate Iran’s evolving role from a consumer of medical services to a hub for medical tourism.
Another key discussion point at the press conference addressed responses to modern health crises featured in the upcoming congress. Seyedeh Naeemeh Sadat Mirghavamoddin, Scientific Secretary of the Nursing and Midwifery Symposium, warned of the global challenge of declining reproductive age: “In many countries around the world, the age of menopause has dropped under the influence of environmental conditions, stress, and pollutants.”
In response, Royan has introduced preventive strategies such as egg freezing and fertility preservation—not only for couples but also for single individuals and patients with severe diseases—as primary focal points of its medical programs. Beyond human health, the institute’s engagement with climate challenges emerged as another prominent theme of the briefing.
Royan Institute Press Conference on Aug 25, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Dr. Seyed Abolhassan Shahzadeh Fazeli, Vice President for Research and Technology at Royan, announced the expansion of biotechnology operations into food security, stating: “The Center for Advanced Animal Reproductive Biotechnology is being launched with a focus on small livestock breeding to resolve the country’s lower-than-average global yield in meat and milk production.”
Highlighting Royan’s research portfolio, he further detailed that the institute has completed over 2,800 research projects and published nearly 4,700 international scientific articles.
Moreover, as a leading educational hub, the center annually trains numerous students, researchers, and fellows in fields related to infertility treatment and biomedical research. Additionally, since March 2026, four domestic patents have been registered, with one international patent currently pending.
Furthermore, Dr. Reza Moghadasali and Dr. Azam Dalman, Scientific Secretaries for the Stem Cell and Reproductive Sections, announced the presentation of research milestones at the September congress spanning gene therapy, novel cancer treatments, tissue engineering, and health monitoring of children born via assisted reproductive technologies.
Royan Institute Press Conference on Aug 25, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The uninterrupted 27-year continuity of this event, combined with the progression of the institute’s research products for treating vision impairments, Parkinson’s disease, and various cancers into clinical trials, underscores Iran’s decisive movement toward “producing reference knowledge” and maintaining an active scientific diplomacy.
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Royan Institute of ACECR is a leading research and clinical facility in Iran and the Middle East, operating across three primary domains: reproductive medicine (infertility treatment), stem cell biology and technology, and animal biotechnology.
Founded through the pioneering efforts of the late Dr. Saeid Kazemi Ashtiani, the institute has placed Iran among nations possessing technologies for animal cloning, gamete cryopreservation, and the application of regenerative medicine in treating complex diseases.
In addition to delivering specialized clinical services to domestic and international patients, Royan functions as an educational and research hub dedicated to translating advanced biological knowledge into clinical applications.
