The 27th Royan International Congress Opens with the Participation of Senior Officials, Distinguished Academics, and Leading Researchers
The 27th Royan International Congress was inaugurated at the Science and Culture University in the presence of the President of the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), the President of Royan Institute, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, and a distinguished gathering of academics, researchers, specialists, and students. The scientific event once again brought Iran’s scientific and technological capacities in reproductive medicine, stem cell science, and regenerative medicine into the spotlight of the international scientific community.
According to the Public Relations Department of Royan Institute, the opening ceremony of the 27th Royan International Congress was held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the International Conference Hall of Science and Culture University.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Ali Montazeri, President of ACECR; Dr. Abdolhossein Shahverdi, President of Royan Institute; Dr. Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs; and Hojjat al-Islam and Muslimin Dr. Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. A large number of distinguished faculty members, researchers, specialists, and students also attended the opening ceremony of the scientific event.
The Royan International Congress enters its 27th edition at a time when, over more than three decades of scientific activity, Royan Institute has emerged as a prominent national model for integrating research, technology, and clinical practice. Initially established with a primary focus on infertility treatment, the Institute has progressively expanded its scientific and technological scope into areas including stem cell biology, biotechnology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
During the opening ceremony, the speakers highlighted the scientific trajectory and achievements of Royan Institute and emphasized the importance of sustaining scientific momentum, supporting problem-oriented and needs-driven research, and advancing beyond knowledge and publication toward technological development, commercialization, and the delivery of effective solutions to real-world societal and healthcare needs.
Dr. Abdolhossein Shahverdi, President of Royan Institute, outlined the Institute’s scientific trajectory and its achievements in stem cell science and biotechnology, emphasizing the evolution of cellular sciences from the stages of scientific concept and aspiration toward tangible clinical applications.
Referring to Iran’s scientific capabilities in emerging fields of medicine, he described the future direction as one increasingly focused on personalized medicine, regenerative therapies, and the development of accessible therapeutic modalities for patients. He emphasized that the ultimate objective is to move scientific and research achievements beyond the laboratory and translate them into effective, safe, and cost-effective technologies and therapeutic interventions that can directly benefit patients.
Dr. Ali Montazeri, President of ACECR, paid tribute to the late Dr. Saeed Kazemi Ashtiani and highlighted his pivotal role in the establishment and advancement of Royan Institute, as well as in the broader development of science and technology in Iran. He stated that the scientific standing and achievements for which Royan Institute is recognized today are the outcome of its founder’s visionary outlook, scientific self-confidence, and spirit of dedicated service, together with the sustained efforts of successive generations of researchers at the Institute.
Emphasizing the importance of continuing this trajectory, Dr. Montazeri identified the transmission of scientific experience to younger generations and the pursuit of the frontiers of knowledge as among Royan Institute’s most important contemporary responsibilities.
Dr. Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, also highlighted Royan Institute’s distinctive position and identified the integration of scientific advancement with the practical needs of society as one of the Institute’s defining characteristics. She described Royan Institute’s activities as a prominent example of the effectiveness of knowledge-based capacities within the national healthcare system and, referring to its contributions to infertility treatment and the development of advanced therapeutic approaches, emphasized the importance of extending such an approach to other areas of medicine and biotechnology.
Hojjat al-Islam and Muslimin Dr. Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, expressed his appreciation for ACECR, the scientists, faculty members, and staff of Royan Institute and emphasized the need for substantive support for the Institute’s knowledge-based and technology-oriented projects. Referring to the establishment of Royan Institute in 1991 and the pivotal role played by the late Dr. Saeed Kazemi Ashtiani in founding and developing the Institute, he described Royan’s scientific trajectory as a notable example of national capacity-building in science and technology.
Dr. Khosropanah further stressed the need for executive bodies and relevant ministries to provide appropriate support for Royan Institute’s research initiatives, particularly in facilitating the translation of research outcomes into commercially viable technologies and addressing pressing societal and healthcare needs.
As another highlight of the opening ceremony of the 27th Royan International Congress, six influential Iranian scientific figures were honored for their outstanding contributions to the fields of reproductive sciences and regenerative biomedicine. In the field of reproductive sciences, Dr. Saghar Salehpour, Dr. Mojtaba Reza Zadeh Volojerdi, and Dr. Seyed Mohammad Kazemini were recognized, while Dr. Marzieh Ebrahimi, Dr. Kazem Parivar, and Dr. Hamid Mirzadeh were honored for their contributions to regenerative biomedicine. The distinguished scientists were recognized in appreciation of their longstanding scientific and research activities and their significant contributions to the advancement and development of these specialized fields.
This year’s 27th Royan International Congress comprises the 27th International Congress on Reproductive Medicine, the 22nd International Congress on Stem Cell Biology and Technology, and the 21st Royan Seminar on Nursing and Midwifery. In addition to presenting the latest scientific findings and advances, the congress provides a multidisciplinary platform for scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange among researchers, clinicians, specialists, and academic institutions from Iran and around the world, while fostering opportunities for the expansion of scientific and research collaborations.
According to the Congress Secretariat, the scientific community has shown considerable interest in this year’s edition, with hundreds of research proposals and scientific abstracts submitted for consideration. Following rigorous scientific peer review, a selection of these submissions has been accepted for presentation at the congress. A total of 84 national and international speakers are also participating in the scientific program of this edition.
As another highlight of the opening ceremony, the posters for the 28th International Congress on Reproductive Medicine and the 23rd International Congress on Stem Cell Biology and Technology of Royan Institute were officially unveiled. These forthcoming scientific events will bring together leading national and international academics, researchers, and specialists to present and critically discuss the latest findings and advances in reproductive medicine and biology, stem cell science, regenerative medicine, and emerging biomedical technologies.
The unveiling of the posters for these two forthcoming congresses, alongside the recognition of influential researchers and distinguished scientific figures, constituted one of the major highlights of the opening ceremony of the 27th Royan International Congress. Over nearly three decades, the congress has evolved into a recognized scientific forum in the fields of reproductive sciences and stem cell research, providing an annual platform for scientific interaction between the Iranian research community and international researchers and specialists.
A special segment of the opening ceremony was dedicated to honoring influential scientific figures and pioneers in reproductive sciences, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. The tribute not only acknowledged the country’s scientific capital but also underscored the foundational contributions of earlier generations to the formation and development of Royan’s scientific enterprise.
The 27th Royan International Congress may therefore be regarded as more than a multi-day scientific gathering. Over nearly three decades, it has developed into a prominent platform for presenting cutting-edge scientific advances, facilitating knowledge and experience transfer across generations of researchers, fostering international scientific collaborations, and showcasing Iran’s scientific and technological capabilities to the broader international community.
As the 27th edition of this major scientific event begins, perhaps the most significant consideration is the continuity of the trajectory initiated by Royan from its earliest efforts in infertility treatment and subsequently extended to the frontiers of stem cell science, regenerative medicine, and advanced therapeutic approaches.
At its core, this trajectory represents a commitment that extends beyond the generation of scientific knowledge: it is a sustained effort to translate knowledge into technology, and technology into tangible hope for improving human health and quality of life.
