The Brilliance of Iranian Scientists at the ARCA World Invention Competition, Zagreb, Croatia
Iranian researchers and inventors have won the Gold Medal in the 23rd ARCA International Invention Exhibition and Competition, held in Zagreb, Croatia, in the field of Medicine (Neuroscience) and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Their winning project, titled:“Selective Small-Molecule Modulator of P2X4 Receptor for Phase-Specific Neuroprotection, Enhanced Phagocytic Clearance, and Neurogenic Recovery in Ischemic Stroke”, earned top honors at this prestigious event, which took place from October 16–18, 2025 (corresponding to Mehr 24–26, 1404 in the Iranian calendar) at the National Library of Zagreb.
Dr. Reza Mosaddeghi Heris: Project Director; inventor and researcher specializing in novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system cancers. He holds an M.D. from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, serves as a senior researcher in the Clinical Research Development Unit at Valiasr Hospital and the Neuroscience Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.He has published over 40 scientific papers in top international journals, including The Lancet and The Lancet Neurology, and authored more than 10 books on neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Dr. Mosadeghi collaborates with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington (USA) on Global Burden of Disease projects and serves on the editorial board of Inflammopharmacology (Switzerland).
Dr. Hamed Aghazadeh: Inventor and researcher in the fields of cancer, stem cells, and advanced drug delivery systems; microbiologist with an M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Engineering (M.Pharm.Eng) from the University of Tehran and a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) candidate.
Dr. Hanie Karimi: Inventor and researcher in brain imaging, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience; holds an M.D. and MPH from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has co-authored over 50 scientific publications in top international journals such as The Lancet, as well as books with Springer. She has participated in multiple international patents, reviewed over 100 research papers for high-impact journals, and received multiple gold medals and special awards from international invention competitions organized by IFIA and WIIPA. She recently relocated to the United States and began her postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan.Dr. Mehran Rahimi: Inventor and researcher specializing in heart transplantation, outcomes of cardiac surgeries, and cardiovascular drug discovery. He holds an M.D. and a postdoctoral fellowship from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis (USA). He has published more than 50 scientific papers in leading journals such as The Lancet and JAMA Cardiology. His research was also presented at the AATS 2025 Annual Meeting, earning wide recognition from the scientific community.
Dr. Nasrin Forghani: Inventor and researcher in cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders; M.D. from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, specialist in neurology and spinal disorders, author of multiple international scientific papers, member of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), and gold medalist at the Geneva Invention Exhibition.Dr. Amir Tahavvori: Inventor and researcher in mitochondrial function and transplantation, metabolic diseases, and regenerative medicine; M.D. from Azad University of Tabriz, internal medicine specialist from Urmia University of Medical Sciences, assistant professor at Azad University of Medical Sciences (Urmia), and senior researcher at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research (Northwell Health, USA). He has published numerous international papers, and his research on Mitochondrial Transplantation was presented in New York, USA.Dr. Armin Jabraeilipour: Inventor and researcher in oncology, cardiology, stem cell therapy, and signaling pathways; M.D. from Islamic Azad University of Ardabil, researcher on neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive disorders, and author of several papers published by SAGE and Springer.
The team’s innovative project, “Selective Small-Molecule Modulator of P2X4 Receptor for Phase-Specific Neuroprotection, Enhanced Phagocytic Clearance, and Neurogenic Recovery in Ischemic Stroke” earned them the Gold Medal at the 23rd ARCA International Invention and Innovation Exhibition (2025) in Zagreb, Croatia.Dr. Hamed Aghazadeh, CEO of Noyan Gene Biotech Research Company and one of the inventors, explained:The 23rd ARCA International Exhibition and Competition for Inventions and Innovations was held from October 16–18, 2025, under the supervision of the Croatian Inventors Association, and with the support of the Croatian Ministry of Science and Research, the University of Zagreb, the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), at the National Library of Zagreb.He continued:Participants from over 25 countries across five continents—including the United States, Canada, UAE, Hong Kong, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Tajikistan, and Spain—took part with more than 200 inventions. The diversity of participants reflected the event’s truly global nature, bridging East and West. Backed by major international organizations, ARCA is regarded as one of the most prestigious global stages for innovation and invention.
Dr. Aghazadeh added:The inventions were evaluated by a multidisciplinary international jury of university professors, technologists, intellectual property experts, and industry leaders. The judging process was rigorous, transparent, and impartial—ensuring that only the most outstanding innovations were recognized. Out of more than 250 inventions from 25 countries, our project won first place globally in the Medicine and Pharmaceutical category.He explained further:Anyone with a prototype or even a developed product can participate in ARCA. The exhibition covers diverse fields such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, engineering, energy, environmental protection, safety, and industry—aimed at improving everyday life. It also provides inventors with exposure to global media and opportunities to connect directly with investors, distributors, and manufacturers for commercialization.
17:09 – 11 آبان 1404