Zanyar Pirkani | Translational medicine | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zanyar Pirkani | Translational medicine | Best Researcher Award

Doctor at Tehran university, Iran

Dr. Zanyar Pirkani is a dedicated veterinarian and biomedical researcher with significant contributions to large animal medicine and regenerative therapies. With extensive clinical, teaching, and research experience, he has steadily advanced in the field of veterinary science, currently contributing to cutting-edge biomedical investigations at the University of Tehran. His expertise lies in internal medicine, stem cell therapy, and respiratory disease control, all directed toward improving animal health outcomes and developing innovative treatment modalities.

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Education

Dr. Pirkani began his academic journey at the Islamic Azad University of Urmia, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from 2012 to 2019. His passion for large animal health led him to pursue a specialized residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Tehran, which he commenced in 2019 and is set to complete in 2025. This rigorous educational pathway has allowed him to blend clinical excellence with academic inquiry.

Experience

Dr. Pirkani’s professional career spans veterinary practice, pharmaceutical services, clinical teaching, and research. He initially served at Dr. Parvini Hospital (2017–2019), performing surgeries and clinical care. From 2019 to 2020, he worked at Dr. Asadi Pharmacy, where he was responsible for dispensing medications and overseeing veterinary pharmaceutical operations. He later joined the Large Animal Veterinary Research and Teaching Hospital at the University of Tehran (2020–2022), performing diagnostics, imaging interpretation, and supervising internal medicine cases. Since 2022, he has been a researcher at the Biomedical Research Institute of the University of Tehran, focusing on the therapeutic use of extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells.

Research Interest

Dr. Pirkani’s research interests are multidisciplinary, emphasizing regenerative veterinary medicine, livestock health optimization, and infectious disease epidemiology. He investigates the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), particularly for treating acute respiratory disorders. His work also extends to practical issues in dairy herd management, focusing on nutrition, disease prevention, and animal welfare. He actively contributes to understanding disease spread and preventive strategies through his studies in epidemiology.

Awards

Dr. Pirkani has been invited to present at prestigious national conferences and has contributed to award-winning collaborative projects. His work has gained recognition in veterinary neonatology and theriogenology circles, especially for his clinical insights into foal health and maternal behavior in equines. His dedication to veterinary education has also earned him acclaim as a teaching assistant in clinical examination.

Publications

Dr. Pirkani has authored and co-authored several impactful journal articles:

Pirkani, Zanyar et al. “Study of Trichinella spp. Seroprevalence in Horse Population of West Azerbaijan, Northwestern Iran.” Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 2025. [Cited by 2 articles]

Mohammadpour, Omid et al. “Zinc Deficiency in Sheep Flock in Kerman Suburb-Iran.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, 2022. [Cited by 5 articles]

Ghanidel, Mohammad et al. “Survey on Respiratory Parasites Infection of Sheep in Naqade Province.” Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research, 2021. [Cited by 3 articles]

Abdollahi Boraei, S. B. et al. “Control of Bone Metastasis Caused by Breast Cancer Using Nanocomposite Scaffolds.” Multidisciplinary Cancer Investigation, 2023. [Cited by 4 articles]

Khalili, Nafiseh Rahmani et al. “Double-shelled COF for Multi-Drug Cancer Therapy.” Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2024. [Cited by 6 articles]

Conclusion

Dr. Zanyar Pirkani exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding researcher through his blend of academic rigor, practical expertise, and visionary inquiry. His contributions to regenerative veterinary medicine and livestock health research stand out in both national and international contexts. With a growing portfolio of publications and active mentorship, Dr. Pirkani is well-positioned for the Best Researcher Award, symbolizing a career rooted in innovation, service, and scientific advancement.

Fani Pantouli | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Fani Pantouli | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Post-Doctoral Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, United States

Dr. Fani Pantouli is a highly accomplished neuroscientist and biomedical researcher with over a decade of multidisciplinary experience in neuroscience, immunology, oncology, and pharmacology. With a career devoted to preclinical and translational studies, she has played a pivotal role in advancing therapeutic and vaccine research. Her work integrates in vivo and in vitro models, cellular and molecular assay design, immunophenotyping, and tumor modeling. Adept in laboratory innovation and scientific collaboration, Dr. Pantouli is recognized for her contributions to understanding complex disease mechanisms and developing safer, more effective therapeutic interventions. Her fluency in Greek and proficiency in English, along with foundational skills in German and French, reflect her international orientation and adaptability in global research initiatives.

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Education

Dr. Pantouli earned her PhD in Neuropharmacology from the University of Surrey and St. George’s University of London between 2014 and 2017. Her doctoral work focused on therapeutic approaches for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with groundbreaking investigations into oxytocin-based interventions. She holds a Master of Science in Molecular Neuroscience from the University of Bristol (2011) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Science from the University of Bedfordshire (2010). Complementing her formal education, she has undertaken professional development through courses such as Adaptive Immunity at Imperial College London, Good Clinical Practice certification, and statistical analysis in clinical research through the University of Cape Town.

Experience

Dr. Pantouli currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Vaccine Development at Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Research and Innovation Center. There, she investigates T-cell immunity, cytokine profiling, and vaccine efficacy using advanced in vitro models against SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and HMPV. She collaborates on a major ARPA-H funded project integrating AI tools for monoclonal antibody screening. Previously, as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the same institute’s Cancer Research Lab, she developed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma mouse models to study p53-targeted therapies. Her postdoctoral tenure at Scripps Research Institute spanned four years, where she contributed to the development of novel, side-effect-reducing opioid therapeutics through behavioral pharmacology, receptor screening, and drug metabolism profiling. Earlier academic roles include doctoral research at St. George’s University, where she explored molecular and behavioral aspects of ASD, and research technician roles in cardiovascular research at the University of Birmingham and the Academy of Athens.

Research Interest

Dr. Pantouli’s research interests span a spectrum of critical areas in biomedical science. She is passionate about exploring the neuropharmacology of social behavior disorders, with a focus on translational models for ASD and addiction. Her oncology research is centered on molecular mechanisms of tumor suppression, particularly the role of p53 in head and neck cancers. In immunology and virology, she is engaged in advancing personalized vaccine responses by decoding ethnic and cellular variability in immune reactions to viral pathogens. Across all areas, her goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve clinical outcomes through precision medicine.

Award

While specific awards are not listed in her résumé, Dr. Pantouli’s consistent trajectory through prestigious research institutions, coupled with her leadership in high-impact projects funded by agencies like ARPA-H and her inclusion in peer-reviewed journals, demonstrates a sustained record of excellence and recognition by her scientific peers. Her nominations for publication in top-tier journals like Science and Biological Psychiatry further reflect her standing in the global research community.

Publications

Among Dr. Pantouli’s numerous contributions to scientific literature, the following are notable:

Pantouli, F., et al. (2025). COVID-19 Vaccination Enhances the Immunogenicity of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in the Elderly. Vaccines, 13(5), 531. Cited by 3.

Pantouli, F., et al. (2024). Acute, Chronic and Conditioned Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin in the Mu Opioid Receptor Knockout Mouse Model of Autism. Neuropsychopharmacology. Cited by 9.

Pantouli, F., et al. (2021). Comparison of Morphine, Oxycodone and the Biased MOR Agonist SR-17018 in Mouse Models of Pain. Neuropharmacology, 185. Cited by 17.

Grim, T. W., et al., incl. Pantouli, F. (2020). G Protein-Biased Agonist Reverses Morphine Tolerance. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45. Cited by 26.

Morel, C., et al., incl. Pantouli, F. (2018). Nicotinic Receptors and Dopamine Cell Activity in Stress-Nicotine Interplay. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(7), 1597–1605. Cited by 35.

Acevedo-Canabal, A., Pantouli, F., et al. (2021). Pharmacological Variety in Opioid Analgesics. Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Cited by 4.

Pantouli, F., et al. (Submitted). Generation of Antigen-Specific Paired Heavy-Light Chain Antibody Sequences Using LLMs. Science. Under review.

Conclusion

Dr. Fani Pantouli exemplifies scientific excellence with her multidisciplinary research spanning neuroscience, immunology, and oncology. Her ability to deliver translational breakthroughs—whether in vaccine development, cancer modeling, or ASD treatment—makes her a standout candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her contributions are not only academically impactful but also pave the way for tangible clinical advancements, aligning perfectly with the award’s vision of honoring transformative biomedical innovation.