Nafiseh Esmaeil | Immunology | Women Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nafiseh Esmaeil | Immunology | Women Researcher Award 

Associate Professor, at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

📌 Dr. Nafiseh Esmaeil is an esteemed Iranian immunologist specializing in clinical immunology and immunotherapy. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, where she conducts pioneering research on immune cell therapy, gene therapy, and CAR-NK therapy. With a strong academic background, she has contributed significantly to the field through her research, publications, and mentorship. Dr. Esmaeil is actively involved in various national and international immunology societies and serves as a reviewer for multiple high-impact journals. Her dedication to immunopharmacology and immune cell products has earned her recognition as an honored researcher.

Professional Profile

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Education 🎓

Dr. Nafiseh Esmaeil has pursued a rigorous academic journey in medical sciences. She completed her High School Diploma at Hashtom Shahrivar High School in Isfahan in 1991. She earned her B.Sc. in Laboratory Sciences from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 1998. She further specialized in Clinical Immunology, obtaining an M.Sc. from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2002. Her passion for immunology led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Immunology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, which she completed in 2014. Her academic achievements have laid a strong foundation for her contributions to immunotherapy and immunopharmacology.

Experience 💼

Dr. Esmaeil has an extensive teaching and research career in medical immunology. From 2010 to 2014, she served as a lecturer in practical immunology at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and the Faculty of Medical School at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. In 2014, she was appointed Assistant Professor of Medical Immunology and, in 2019, was promoted to Associate Professor. Her work involves teaching, research, and supervision of postgraduate students. She is also a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Iran and the National Immunology Society, contributing actively to the scientific community through her expertise.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Esmaeil’s research interests lie at the intersection of immunotherapy and immunopharmacology. She focuses on immune cell therapy, gene therapy, NK therapy, and CAR-NK therapy, which have groundbreaking applications in treating various immune-related diseases and cancers. Her work also delves into immune cell products, including extracellular vesicles, aiming to enhance targeted therapies. Her research contributes to developing innovative treatments that improve patient outcomes in immunological and oncological disorders.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Esmaeil has received several prestigious awards for her academic excellence and research contributions. In December 2012, she was honored as an outstanding Ph.D. student at Shahid Motahari Festival, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The same year, she was recognized as an honored Ph.D. student researcher in the Medical School of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. These accolades highlight her commitment to advancing immunology and her dedication to scientific discovery.

Top Noted Publications 📚

Dr. Esmaeil has an impressive portfolio of scientific publications in high-impact journals. Her research has significantly contributed to the field of immunology, earning her an H-index of 19. Some of her notable publications include:

  • Different Behavior of NK Cells Isolated from Healthy Women and Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (RSA) after Treatment with Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells (hAECs)Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2025. [Accepted]
  • Liposomal AZD5363 Displays Antiproliferation Activities and Induces Apoptosis on Y79 Retinoblastoma Cancer CellsSouth Asian Journal of Cancer, 2024.
  • Evaluation of the Natural Killer Cell Subsets and Their Relationship with Serum Interferon Gamma and Vitamin D Levels in Women with Stages III and IV Endometriosis: A Case-Control StudyInternational Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine, 2024.
  • Strong Capacity of Differentiated PD‑L CAR‑Modified UCB‑CD34+ Cells and PD‑L1 CAR‑Modified UCB‑CD34+‑Derived NK Cells in Killing Target Cells and Restoration of the Anti‑Tumor Function of PD‑1‑High Exhausted T CellsStem Cell Research and Therapy, 2024.
  • More Balance Toward Activating Receptors and Cytotoxic Activity of NK Cells Ex Vivo Differentiated from Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived CD34+ Stem Cells in Comparison with Peripheral Blood NK CellsHeliyon, 2024.
  • Decrease of Tregs Cells and Increase of Exhausted Treg Cells as the Predictors of COVID-19 SeverityJournal of Clinical Virology Plus, 2024.
  • Investigating the Effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum on the Aggressive Behavior of Cancer‑Associated Fibroblasts in Colorectal CancerDiscover Oncology, 2024.
  • Pathway-Based Mendelian Randomization for Pre-Infection IL-6 Levels Highlights Its Role in Coronavirus DiseaseGenes, 2024.
  • Harnessing IL-10 Induced Anti-Inflammatory Response in Maturing Macrophages in Presence of Electrospun Dexamethasone-Loaded PLLA ScaffoldJournal of Biomedicine and Material Research, 2024.
  • A 2-Week Combined High-Intensity Interval Training Regulates Inflammatory Status in Young Females with ObesitySport and Science, 2023.

Conclusion

Dr. Nafiseh Esmaeil is a highly qualified candidate for the Research for Women Researcher Award, given her strong publication record, contributions to immunology, academic achievements, and research impact. To further solidify her application, she could expand her international research collaborations, highlight funding successes, and emphasize her role in mentoring female scientists.

Shaghayegh Baradaran Ghavami | Autoimmune disease and Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Dr.Shaghayegh Baradaran Ghavami | Autoimmune disease and Immunology | Best Researcher Award

The head of IBD lab Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran

Shaghayegh Baradaran Ghavami is a distinguished microbiologist and researcher at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. She has made significant contributions to the field of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) through her innovative research on the gut microbiome and its implications for human health. With a strong academic background and numerous publications, she continues to advance our understanding of microbiology and its applications in medical science.

Profile

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Education 🎓

Shaghayegh Baradaran Ghavami holds a Clinical Research Fellowship (2020-2021) from the Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran (2010-2015), and an MS.c in Microbiology (2008-2010) from Islamic Azad University North Tehran Branch. She completed her BS.c in Molecular and Cellular Microbiology at the same university (2000-2004).

Experience 💼

Shaghayegh has extensive experience in research and academia. She served as a Research Assistant (2016-2020), where she conducted and supervised various research projects. During her Ph.D. (2010-2015), she focused on “Alterations of the human gut Methanobrevibacter smithii as a biomarker for inflammatory bowel diseases.” Additionally, she worked as a tutor in the Microbiology department at Azad University, Medical Branch of Tehran (2010-2019), and observed research at Dr. Jeremy Burton Lab at Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada (2018).

Research Interests 🔬

Shaghayegh’s research interests lie in microbiology, specifically in studying the gut microbiome’s role in inflammatory bowel diseases and other gastrointestinal disorders. Her work focuses on the interplay between host genetic polymorphisms and microbial communities, aiming to uncover novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for IBD and related conditions.

Awards 🏆

Shaghayegh has been recognized for her contributions to science, including receiving a $30,000 grant from Orchid Life Company for her IBD & COVID-19 project in May 2020. She has also been nominated for various academic awards for her groundbreaking research.

Publications 📚

  1. Kazemifard N, Farmani M, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. A prediction of the CRNDE role by modulating NF-κB pathway in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). BB Rreports. 2024 May. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101731.
  2. Vaezi Z, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, Farmani, et al. Oral Formulation of 5-Aminosalicylic Acid-Hemoglobin Bio-Adhesive Nanoparticles Enhance Therapeutic Efficiency in Ulcerative Colitis Mice: A Preclinical Evaluation. J Pharm Sci. 2024 Apr 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2024.03.028.
  3. Basiji K, Sendani AA, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. The critical role of gut-brain axis microbiome in mental disorders. Metab Brain Dis. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-023-01248-w.
  4. Khazdouz M, Daryani NE, Cheraghpour M, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. The effect of selenium supplementation on disease activity and immune-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Nutr. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03214-9.
  5. Asadzadeh-Aghdaei H, Rejali L, Nourian M, Chaleshi V, Zamani N, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. Toll-like Receptor 7 is a novel non-invasive inflammatory genetic sensor for ulcerative colitis remission monitoring. Adv Biomed Res. 2023 Feb 25. https://doi.org/10.4103/abr.abr_24_22.
  6. Hatamnejad MR, Karvandi M, Jodatfar F, Ebrahimi N, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. Evaluation of adalimumab effects on left ventricle performance by echocardiography indexes among patients with immunosuppressant refractory ulcerative colitis. Front Med. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.1008711.
  7. Hatamnejad MR, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, Marzieh Shirvani, et al. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and inflammatory bowel disease; Beneficial or malpractice. Front Immunol. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.980189.
  8. Kazemifard N, Dehkohneh A, Baradaran Ghavami Sh. Probiotics and probiotic-based vaccines: A novel approach for improving vaccine efficacy. Front Med. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.940454.
  9. Rajabnia M, Hajimirzaei SM, Hatamnejad MR, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. Obesity is a challenge in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Immunol Res. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-022-09315-7.
  10. Mobin Makhmalbaf, Seyed Masoud Hosseini, Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in Stool and Plasma Samples of Laboratory Confirmed Iranian COVID-19. Front Mol Biosci. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2022.865129.
  11. Khoramjoo SM, Kazemifard N, Baradaran Ghavami Sh, Farmani M, Shahrokh S, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Sherkat G, Zali MR. Overview of Three Proliferation Pathways (Wnt, Notch, and Hippo) in Intestine and Immune System and Their Role in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs). Front Med (Lausanne). 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.865131.