Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine

Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine (RI-RB) tries to increase the fertility success rate alongside improving the embryo health through carrying out researches in different aspects of infertility treatment, with the vision of improving the health of populations. The main focus of research in the six departments of RI-RB includes: improving ovarian stimulation protocols; improving embryo implantation conditions; etiological diagnosing of embryo implantation failures and spontaneous abortions; improving sperm quality, count, selection and isolation methods; evaluating the side effects of cancer treatments on gametes; studying the ovarian tissue cryopreservation and in vitro culture of ovarian follicles; early diagnosing of fetal anomalies; epigenetic study of sperm, oocytes and embryos pre-implantation genetic diagnosis; evaluating the environmental and occupational factors affecting reproduction; studying the effect of quality of life parameters on infertility treatment.

RI-RB Departments

• Embryology
• Endocrinology and Female Infertility
• Ethics and Medical Law
• Male Infertility
• Reproductive Genetics
• Reproductive Imaging

For more communication between basic sciences and clinics, there are also six initiatives:

• Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF) and Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (RSA)
• Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Oncofertility
• Endometriosis
• Andrology

Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology

This department was established in 2002 providing a platform for interactions between researchers interested in the biology of stem cells, differentiation and regeneration.

Department of Cell Engineering

This department was established in 2016 with aim to provide a multidisciplinary environment for collaboration of biologists, engineers, chemists and physicists.

Department of Animal Biotechnology

This department consists of three groups and four laboratories including: Cellular Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology and Reproductive Biotechnology groups. Genetic, Stem Cell, Andrology and Embryology laboratories.

Research Center for Basic and Population Based Studies in Non-Communicable Diseases According to the latest report from the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently 463 million people with diabetes worldwide, half of whom are undiagnosed. It is also estimated that in the next 15 years, the global prevalence will increase to 700 million people. Iran is considered the third country in the region with an adult population (age 20-79) of more than 5 million people with diabetes. In 1980 the global obesity prevalence was reported 29% which risen to 37% in 2013. In Iran, over 25 million people are overweight (63% of adult population). Moreover, 30% of the countryʼs children population are considered overweight. Currently there are one million obese people in the country and it is anticipated that there will be a rapid escalation of obesity in Iran over the next few years. Taken together, these health concerns make a great challenge and considerable economic burden on the countryʼs healthcare system and the growing rate necessitates a systematic approach in all aspects of research, prevention and therapy.

In Center for Basic and Population Based Studies in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) the researchers study on the following issues:

• Cell-based therapy research: development of stem cells and pancreatic islet transplantation technologies
• Biodiscovery and disease modeling: cell-based disease modeling, generation of transgenic animal models for diseases, natural compound discovery by high-throughput screenings to test on cell and animal models of disease
• Clinical and epidemiological studies: designing epidemiological studies on the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and other endocrine diseases among juveniles and adults to find disease prevention methods; designing and running clinical trials for novel treatments in endocrine and metabolic diseases; conducting systematic reviews on subjects lacking scientific consensus.

Royan Applied Research Centers and Core Facilities

• Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center

The Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP), founded in 2018, focuses on the design and implementation of the research and development of regenerative medicine products prior to the introduction of the cell product into the pharmaceutical market. In this regard, the production unit finds reliable cellular resources and checks the safety and efficacy of cellular products. In the quality control unit, they try to monitor the production of safe and efficient products in accordance with international standards. The quality assurance unit strictly monitors the documentation of all stages of production based on the defined protocols according to international standards. The mission of the ATMP center is to create a reliable and efficient bridge between the laboratory and pre-clinical stages of regenerative medicine products to the treatment and industrial production of high-scale products.

• Royan Biotechnology Center

Royan Biotechnology Center (RBC) was founded in 2017 by pioneers in genetic engineering and biotechnology at Royan institute, Tehran-Iran. RBC is a provider of cell-based biotechnologies that are vital to the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins; such as monoclonal antibodies and difficult-to-express proteins, including Fc-fusion proteins, bi-specific monoclonal antibodies. This center can facilitate the production of virtually any recombinant protein as well.

Laboratory Animal Science Core Facility

The Laboratory Animal Science Core Facility of Royan Institute plays a national role in education of scholars performing ground researches on experimental animals, by organizing proficient gadget in all categories within the animal research fields. Each center has three major activities:

• Maintenance and breeding the animals
• Creating animal models with surgical manipulations or chemical interactions
• Research and development in animal modeling

Scientists of this service unit facility who are responsible for the design of animal experiments have to be graduated in Veterinary Medicine or one of biomedical science fields and must have taken a course on laboratory animal science which concentrates on humane and gentle handling of animals. They also should be aware of knowledge of alternative routes and ethical aspects of animal experimentation. Modern laboratory animal science builds on the three Rs of Russell & Burch:

• Replacement: Replace animal experiments with alternatives whenever possible.
• Reduction: Reduce the number of experiments and number of animals in each experiment to an absolute minimum
• Refinement: Refine experiments so that the animals undergo a minimum of discomfort.

The primary aim of the Laboratory Animal Facility is to ensure that the three Rs are followed in practice.

Royan Center for Innovative Technologies Acceleration and Commercialization

Royan Innovative Technologies Acceleration and Commercialization Center (RITAC) was established in 2019, enhancing the fundamental values of Royan Institute for commercialization of research findings to offer services and biological products for the purpose of resolving the countryʼs specialized needs. RITAC investigates on feasibility of studies, writes business plans, and guides Research and Technology Laboratory (RTL) researches to a higher financing and investment level. It also makes correlation between innovators, idea owner and investors.

RITAC is responsible for Venture Capital (VC) investment in Royan Institute through which some functional sciencebased companies and startup offices are handled. Here three companies are mentioned:

Royan Stem Cell Technology Company

Royan Stem Cell Technology Company holds two private and public cord blood banks. The cord blood-extracted stem cell samples stored in both public and private banks, have made our country self-sufficient in providing the needed cells for cell-based transplantation. More than dozens thousand samples have been already stored in private bank whose owners have given their voluntary informed consent in donating them to the needy patients.

Cell Tech Pharmed Company

Cell Tech Pharmed is a knowledge-based company affiliated to Royan Institute and was launched with the investment of the Execution of Imam Khomeiniʼs Order in 2018. Cell Tech Pharmed is one of the subsidiaries of Barekat Pharmaceutical Group; that is operating in the fields of developing and transferring technical knowledge, commercialization of new technologies and drug manufacturing. Royan researchers have been making enormous and continuous effort to apply stem cells for treatment of patients, and after several years of effort, Cell Tech Pharmed is launched in order to pave the way for better treatment procedures and satisfactory services for patients.

Infertility Clinic

The rate of infertility between Iranian couples is estimated to be 10-15%. Royan Infertility Clinic is the second clinic which was established in Iran and the first one in Tehran in 1991. After 30- years experience in this field; although there are more than 80 infertility clinics throughout Iran, but due to high success rates in Royan infertility clinic, many patients prefer to have their treatments in this clinic. Most of our patients are referred by other physicians and clinics. Each year we have about 200,000 clinic visits and 6500 treatment cycles including numerous foreign patients who come to Iran for infertility treatment. Different services include: diagnostic and operative laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, cyctoscopy, IUI, ovulation induction, IVF, ICSI, PGT, PESA/TESE, microscopic TESA, vasovasostomy, vasoepididymostomy, TURD, gamete and embryo cryopreservation, assisted hatching, karyotyping, molecular genetic tests such as Factor V Leiden, Factor II and MTHFR gene, as well as others routinely offered to patients. More than three thousand couples have already had successful pregnancy in Royan Infertility Clinic.

Cell Therapy Center

Royan Cell Therapy Center was established in 2008 to provide medical services and perform clinical trials. Available services through Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) grade cell products are:

• Mesenchymal stromal cells for Osteoarthritis
• Melanocytes cells for Vitiligo
• Fibroblast cells for Wrinkle and Acne Scar
• Mono nuclear cells for Heart Failure
• Limbal stem cells for Chemical Injury of Cornea
• Muscle derived stem cells for Stress Incontinency

Diabetes Clinic

Based on a decade of experience in basic and translational diabetes research, Diabetes Clinic of Royan Institute was established in 2019 to pursue its goals by implementing an interdisciplinary approach and building effective collaborations. The clinic has recruited expert human resources including scientists, clinicians and engineers and provides specialized facilities for better access of patients to standards of diabetes treatment.

Diabetes Clinic of Royan Institute helps to prevent diabetes by local population screening, and consists of several clinics including: Endocrine, Diabetes, Foot ulcer, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Psychology and Optometry Clinics. Each patient is assumed to be visited in all clinics in which special examination of patients such as exercise instructions by the specialist physicians for effective treatment and prevention of long-term complications of the disease are provided.

EDUCATION

Since 1994 and paralleled with other specialized clinical and research-based activities, Royan Institute has been actively engaged to enhance the scientific level of researchers and transfer the experiences to national and international researchers through providing the teaching/learning opportunities in terms of long and short term specialized educational and training courses. These educational activities are as follow:

1. Master of Science: Developmental Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Genetics and Biochemistry
2. PhD by research: Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Animal Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Reproductive Biology
3. Course-Based PhD: Tissue Engineering, Applied Cell Sciences, Reproductive Biomedicine and Developmental Biology
4. Infertility Infetility and Andrology Fellowships The short-term courses in Royan International Specialized Training Center including specialized workshops, seminars, symposiums and congresses for national and international audiences are hold by the following different departments of Royan Institute: Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine (Embryology, Female and Male Infertility, Genetics, Imaging, Nursing & Midwifery) and Stem Cell Biology and Technology.

Royan Edu-Tourism

Since 1993, Royan Institute has paid special attention to education and the transfer of the specialized experiences to national and international researchers, in line with raising students, researcher and public health awareness through providing research programs and specialized clinical services. Since, “Education” is stated as one of the main themes of Royan Institute strategic plan, it is particularly significant for the deputy of education to prepare the strategic plan with emphasis on directorsʼ invaluable experiences and the facilities and potentials of the institute. The various scientific laboratories of Royan Edu-Tourism Center include: Cell Culture, Molecular, General Lab, Embryology, Flow cytometry, Clean Room and Animal Surgery room.

Royan International Twin Congress Royan

International Twin Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine and Stem Cells Biology & Technology is a unique event in its own field in Iran and the Middle East. The congress is a joint of two separate congresses with different themes held annually by Royan Reproductive Biomedicine and Stem Cell Biology & Technology Research Institutes. The congress main objective is to bring together researchers and practitioners from all over the world to stimulate and promote research in Royan Congress fields of interest. Moreover, Royan International Twin Congress is an extraordinary opportunity and promising occasion for international participants to experience the warm hospitality of Iranians and it is an exciting adventure to visit Iranʼs picturesque and glamorous beauties to touch the rich Iranian history, glamorous architecture, and art as well as vast diversity of natural landscapes and resources.

Faculty of Basic Sciences and Medical Technology

By virtue of establishment authorization issued by Ministry of Medical Education, the Faculty of Basic Science and Advanced Technology was founded in 2017. The higher education courses were launched by enjoyment and support of scientific hubsʼ capabilities affiliated to ACECR. PhD courses offered in this faculty are as follows:

1. Applied Cell Science in cooperation with Royan Institute
2. Tissue Engineering in collaboration with Royan Institute
3. Reproductive Biology in partnership with Avicenna Institute

ROYAN INSTITUTE PUBLICATION

Royan publications include scientific books in national and international levels in different Royan Institute fields of interest. Royan Publication Department publishes two scientific journals which are published quarterly as well: Cell Journal and International Journal of Fertility and Sterility.