Iranian Scientists Win Gold Medal at Thailand's IPITEX 2026
Researchers and inventors from Iran won a gold medal at Thailand's International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEX) 2026, receiving the honor from the National Research Council of Thailand in the field of medicine (neuroscience) and artificial intelligence for their invention titled “OligoTau-Select™: Precision 18F Radiotracer for Selective In Vivo Detection and Quantification of Neurotoxic Tau Oligomers in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Using Standard PET-MRI,” which was held from January 5 to 9, 2026, corresponding to Dey 15 to 19, 1404 in the Iranian calendar, at BITEC, Bangkok's permanent exhibition center.
The technology team consisted of:
Reza Mosaddeghi Heris: Project manager; inventor and researcher in the fields of novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system cancers; a medical doctor from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences; senior researcher at the Clinical Research Development Unit of Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz, and the Neuroscience Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences; author of more than 50 scientific and research papers in leading international journals, including The Lancet and The Lancet Neurology; author of 10 books in neuroscience and artificial intelligence; collaborator on Global Burden of Disease projects with the IHME at the University of Washington, USA; and member of the editorial boards of Inflammopharmacology in Switzerland and The Journal of Headache and Pain in Italy.
Hamed Aghazadeh: Inventor and researcher in the fields of cancer, stem cells, regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems, and formulation; microbiologist, holder of a master's degree in pharmaceutical engineering (M.Pharm.Eng) from the University of Tehran, and a professional doctorate student in pharmacy (Pharm.D).
Kimia Bagheri: Inventor and researcher in the fields of brain tumors, malignancies, and cancers of the central nervous system; a medical doctor from Babol University of Medical Sciences and holder of an MPH from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences; author of more than dozens of scientific and research papers in reputable international journals, as well as several books and research works in neuroscience; collaborator on international projects, including work with Keck Medicine of California in the field of brain tumors and artificial intelligence; researcher in health policy, especially regarding the excessive use of drugs in Iran; member of the World Inventors Organization and winner of a gold medal at the 2025 international competition in Geneva, Switzerland.
Alireza Taheri: Active inventor and researcher in artificial intelligence and related technologies; holds a master's degree in software engineering; project manager and senior engineer in smart home systems development; researcher and author of scientific papers and books related to the analysis and application of artificial intelligence in implementing smart systems in the health sector.Niloofar Taheri: Inventor and researcher in the fields of neurology, neuroimmunology, and pharmacology; a medical doctor from Shahroud University of Medical Sciences and a postdoctoral researcher at the Mignot Lab, Stanford University, USA; collaborator on an international neuroimmunology project on Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease with Stanford University, USA; author of more than dozens of scientific and research papers in neuroimmunology and neurology; founder of the Autoimmune Diseases Association at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences; winner of gold medals and special awards at international competitions in invention, innovation, and new technologies for inventors around the world.
Hanie Karimi: Inventor and researcher in brain imaging, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience; holder of a professional medical doctorate and an MPH from Tehran University of Medical Sciences; author and co-author of more than 50 scientific and research papers published in reputable international journals, including The Lancet, and Springer books; contributor to the registration of several international patents while in Iran; international referee for prestigious foreign scientific and research journals with more than 100 reviews; winner of gold medals and special awards at IFIA and WIIPA world invention, innovation, and new technology competitions in various countries; recently emigrated to the United States and started working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan.Negar Babapour: Inventor, researcher, and physician in the fields of neurology, cancer, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, and modern diagnostic methods; graduate of the professional medical doctorate program from Zanjan University of Medical Sciences; author of scientific and research papers and contributor to specialized books in cancer, neurology, and modern approaches to medical diagnosis.
By presenting this innovative invention in medicine (neuroscience) and artificial intelligence, titled “OligoTau-Select™: Precision 18F Radiotracer for Selective In Vivo Detection and Quantification of Neurotoxic Tau Oligomers,” the team was honored to receive the gold medal of the 2026 Thailand International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEX) from the National Research Council of Thailand.Mr. Hamed Aghazadeh, CEO of NoyanGen Biotechnology Research Company and one of the inventors of this project, told our reporter: “Thailand's International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEX) 2026 was held from January 5 to 9, 2026, corresponding to Dey 15 to 19, 1404, by the Government of Thailand and the National Research Council of Thailand, with the support of the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and scientific and research organizations, inventor-related centers, and the ministries of science, education and research of various countries around the world, at BITEC, Bangkok's permanent exhibition venue.”
Aghazadeh added: “In this competition, inventors from reputable universities
and scientific and research institutions from more than 25 countries, including France, Germany, Romania, Russia, Croatia, Malaysia, India, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Iran, and others, participated with nearly 700 inventions and competed in more than 25 scientific categories. This diverse composition reflected the fully international nature of the festival and the East-West connection in Bangkok, Thailand, and, given the support of major international organizations in the field of invention, this global arena is considered one of the finest and most prestigious scientific events in the world of inventions.”Aghazadeh told our reporter: The inventions presented at IPITEX 2026 covered various fields of science, including medicine, pharmacy, engineering, technology, energy, environmental protection, safety, and industry, as well as practical solutions for improving everyday life. The inventions were judged by an international multidisciplinary panel including university professors, technologists, intellectual property specialists, and industry leaders. The judging process was carried out in a precise, transparent, and fair manner to ensure that only the best inventions were honored. At the same time, nearly 700 teams from more than 25 countries participated in the 2026 Thailand International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition, and we achieved first place in the world in medicine and artificial intelligence.
Explaining the innovative project, Aghazadeh said:
This project introduces OligoTau-Select™, an advanced small-molecule radiotracer labeled with 18F that selectively binds to soluble tau oligomer species (p-tau S202/T205). These species are the first neurotoxic aggregates involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unlike current PET tau radiotracers, which mainly focus on late-stage neurofibrillary tangles, OligoTau-Select™ enables non-invasive identification of early pathology up to ten years before the onset of clinical symptoms. This radiotracer is synthesized in a single step through nucleophilic fluorination with 18F. It also has rapid brain uptake, high specificity, and subnanomolar affinity. When this method is combined with standard clinical PET-MRI, it creates a co-registered index called OTBI, or the Oligomeric Tau Burden Index, which combines molecular signal intensity with regional brain atrophy.”In vitro and in vivo studies show more than 95% selectivity for oligomers, excellent penetration of the blood-brain barrier, and strong imaging contrast in transgenic Alzheimer's models. This breakthrough fills a major diagnostic gap in early Alzheimer's disease and makes it possible to intervene before symptoms appear, as well as to better select patients for new disease-modifying therapies. The platform uses GMP-compatible chemistry and existing scanner technologies, and therefore represents a scalable option ready for clinical use in precision neurology.
12:36 - 8 تیر 1405
