History:

The great advances made in basic and clinical immunology in the recent decades and the remark-able rise in the number of patients with asthma and other types of allergies necessitated the establishment of a research center in Iran to encourage and disseminate clinical and basic researches in the above fields. Immunology, Asthma & Allergy Research Institute (IAARI) officially began its scientific activities at the hospital of the Children’s Medical Center on January 31st 2001.
 
This institute by improving the knowledge and technology tries to promote the health indices of the society in the diseases of the immune system, asthma and allergy, based on its strategic plan.
 
UNESCO Chair in Health Education has also been established in this institute since 2004 and collaborates in inter-national projects of research and education.
 
Currently, 22 researchers and 13 executive personnel are working in this institute and several academic staff from different medical universities also collaborate actively with this institute.
 
Research Priorities:
 
  • Epidemiological evaluation of asthma, allergy and immunodeficiency diseases.
 
  • Investigation into the role of environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of asthma, allergy and immunodeficiency.
 
  • Evaluation of geographical distribution of plants and allergenic pollens in Iran.
 
  • Purification of pollen and allergenic food extracts and collaboration for preparation of standardized extracts.
 
  • Evaluation of educational and research methods in diverse social, hygienic and preventive levels especially in asthma, allergy and immunodeficiency diseases in specialized levels and also for patients and their families.
 
- Evaluation and improving quality of life in asthma, allergy and immunodeficiency patients and their families.
 
  • Establishing new laboratory tests to offer prenatal diagnosis, a more precise diagnosis and treatment of asthma, allergies, and immunodeficiency.
 
  • Registering patients in DNA, serum and cell banks for asthma, allergy and immunodeficiency diseases.
  • Investigation into the new medications, traditional remedies and novel preventive and curative measures in asthma, allergies and immunodeficiency diseases.
 
  • Evaluating bone marrow transplantation and immunomodulating methods in allergies, asthma, autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases.
  • Proposing policies and research priorities in immunology, asthma and allergy to policymakers and legal authorities.
  • Performing research in immune-related diseases such as autoimmunity, tumor, infection and cardiovascular diseases.
 
Publications:
 
  • Text Book of Asthma, Basic & Clinical Sciences
 
  • Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in Iran
 
  • National Asthma Guideline
 
  • Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Human Diseases
 
  • Asthma Guideline for Schools: Prevention & Control
 
  • National Anaphylaxis Guideline
 
  • National Food Allergy Guideline
 
  • National Guideline of Hereditary Angioedema for Health Care Providers
 
Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (since 2000):
 
Indexed in Pubmed, ISI and 14 other international databases.
 
Lab Facilities:
 
Central lab:
 
This laboratory with special facilities and equipment, carry out routine immunologic tests and screening of allergy and primary immunodeficiencies.
 
The lab is equipped with Nephelometer, Elisa reader and Elisa washer to evaluate immunoglobulins, subclasses and their function. The quantity and function of all three complement pathways: the classical, alternative and lectin (MBL) is also performed in this lab.
NBT and DHR tests are done to evaluate oxidative burst for diagnosis of CGD patients. Western blotting electrophoresis is also done in order to verify the type of protein in some Immunodeficiencies. Isolation of local plant allergens and identification of protein is done in this lab for characterization of these allergens.
 
It should be noted that in this laboratory the projects of MSc and PhD students are in progress.
 
 
Genetic Lab:
 
Genetic diagnosis for 13 immunodeficiency diseases including: severe combined immunodeficiency disorders (SCID), Wiskott -Aldrich syndrome (WAS), chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), Griscelli syndrome, x-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), severe congenital neutropenia syndrome (SCNS), warts hypogammaglobulinemia infection-smyelokathexis syndrome (WHIM), familial hemophagcytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome (HLH), hyper IgM syndrome, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC), leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LADs), hereditary angioedema (HAE), hyper IgE syndrome, and Hermansky Pudlak syndrome is made in this lab.
 
Cell Culture Lab:
For research and diagnostic purposes, cell culture and lymphocyte function tests are performed in this lab.
 
Allergy Lab:
 
This lab is equipped with ImmunoCAP system, RIDA Quadro Screen, Q line Allergy system and plate reader. ImmunoCAP system detects specific IgE against different allergens with high accuracy in-dividedly and RIDA Quadro Screen test and Qline Allergy detect 20 allergens (in four different standard panels) simultaneously. Some allergens (such as drug and food allergens) are also measured using specific IgE ELISA kit.
 
 
Microscopic Examination Lab:
 
Research Stereo microscope, compound, invert and fluorescent microscopes are available in this lab for research and diagnostic aims.
 
Library:
 
The library consists of 675 categorized titles in immunology, laboratory techniques, cellular and molecular subjects, medicine, Immunology, allergy and asthma global and national guidelines, traditional medicine, nutrition and statistics.
 
Main Activities:
 
  • Setting up Basic and Clinical Immunology Network in Iran
 
  • Establishment of educational-scientific policy-making council
 
  • Constitution of expert committees with collaboration of related professors and researchers
  • Founding stem cell transplantation committee for primary immunodeficiency patients in collaboration with Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center
 
  • Establishing Ethics committee
 
  • Performing diagnostic tests for Immunodeficiency patients
 
  • Measuring Specific IgE by ImmunoCAP, RIDA Allergy
 
Screen and …
 
  • Establishment of specialty clinics to visit referral patients from all over the country
 
  • Genetic counseling by expert geneticians
 
  • Establishment of National registries of: Hereditary Angioedema ,Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis, Food Allergy, Anaphylaxis, and Primary immunodeficiency with collaboration of Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education
 
  • Establishing the Bank of Genetics and Biological Resources (DNA, cells, serum, HLA) of patients with Immunology,
 
Asthma and Allergy.
 
  • Genetic diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency before and after birth
 
  • Enrollment and training of PhD students (By Research)
 
  • Training international students for Short fellowships or PhD
 
  • Conducting International research projects in collaboration with research institutes from other countries such as: Ger-many, Sweden, Hungary, France, Italy and….
 
  • Creating Charity for Primary Immunodeficiency patients.
 
 
Patient-centered Activity
  • Patient Education: face to face education, educational materials (poster, brochure, booklet, etc)
 
-Translation and publication of 10 Warning Signs of Primary imunodeficiencies poster with collaboration of Jeffery
 
Model Foundation (JMF)
 
  • Patient conferences and gatherings
 
  • Celebrating World PI Week(22-29 April)
 
  • Providing Emergency ID Card for patients with Anaphylaxis,

 
Hereditary Angioedema and Immunodeficiencies

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