SUMS Professor, Dr. Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya, Announced as Distinguished Researcher

Dr. Ali Akbar Asadi-pooya, Professor of the Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) and Adjunct Research Associate Professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University, USA, was selected as the Country’s distinguished researcher in the 21st Festival of celebrating the Iranian’s distinguished researchers and technologists.

According to SUMS Public Relations, Dr. Ali Akbar Asadi-pooya, fellow graduate in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy from Thomas Jefferson University, USA, the top-rated person in seizures in Asia, with  achievements as follows; publishing 213 international articles (Scopus), 11 books, and 210 articles in PubMed, as well as developing a tool for antiseizure medications, EpiPick, and an AI-based Seizures detection software, was announced as one of the Country’s distinguished researchers in the 21st festival honoring Iranian exemplary researchers and technologists.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Jahangiri, the First Vice President, emphasized the substantial role the universities play in assisting the Country to achieve significant and sustainable developments. Through the endeavors of professors, researchers, and scholars, solutions can be found to various problems of the Country, he added.

Putting an emphasis on the need to develop a culture of research in society, Dr. Jahangiri, stated: Research is not an ornamental and theatrical subject but a necessity for scientific and technological development of the Country; therefore, researchers and scholars are highly valued.

Mohsen Sharifi, Director General of the Research Planning and Policy-making Office at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, also presented a report on the process of holding the festival: “This year in accordance with the approved regulations of the festival, the registration of top researchers and technologists began in September. All scientific and research centers of the Country were asked to send a list of their distinguished researchers, chosen based on the required indicators and provided guidelines, to the festival secretariat located in the Ministry of Science.

The festival secretariat received a total of 301 files. The submitted files included 223 researchers and 78 technologists, all of whom were reviewed by 80 top judges and experts, and finally 17 researchers and 16 technologists were selected, as Dr. Sharifi remarked.

He also mentioned that 15 people were chosen from those who had made a major contribution to the research and technology development in Iran. Six supporters of research and technology projects who cooperated well with Iran’s universities and research centers were also appreciated.

After announcing top 10 journals of the year on research and technology in different areas of knowledge and disciplines, he indicated this year’s criteria for selecting top researchers and technologists. According to Dr. Sharifi, quality scientific publications and their citation in domestic and international indexes, resembling significant contribution to solve the problems of the society, conducting demand-based research, and the amount of sold products were among this year’s selection criteria.

“Due to Covid-19 restrictions, 5 selected people in the field of Research and Technology were appreciated in person and certificates of appreciation will go to the other chosen ones”, Public Relations of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology reported.