Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran

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About the Center

 

The Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI) is a premier research institute affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Our primary mission is to conduct high-impact research on parasitic diseases that are endemic to different parts of Iran as well as some it’s neighboring countries. The center focuses on understanding the parasitology, epidemiology, immunopathology, diagnostic methods, prevention and control strategies of endemic parasites of Iran, such as Leishmania spp. Plasmodium spp., Toxoplama and other coccidian parasites, Amoeba and other intestinal and reductive protozoan parasites, Echinococcus spp. Fasciola spp., other tissue and intestinal human and zoonotic helminths, emerging and re-emerging parasites.

 

Research Focus Area

 

  • Endemic Parasitic infections in Humans
  • Molecular Parasitology and Diagnostic Development
  • Host-Parasite interaction
  • Seroepidemiological aspects of Parasitic Infections
  • Anti-parasitic Resistance to current anti-parasitic drugs
  • Studies on different aspects of Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases

 

Expertise, Facilities & Research Services
  • Advanced Molecular Diagnostics of parasitic infections (PCR, qRT-PCR, Sequencing)
  • Serological Surveillance of some endemic parasitic diseases i.e. Direct Agglutination Test – DAT for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in human and animal reservoir hosts.
  • Establishment of Parasitology Reference Laboratory
  • Establishment of Biobank of Endemic Parasite Specimens
  • Field Epidemiology and Surveillance Networks for some endemic parasitic infections
  • Zoonotic Disease Research Facilities
  • Access to Unique Patient Cohorts and Clinical Data
  • Research Laboratory for Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies
  • Collaboration with TUMS Faculties and International Partners

 

Collaboration Opportunities

 

We actively seek national and international collaborations to advance research on endemic parasites. The center welcomes partnerships for joint research projects focusing on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of parasitic diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis and other parasitic diseases. We offer opportunities for academic exchange, including visiting scholars, and student and faculty exchange programs. We are also open to collaborative clinical trials and technology development, particularly in the field of diagnostics. Furthermore, we encourage industry partnerships to translate our research findings into practical solutions, such as new diagnostic kits and treatment strategies. Our extensive fieldwork and established networks in endemic regions provide a unique platform for impactful collaborative research.

 

Director & Key Researchers

 

Director: Prof. Hossein Keshavarz (H-Index= 28)
Key Researchers: The center is composed of a distinguished team of principal investigators from the Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology at TUMS, including:

  • Prof. Mehdi Mohebali (H-Index=48) and member of 1% world scientists in medical sciences referring to ESI from 2018.
  • Prof. Mohammad Bagher Rokni (H-Index=26)
  • Dr. Gholamreza Hassanpour(H-Index=15)
  • Prof. Mehdi Nateghpour (H-Index= 16)
  • Prof. Mohammad Reza Shirzadi (H-Index=21)
  • Prof. Mostafa Rezaiian (H-Index=33)
  • Prof. Gholamreza Mowlavi Vardanjani (H-Index=20)
  • Dr. Ahmad Raeisi (H-Index=26)
  • Prof. Mohammad Zibae (H-Index=25)
  • Dr. Mohammad Mahdavi (H-Index=54)
  • Prof. Hosein Hoseini (H-Index=31)
  • Dr. Kamran Mirzaiee (H-Index=6)
  • Prof. Kazem Mohammad (H-Index=55)
  • Link to Center Members: For a complete list of center and their profiles, please visit the TUMS faculty webpage: https://cv.tums.ac.ir/ 

 

Selected Achievements

 

  • Establishment of laboratory diagnostic methods of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Iran
  • National Seroepidemiological Surveys: Conducting comprehensive serological surveillance for visceral leishmaniasis across Iran, identifying and mapping new endemic foci to support disease control efforts.
  • Development and Standardization of DAT: Refining and utilizing the Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) as an accuracy and reliable method for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in human and animal reservoirs.
  • Influential Systematic Reviews: Production of high-impact systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the prevalence of parasitic infections, informing public health policy in the Middle East.
  • One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Pioneering research on parasitic transmission at the animal-human interface, including studies on dogs, cats, and rodents as potential reservoirs for human diseases
  • Studies on some aspects of emerging parasitic disease in Iran such as human fascioliasis ,VL coinfected with AIDS and so on.
  • Design of some studies on paleo-parasitology in ancient’s coprolite, mummy and carcass.

 

Why Collaborate with Us?

 

As a WHO Collaborating Centre candidate and a key research arm of TUMS, CREPI offers unparalleled access to endemic patient cohorts and a National Referral Center for parasitic diseases. Our unique strength lies in our capacity for translational research, from understanding basic host-parasite interactions at the molecular level to conducting large-scale field epidemiology in remote areas. Our advanced research infrastructure and extensive databases on regional parasitic diseases make us an attractive and reliable partner for international research projects aiming to tackle neglected tropical diseases.

 

Contact Information

 

Center Name: Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI)

Address: North Kargar Street, before Keshavarz Boulevard, next to Hani Bal Pastry Shop, Research Institute Building, Tehran, Iran.

Telephone: 021-88969752

Email: crepi.Iran@gmail.com

Website: https://crepi.tums.ac.ir/

Last Update At : 07 September 2026