Tehran - The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute has held high-level talks with senior officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters to strengthen collaboration in vaccine production, technology transfer, technical support, and participation in international scientific and training programs.

 

The hybrid in-person and virtual meeting brought together Dr. Seyed Reza Bani Hashemi, Director of Research and Development, and Dr. Raynak Ghaderi, Head of International Relations at Razi Institute, with WHO officials including the Director of Health Product Policies and Standards, the Head of Domestic Production, and the Head of Vaccine Research at the organization’s Geneva headquarters.

 

Razi representatives highlighted Iran’s strong technological capacity in vaccine development, urging broader cooperation on next-generation platforms - particularly mRNA - alongside a joint project to produce the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Proposals also included establishing a Vaccine Technology Tower, partnering in advanced training programs such as ADVAC and PDVAC, and co-hosting an international vaccine congress.

 

Dr. Bani Hashemi underscored the strategic importance of the planned Vaccine Technology Tower, describing it as the largest biotechnology center in Iran and a future regional hub for vaccine research and innovation. He also emphasized Iran’s readiness to partner with WHO on IPV production, in line with the organization’s strategy to phase out oral polio vaccines (OPV) and transition to IPV as part of the global polio eradication effort.