A memorial ceremony honoring the late Professor Farrokh Modabber, former Director-General of the Pasteur Institute of Iran and a distinguished researcher at Tehran University’s School of Public Health, was held on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The event took place in the Modarres Hall of the Pasteur Institute of Iran and was attended by the Director-General, Deputy Directors, faculty members, staff, and esteemed guests from the Institute's Board of Trustees, the Ministry of Health, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

The ceremony began with verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a eulogy delivered by Professor Ehsan Mostafavi, the Director-General of the Pasteur Institute of Iran. He highlighted Professor Modabber’s scientific excellence, ethical qualities, and the impactful tenure he had during his time as Director-General. Several former colleagues also shared their memories, emphasizing his exemplary role in advancing training in biomedical fields.

In another segment of the event, a video interview of Professor Modabber, recorded in 2023 by the Institute’s Public Relations Office, was played. In this interview, Professor Modabber underscored the importance of impactful scientific work for the public good and emphasized the necessity of conducting applied research.

Professor Farrokh Modabber was a pioneer in immunology whose foundational research significantly advanced understanding of cellular immunity and vaccine development, particularly in the fight against leishmaniasis. Born in Rasht, north of Iran in 1940, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Bacteriology and his Ph.D. in Microbiology from UCLA. He initially joined Harvard Medical School as a researcher and later served as a faculty member at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), where he played a central role in advancing cellular immunology.

In the early 1970s, Professor Modabber returned to Iran, holding positions including head of the Pathobiology Department at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. During this period, he initiated the joint Master’s program in Immunology between Tehran University and Harvard, which profoundly influenced the careers of many Iranian immunologists in the following decades. He also held prominent roles such as Director of the Pasteur Institute of Iran (1978), Visiting Scientist at Institut Pasteur in Paris (1979–1982), visiting professor of Immunology at various world-renowned universities, coordinator of the WHO Tropical Disease Research (TDR; 1984–2000), Director of the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI; 2000–2004), and senior advisor for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi; 2004–2024). 

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