Professor Rahim Sorouri, the general director of the Pasteur Institute of Iran and his counterpart at Pasteur Institute of St. Petersburg, by signing a memorandum of cooperation, announced their plan to promote joint research, educational, and production cooperation in order to improve the health of the people of the two countries. This memorandum was signed by Prof. Rahim Sorouri and Prof. Arg Totolian, the presidents of the Pasteur Institute of the two countries, on September 29, 2022, at the Pasteur Institute in St. Petersburg. By signing this memorandum, the parties aimed to plan for developing research projects focusing on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and focusing on diseases transmissible between humans and animals, gastrointestinal infections, hepatitis and HIV, microbial resistance and COVID-19.

The parties also expressed their desire to implement joint educational programs and improve their educational and research systems based on international standards; these joint programs can lead to further strengthening of the abilities of both sides and help to realize joint scientific and educational missions.

The parties meanwhile agreed that in the near future, the experiences gained in order to create greater capacities for the diagnosis, control, and prevention of infectious diseases, including the production of vaccines and share diagnostic kits with each other.

It should be mentioned that the president and accompanying delegation from the Pasteur Institute of Iran participated in the 14th Yersinia International Symposium, which was held with the participation of 17 countries, at the invitation of the Russian side during their stay in St. Petersburg and they presented 3 speeches presenting achievements of Pasteur Institute of Iran in this regard. In this symposium, the prize for the best presentation of the article by young researchers (under 40 years old) was awarded to Dr. Saber Esmaili, a member of the scientific faculty of Pasteur Institute of Iran.

Last but not the least, the Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, with a history of 115 years, is considered one of the most reliable and well-equipped research, production and educational institutions in the field of infectious diseases in Europe, and the development of cooperation between these two institutes can be a clear horizon in the direction of further improving people's health.