Key figures in attendance included Saeed Karami, head of the Office of Health and Management of Poultry, Honeybee, and Silkworm Diseases at the Veterinary Organization; Zhila Davarian from the Ministry of Health; Soheila Moradi Bidhendi, Deputy for Research and Technology; and Masoud Ghader, Deputy for Quality Assurance at Razi Institute. The seminar attracted nearly 400 specialists, including university professors, private sector clinicians, and stakeholders from the poultry industry, with many others participating virtually.

The seminar aimed to create an interactive atmosphere for sharing and exchanging the latest findings, fostering collaboration among poultry researchers, industry professionals, and academia.  Soheila Moradi Bidhendi expressed hope that the participation of young professionals would spark new product developments and emphasized the importance of seizing such opportunities.

Alireza Yousefi, the seminar's executive secretary, emphasized Razi Institute's role as a reputable scientific center in veterinary disease research and vaccine production. He noted that the institute possesses up-to-date scientific findings on avian influenza, which can significantly influence new strategies to combat the disease.

During the seminar, researchers unveiled a groundbreaking achievement: the development of a recombinant seed for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5) vaccine using reverse genetic engineering. This seed is the first third-generation vaccine developed in Iran, utilizing circulating native viruses. Mohammad Abdoshah, the scientific secretary, described this development as a major milestone for the nation, following the institute's success in production of a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine, Razi Cov-Pars. He highlighted that while most avian influenza vaccines globally are produced inactivated, Razi Institute has developed a technology that provides strong immunity against wild viruses while posing minimal risk to poultry.

Abdoshah also acknowledged the teamwork efforts of scientists and colleagues from the Mashhad branch of RVSRI in achieving this success.

Moradi Bidhendi, in her remarks, reiterated Razi Institute's commitment to producing high-quality products and emphasized the importance of vaccines in ensuring food security. She addressed the global concerns surrounding avian influenza outbreaks and their impact on the poultry industry.

As Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute approaches its 100th anniversary, Dr. Ali Es-haghi Director General, presented a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Reza Momayez, a distinguished faculty member and researcher at the institute. This recognition was awarded in honor of Dr. Momayez's decades of dedicated research and service in the field of poultry diseases.

In conclusion, Razi Institute announced the semi-industrial production of avian influenza (H5) vaccine with newly developed seed, which will be supplied to the market, marking a significant advancement in the fight against avian influenza in Iran.