Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

A meeting of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) dedicated to the 2025 annual reports of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences (DBMS) of ANAS and the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center (LRSC) was held.

The event was attended by ANAS President Academician Isa Habibbeyli, members of the Presidium, Chair of the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Academician Ahliman Amiraslanov, Deputy Director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Acting Rector of Sumgayit State University, Corresponding Member of ANAS Aminaga Sadiqov, as well as representatives of scientific institutions operating under the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, other state bodies, higher education institutions, and relevant officials.

Prior to the meeting, participants viewed an exhibition reflecting the important scientific results achieved in 2025 at institutes under the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center, as well as agricultural and medical institutions.

Opening the event, ANAS President Academician Isa Habibbeyli provided information on the meeting agenda.

In his address, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that developing Azerbaijani science today in line with the high standards set by President Ilham Aliyev is among the main priorities. He noted that the reports presented across various scientific fields demonstrate positive dynamics in statistical indicators compared to previous years. In particular, the increase in the number of scientific articles published in impact-factor journals, the results of fundamental and applied research, efficiency-oriented proposals and patents clearly indicate the consistent development of Azerbaijani science. He added that the scientific products, research results and publications displayed at exhibitions organized prior to the reports also clearly reflect the current priorities and development directions of national science.

The ANAS President stressed that the important tasks defined by the Head of State for science are being implemented by scientific institutions in a phased and responsible manner, enabling a clear view of development trends and significant achievements in science. He noted that the reports to be presented and the discussions to be held at the meeting would make an important contribution to further deepening research and identifying new directions.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli pointed out that, unlike internal reports of divisions, the reports presented at Presidium meetings are more generalized in nature and cover key scientific achievements of national significance. Discussing the reports of several divisions at the same meeting serves to convey scientific achievements to a broader audience, promote science, strengthen mutual cooperation among institutions, and create new opportunities for joint activities. This format allows scientists to become closely acquainted with each other’s research, expand dialogue, and ensure that generalized decisions adopted are translated into tangible outcomes within the scientific community.

Subsequently, Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that the 70th anniversary of Professor Ibrahim Jafarov, Corresponding Member of ANAS and Director of the Research Institute of Plant Protection and Technical Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, was being celebrated. He highlighted the scientist’s significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijani agrarian science, his high managerial and organizational skills, as well as his substantial contributions to the development of science and education.

The ANAS President stated that, by decision of the ANAS Presidium, Professor Ibrahim Jafarov was awarded the “ANAS Badge” in recognition of his 70th anniversary and many years of productive scientific and scientific-organizational activity, and presented the award to the scientist.

After that, ANAS Vice-President and Chair of the Scientific Council of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, Academician Irada Huseynova, presented the report on the division’s scientific and scientific-organizational activities for 2025.

Academician Irada Huseynova stated that during the reporting year, activities were focused on implementing the decrees and orders of the Head of State, decisions and orders of the Cabinet of Ministers, state programs, strategies, national action plans and measures plans, including the “First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the “State Program on Ensuring Food Security in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2018–2025”, the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022–2026”, the “Action Plan for 2020–2025 on Preventing Prenatal Sex Selection of Children”, “Additional Measures to Ensure Efficient Use of Water Resources”, the “National Strategy on Efficient Use of Water Resources”, as well as the “Development Program of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences for 2020–2025”, and the tasks assigned by decisions of the ANAS General Assembly and the Presidium, along with orders of the ANAS leadership. Relevant information was presented on the work carried out by the division and its members under state programs and national strategies. In addition, one of the five national priorities planned to be implemented by 2030 for Azerbaijan’s socio-economic development has been defined as a “Clean Environment and Green Growth Country”, and activities aligned with this priority were implemented.

She also noted that throughout the year, coordination was carried out for research conducted at the ANAS Lankaran Regional Scientific Center, scientific institutions operating under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, other state bodies, as well as relevant departments of higher education institutions.

Academician Irada Huseynova reported that last year, research conducted by the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences covered four main areas: the study, restoration, protection and efficient use of biodiversity, soil and water resources using modern approaches, and the creation of electronic databases and maps; the molecular-genetic and physico-chemical bases of biological processes, genome, proteome and metabolome research, and the development of fundamental and applied bases of new bio-, nano- and postgenomic technologies, computer biology, and the application of machine learning methods and artificial intelligence in biology, agriculture and medicine; as well as the study of the physiological and molecular-genetic bases of pathologies, the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods and pharmaceuticals, and the application of high technologies and stem cells in reproductive medicine.

She added that during the reporting year, conferences were held dedicated to the 102nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, the anniversaries of Academician Mustafa Topchubashov and ANAS Honorary Member Professor Ihsan Dogramaci, as well as the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty”, the 80th anniversary of ANAS, and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. These included conferences on “A Personality Who Makes History”, “The Great Mother–Scientist–Woman”, “Improvement of Wheat Using Digital and GWAS-Based Technologies”, “Uncovering Career Opportunities in STEM: Women’s Voices in Science”, “Challenges in Energy, Food, Environmental and Climate Security”, and “Green World, Artificial Intelligence and Modern Realities”, along with the “Knowledge Competition” contest and presentation ceremonies of books such as “COP29: Global and National Challenges, Tasks of Science”, among others.

Academician Irada Huseynova also noted that during the reporting period, the work “Current Problems of Ophthalmology” authored by Academician Zarifa Aliyeva was published for the first time in English in a high-quality edition. In addition, division members published “Clinical Oncology. A Basic Guide for Physicians”, “Oncological Gynecology”, “Nature of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Higher Spore, Gymnosperm and Angiosperm Plants)”, “Military Psychology and Military Clinical Psychology”, “The Division of Biological and Medical Sciences of ANAS: History of Development and Achievements”, “Bibliography of Academician Mustafa Topchubashov”, and other publications.

She emphasized that last year, the “Great Return of Science” to Karabakh occupied an important place among the main areas of scientific activity of the division and its affiliated research institutions. The division and its members actively participated in the work of the Interagency Center’s Working Group on Environmental Issues and other relevant working groups, the implementation of activity programs, and regional monitoring. Throughout 2025, particular attention was paid to implementing relevant provisions of the “First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the detailed sectoral plan of the Working Group on Environmental Issues (2021–2025), and the Action Plan “On the Tasks of ANAS Related to Scientific Research in the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan”. Numerous expeditions were organized to the liberated territories by institutes under the division, and monitoring was carried out of rare and endangered plant and animal species, soil and water resources, drinking water sources, forests and other ecosystems.

Academician Irada Huseynova reported that during the reporting year, research conducted at institutes under the division covered 20 problems, 65 topics, 160 projects and 431 stages, with 48 topics, 120 projects and 335 stages completed. In medical institutions, research was carried out across 26 problems, 141 topics (36 completed) and 294 projects (72 completed), covering 361 stages (146 completed). Within the Ministry of Agriculture, research covered 26 problems, 108 topics (31 completed) and 244 projects (66 completed), encompassing 370 stages (234 completed). Among the numerous scientific results obtained in 2025 in the fields of biology, medicine, agricultural and environmental sciences, only the most significant were selected, totaling 37 results.

In addition, during the reporting period, institutes under the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences published 1,020 scientific works, including 12 books (1 abroad), 12 monographs (1 abroad), 404 articles (266 abroad, including 228 in indexed databases, 145 in Web of Science and Scopus, and 68 in other databases), and 592 abstracts (162 abroad). A total of 3,190 citations were recorded for staff publications.

Medical-oriented research and educational institutions published 4,250 scientific works, including 62 books (3 abroad), 25 monographs (6 abroad), 2,015 articles (890 abroad, including 457 in journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus), and 2,097 abstracts (640 abroad). These works received 1,262 citations.

During the reporting year, agrarian research and educational institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan published 912 scientific works, including 50 books (3 abroad), 4 monographs (1 abroad), 554 articles (277 abroad, including 121 in Web of Science and Scopus), and 304 abstracts (85 abroad). Staff publications received 1,282 citations.

Academician Irada Huseynova also noted that the list of Azerbaijani scientists included in Stanford University’s high-ranking list currently features specialists in biological and medical sciences, including heads of international laboratories at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Suleyman Allahverdiyev and Professor Garib Murshudov; Head of the International Laboratory of the Institute of Genetic Resources of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dr. Asaf Salamov; Director of the Institute of Medical Prevention of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Adil Allahverdiyev; and Professor Rovshan Khalilov of Baku State University.

The report also provided information on the division’s scientific publications, integration of science and education, international relations, personnel training, international laboratories operating within institutions, the state of e-science, awards, patents, grants and other matters.

The report on the scientific and scientific-organizational activities of the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center for 2025 was then heard.

Presenting the report, Acting Director of the Center, PhD in History Jamil Guliyev, stated that during the reporting year, the research conducted by the Center’s staff was devoted to the study of the history, folklore, written literature, ethnography, archaeological and numismatic monuments of Azerbaijan’s South-Eastern region, as well as the region’s socio-cultural and biological characteristics.

He noted that in 2025, scientific research at the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center was conducted across 3 problems, 8 topics, 9 projects and 9 stages. For the first time, elements of shamanism in the folklore of the Southern region were studied on the basis of factual materials, and issues of national ideology in the legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the Lankaran-Astara region were examined. At the same time, at the experimental base of the Tea and Subtropical Plants Department, the impact of organic liquid fertilizer on yield and quality in zoned tea varieties and forms was studied. In addition, the long-lived population of the Southern region was examined comparatively using the model of Japan’s Ikigai Family Institute, and common physiological, biological and ecological factors were identified.

It was reported that within the framework of implementing the decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and State Programs, a total of 20 scientific and scientific-educational events were held at the Lankaran RSC during the year, including 2 conferences, 11 seminars, 3 round tables and 1 book presentation. Representatives of state bodies, faculty members and students of higher education institutions, regional intellectuals and members of the public participated in these events. Throughout the year, a series of scientific events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of ANAS, the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty”, National Salvation Day, the legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the anniversary of the national press, and the life and work of prominent scholars and creative figures were organized.

It was noted that in 2025, a total of 40 scientific works were published by the staff of the Lankaran RSC, including 26 articles and 14 abstracts. Of these, 15 articles and 2 abstracts were published abroad, while 11 articles and 12 abstracts were published domestically. A monograph titled “The Occupation of Northern Azerbaijan by Russia in Archival Documents (1813–1828)”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of ANAS, was published. In addition, scientific articles on the study of elements of shamanism in the folklore of the Southern region, the study of longevity issues and other areas were included in international scientific circulation.

The report also highlighted the work carried out by the Lankaran RSC in the areas of integrating science and education, popularizing science and engaging young people in scientific activities. Within the framework of cooperation with Lankaran State University and other educational institutions in the region, scientific seminars, meetings and educational events were held.

Subsequently, discussions were held on the reports. Chair of the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis Academician Ahliman Amiraslanov, Deputy Director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Acting Rector of Sumgayit State University, Corresponding Member of ANAS Aminaga Sadiqov, Head of Department at Baku State University, Corresponding Member of ANAS Elshad Gurbanov, Director of the Research Institute of Plant Protection and Technical Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Corresponding Member of ANAS Ibrahim Jafarov, and Corresponding Member of ANAS Alovsat Guliyev spoke, shared their views and assessed the reports as satisfactory.

In his concluding remarks, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized the importance of expanding scientific research in Karabakh, increasing attention to water issues and food security, which are among the key challenges of the modern world, and giving special importance to cartography. He expressed confidence that the staff of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences and the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center would continue their productive work in the current year as well.

Following this, by decision of the ANAS Presidium, the 2025 annual reports of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences and the Lankaran Regional Scientific Center were approved, relevant decisions were adopted, and a number of tasks were assigned.

Translation by Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information, Presidium of ANAS.

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