key: cord-1035262-g8klhr4n
authors: Rezaei, Nima
title: In Memoriam: Asghar Aghamohammadi (May 30, 1951–November 14, 2020)
date: 2021-01-04
journal: J Clin Immunol
DOI: 10.1007/s10875-020-00945-w
sha: 4457d553ea27b20a2e4d4512b511eec7d44d938e
doc_id: 1035262
cord_uid: g8klhr4n

nan

care. Upon his return to Iran, he had two main goals: to improve the "infrastructures" and "research" for PIDs in Iran. With this motivation, and together with his colleagues, he established the Iranian Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Registry (IPIDR) in 1999, which was without a doubt one of his most valuable services for PID patients to more efficiently provide medical, social, psychological, and financial support for these patients [5] . As a medical student at that time, I was very pleased to help him establish the IPIDR as part of my medical thesis. Proudly, during the past 20 years, more than 3000 PID patients have been registered in this database, and the data were periodically published [6] . His second important effort was the establishment of the "Association for PID Patients Support" to serve as a charity for these patients. Moreover, he created a network to connect nearly 100 subspecialists in clinical immunology and allergy in Iran, aiming to promote the knowledge of general practitioners and pediatricians about PIDs. His other executive responsibilities included the head of Amirkabir Hospital at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Vice Deputy of research in the Pediatric Department at Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He also established the "Immunology and Genetics Journal" and did his best to build and develop the "J Project" in Iran and all over Eurasia. He was also an active member of the International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI) and the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) and attended almost all PID scientific events, including the meetings organized by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF).

Starting as a junior faculty member and then becoming a top 1% scientist in clinical medicine, he dedicated his scientific life to basic and clinical research in PIDs. He believed that it is necessary to develop research interest in students, together with providing appropriate infrastructures and high-rank decisionmaking attitudes. In line with this belief, he established the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies (RCID) in 2010, and served as the Head of the RCID for the next 10 years. He also successfully organized annual meetings focusing on PIDs since 2005. His scientific output included publishing nearly 400 papers through developing national and international collaborations with different countries, including the Departments of Clinical Immunology at Harvard Medical School in the USA, Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Brescia University in Italy, and University of Toyama in Japan. He studied the clinical aspects, as well as treatment and pathophysiology of PIDs, with special focus on antibody deficiencies, namely, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency, hyper IgM syndromes, and hyper IgE syndromes, and other types of PIDs. Importantly, one of his most valuable research products was the textbook "Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases: Definition, Diagnosis and Management" [7, 8] . He also did his best to prepare a practical guide for Inborn Errors of Immunity, which will be published in the spring of 2021 [9] .

He was also a distinguished teacher, whose voice will be always remembered by his students. He trained and supported many students, who developed their own research interests, and joined the group of top 1% scientists. He believed that physicians should be trained in research as well and, therefore, was one of those who promoted the idea of training physician-scientists in Iran. His words on the student-professor relationship will always remain in our minds when he said: "if you devote your time to your students, teach them the way of critical thinking in addition to training, and respect their rights, your students will be your followers. The relationship of professor and student is like two mountaineers who reached several mountaintops together; then, the day will come when the professor may not proceed any longer, but will heartfully enjoy his students' promotion!" [4] .

Professor Aghamohammadi was a true physician, whose patients will always remember him for his support, not only medically but also socially and financially. He was a dedicated researcher and scientist whose aim was to promote knowledge in support of PID patients and who established numerous scientific collaborations for this purpose. He was a compassionate teacher whose students will remember him for all the ideas and training he provided.

We shall not forget that this prominent scientist, who was also a family man spreading his love not only to his own family and children but also to his patients, students, friends, and colleagues. May his name be always remembered with respect and kindness.

TUMS. The funeral of Prof. Asghar Aghamohammadi. 2020. pr. tums.ac.ir/ZdDH

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