Associate Professor
Head of Regenerative Medicine Research Center
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Research Interest
Yousof Gheisari is focused on developing novel therapeutics for chronic kidney disease, with a particular emphasis on diabetic kidney disease. To achieve this goal, his research group uses systems biology and artificial intelligence approaches for multi-omics analysis, big-data integration, large-scale dynamic modeling, drug-target prioritization, in-silico lead generation, and drug repurposing. Predictions from these pipelines are subsequently assessed in preclinical models. The interdisciplinary team combines expertise in experimental biology, computational biology, control engineering, artificial intelligence, pharmaceutical chemistry, and clinical medicine.
Biography
Yousof Gheisari is an associate professor and the founding head of the Regenerative Medicine Research Center (RMRC) at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. His commitment to drug discovery for kidney disorders was shaped early in his career during clinical rotations, where encounters with patients affected by chronic kidney disease motivated a lifelong pursuit of better therapies. After completing his MD, he earned a PhD in medical biotechnology, with subsequent training and research spanning stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and systems biology.
For the past two decades, he has focused on integrating experimental and computational approaches to uncover mechanisms of kidney injury and to accelerate therapeutic discovery. He has established a multidisciplinary research program that brings together diverse expertise for AI-driven drug discovery. The initiative has received recognition and support from national granting bodies and the Avicenna Center of Excellence for convergence science and technology.
Research, mentorship, and education are inseparable parts of his academic life. He believes that an inspiring mentor should define himself or herself as someone who arouses the curiosity of the mentees and creates a nurturing learning environment in which learners become aware of gaps in their knowledge through exposure to critical questions. Accordingly, he employs the constructivism approach in education. He also emphasizes the development of meta-skills—curiosity, critical thinking, commitment, and communication—alongside technical expertise, ensuring his mentees are well-prepared for research and professional careers.
In his academic leadership roles, he has been instrumental in institutional capacity building: founding RMRC, supervising the Students’ Research Committee, and directing physician-scientist training programs. As manager of university research affairs for three years, he also played a key role in policy making and resource allocation. These efforts reflect a long-standing dedication to strengthening scientific infrastructure and translating multidisciplinary research into tangible advances for the benefit of the society.
Education
2010: Research fellow in kidney regeneration, Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan
2003-2010: PhD of medical biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran
1996-2003: MD, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Supervision
Supervised: 5 PhD, 15 MSc, and 3 MD theses
Teaching
Bioinformatics (MSc, PhD)
Systems biology (MSc, PhD)
Genetic engineering (MSc)
Molecular biology (MSc, PhD)
Molecular biology (medical students)
Research methodology for biologists (MSc)