Pariya Khodabakhsh

Experienced researcher with a strong foundation in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and glial biology. Experienced in stem cell-based assays, microRNA regulation, and mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Skilled in advanced molecular, cellular, and imaging techniques, including calcium imaging, and two-photon microscopy. Proven track record in collaborative research, project leadership, and scientific mentorship, with extensive contributions to peer-reviewed publications, teaching, and international collaborations.

• The Best Poster Awardee, The 4th International Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology, 10/2021, Tehran, Iran
• The Selected Best Researcher, School of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University of Pharmaceutical Science, 02/2017, Tehran, Iran
• The Best Paper Award, International Conference on Cellular and Molecular Biology and Medical Sciences (CMBMS-16), 09/2016, For the Paper 'Effects of montelukast, a cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist, in a rat model of diarrhea‐irritable bowel syndrome.', Paris, France
• Achieving the First Rank in Pharmacology Ph.D. Entrance Exam, 11/2015, Tehran, Iran
• Obtaining the Fourth Rank in Pharmacy Board Exam, 35th annual fundamental scientific board exam for pharmacy students, 12/2011, Tehran, Iran

• Japan Neuroscience Society (JNC), 2021-present
• European Brain and Behavior Society (EBBS), 2019-present
• Iranian Society of Physiology and Pharmacology (ISPP), 2018-present
• Iranian Medical council, I.R. IRAN, 2014-Present

Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Cardiovascular, Endocrine, Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Immunopharmacology, Biotechnology, Experimental Design and Data Analysis, Research Techniques in Pharmacology, Ethics in Scientific Research

• Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration
• Epilepsy
• Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
• Drug Repurposing
• Chronic Pain Mechanisms and Management
• Gut-brain Axis
• Neural Stem cells
• Epigenetics (Aging-Associated MicroRNAs)

• The Effect of Insulin on Schwann Cell Differentiation of Rat Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cells, 9th International Conference on Brain Disorders & Therapeutics, 08/2020, Paris, France
• Does Tolmetin Influence Non-Cancerous Cells Viability?, International Conference on BioMedical Sciences (ICBMS19), 09/27-28/19, Istanbul, Turkey
• Role of Cys-LT1 and NMDA Receptors in Protective Effect of Montelukast on an Animal Model of Post-Inflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome., International Conference on Immunology and Immunotechnology, 11/01-03/17, Barcelona, Spain
• The Effect of Allicin on ZNF703 Gene Expression in GCC Lines., International Conference on Cellular & Molecular Biology and Medical Sciences (CMBMS-16), 09/21-22/16, Paris, France
• Aspirin and Cervical Cancer., International Conference on Biological and Environmental Science (BIOES-16), 06/08-09/16, New Jersey, USA

• Significance of K+ channel-mediated delayed maturation of hippocampal interneurons in developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, Annual Meeting of the German Physiological Society, 09/19-21/24, Vienna, Austria
• Quantitative morphological assessment of hippocampal interneurons in a KCNA2-GoF mouse model of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 2nd Channelopathy Meeting, 10/04-06/23, Tübingen, Germany
• Inhibiting microRNA-140-5p improves memory deficits induced by amyloid-ß oligomer in rats possibly through ADAM10 regulation, The 4th International Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology of Iran, Tehran, Iran
• Mir-140-5p inhibitor protects against Alzheimer's disease-like pathology induced by amyloid-ß oligomers possibly through Pin1 upregulation in vivo., The 44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, 07/2021, Kobe, Japan
• Does ibuprofen influence cervical cancer cells metastasis?, International Conference on BioMedical Sciences (ICBMS19), 09/27-28/19, Istanbul, Turkey
• Effects of metformin on viability of rat epidermal neural crest stem cells: an in vitro study, 15th Royan International Congress on Stem Cell Biology & Technology, 08/2019, Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran
• Effects of montelukast, a cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist, in a rat model of diarrhea‐irritable bowel syndrome., International Conference on Cellular and Molecular Biology and Medical Sciences (CMBMS-16), 09/21-22/16, Paris, France
• Protective effects of rifampin preconditioning against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats., International Conference on Advances in Agricultural, Biological & Environmental Sciences, 07/2015, London, United Kingdom
• Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Citrus aurantium essential oil (Neroli) in experimental models of acute and chronic inflammation., 8th Annual Congress of Iranian Rheumatology Association, 2014, Tehran, Iran

• Experimental Gerontology, 10/2023-present
• Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 04/2022-present
• Physiology and Pharmacology journal, 09/2021-present
• 11th International Laboratory and Clinical Congress, Tehran, Iran, 09/2019

• Cellular biology:Cell culture: primary cultures of rat epidermal neural crest stem cells, cell lines (C6, PC12, and Lenti-X™ 293T), MTT assay, Immunocytochemistry, In vitro optogenetic.
• Molecular biology:RNA extraction, reverse transcription, PCR primer design, PCR, RT-qPCR, Molecular cloning
• Histology: Clearing, Golgi Staining, Immunohistochemistry, H&E, and Nissl staining
• Biochemistry: Western Blot, ELISA
• Microscopy: Two Photon, Confocal, Fluorescence and light microscopy
• Electrophysiology: Calcium Imaging, Acute slice recording.
• Animal manipulation: Handling and behavioral assessment (MWM, Y-maze, novel object, tail-flick, von-frey, hot plate, writing, plethysmometer test), Stereotactic surgery, Animal Models (Renal ischemia-reperfusion, oligomeric amyloid beta-induced Alzheimer’s disease, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, chemical-induced irritable bowel syndrome model, cotton pellet induced granuloma, spinal cord injury).
• IT: Extensive knowledge of standard office softwares, Sigmaplot, SPSS, Graphpad Prism, Endnote, Mendeley, ImageJ, Igor, Imaris, Huygens.

• The FENS travel grants, To attend the Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, Kobe Convention Center, Japan, 07/28-31/2021
• The FENS travel grants, To attend IBRO-APRC Associate school, IGNTU, Amarkantak, India, 03/03-09/2019

• Imaris 3D Visualisation and Analysis, Tübingen, Germany, 03/2025
• Huygens Workshop for Imaging Experts, Tübingen, Germany, 07/2024
• 1st Symposium of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in Trauma, Tehran, Iran, 04/2018
• 1st International Computational Biology Workshop, Tehran, Iran, 12/2017
• Basic Genetic Engineering Techniques in Gene Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 03/2017
• Animal Models of Multiple Sclerosis, 12th International Congress of Immunology & Allergy, 05/2014, Tehran, Iran

1. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Olga Garaschuk: “Morphological characteristics and corresponding functional properties of homeostatic human microglia” Neural Regeneration Research. (2025) 10-4103.

2. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Afsaneh Asgari Taei, Hamed Shafaroodi, Safura Pournajaf, Leila Dargahi. "Effect of metformin on epidermal neural crest stem cells and their potential application in ameliorating paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity phenotype." Stem Cell Reviews and Reports 20.1 (2024): 394-412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-023-10642-x

3. Samin Davoody, Afsaneh Asgari Taei, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Leila Dargahi “mTOR signaling and Alzheimer's disease: what we know and where we are?” CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics (2023). https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.14463

4. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Maryam Bazrgar, Fatemeh Mohagheghi, Siavash Parvardeh, and Abolhassan Ahmadiani. "MicroRNA‐140‐5p inhibitor attenuates memory impairment induced by amyloid‐ß oligomer in vivo possibly through Pin1 regulation." CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 29, no. 1 (2023): 91-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.13980 

5. Vakili, K., Fathi, M., Yaghoobpoor, S., Sayehmiri, F., Nazerian, Y., Nazerian, A., Mohamadkhani, A., Khodabakhsh, P., Réus, G.Z., Hajibeygi, R. and Rezaei-Tavirani, M., The contribution of gut-brain axis to development of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 recovered patients: A hypothesis and review of literature. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.983089

6. Asgari Taei, Afsaneh, Leila Dargahi, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Mehdi Kadivar, and Maryam Farahmandfar. "Hippocampal neuroprotection mediated by secretome of human mesenchymal stem cells against experimental stroke." CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 28, no. 9 (2022): 1425-1438. https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.13886

7. Asgari Taei, Afsaneh, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Sanaz Nasoohi, Maryam Farahmandfar, and Leila Dargahi. "Paracrine Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ischemic Stroke: Opportunities and Challenges." Molecular Neurobiology 59, no. 10 (2022): 6281-6306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-02967-4

8. Maryam Bazrgar,Pariya Khodabakhsh, Leila Dargahi, Fatemeh Mohagheghi, Abolhassan Ahmadiani. “MicroRNA modulation is a potential molecular mechanism for neuroprotective effects of intranasal insulin administration in amyloid βeta oligomer induced Alzheimer's like rat model” Experimental Gerontology (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2022.111812

9. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Nilgoon Khoie, Ahmad-Reza Dehpour, Mahmoud Ghazi-Khansari, Hamed Shafaroodi. “Montelukast suppresses the development of irritable bowel syndrome phenotype possibly through modulating NF-κB signaling in an experimental model.” Inflammopharmacology (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-021-00907-7

10. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Maryam Bazrgar, Leila Dargahi, Fatemeh Mohagheghi, Afsaneh Asgari Taei, Siavash Parvardeh, Abolhassan Ahmadiani. “Does Alzheimer’s Disease Stem in the Gastrointestinal system?” Life Sciences (2021) 120088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120088

11. Maryam Bazrgar, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Mercedes Prudencio, Fatemeh Mohagheghi, and Abolhassan Ahmadiani. “The role of microRNA-34 family in Alzheimer’s disease: a potential molecular link between neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders.” Pharmacological Research (2021): 105805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105805

12. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Safura Pournajaf, Leila Mohaghegh Shalmani, Abolhassan Ahmadiani, and Leila Dargahi. “Insulin Promotes Schwann-Like Cell Differentiation of Rat Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cells.”Molecular Neurobiology (2021): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02423-9

13. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Afsaneh Asgari Taei, Moein Mohseni, Dorsa Bahrami Zanjanbar, Hasti Khalili, Kimia Masoumi, Alireza Haji Abbas Shirazi, Leila Dargahi. “Vasoactive Peptides: Their Role in COVID-19 Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.” Archives of Medical Research. (2021): S0188-4409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2021.05.007

14. Pournajaf, Safura, Neda Valian, Leila Mohaghegh Shalmani, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Masoumeh Jorjani, and Leila Dargahi. “Fingolimod increases oligodendrocytes markers expression in epidermal neural crest stem cells.” European Journal of Pharmacology (2020): 173502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173502

15. Maryam Bazrgar, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Fatemeh Mohagheghi, Mercedes Prudencio, and Abolhassan Ahmadiani. “Brain microRNAs dysregulation: implication for missplicing and abnormal post-translational modifications of tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies.” Pharmacological research (2020): 104729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104729

16. Nakhostin, Afraz, Samaneh Mirseyyedhosein, Mahsa Toolabi, Pariya Khodabakhsh, Helia Aghamiri, Soheila Ghaffari, Hamed Shafaroodi et al. “Synthesis, conformational assignment, and anti-inflammatory activities of N-arylidene-2-(4-chloro-2-(2-substituted phenoxy) phenyl) acetic acid hydrazides.” Medicinal Chemistry Research (2016): 2220-2236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-016-1656-1

17. Pariya Khodabakhsh, Hamed Shafaroodi, and Jinous Asgarpanah. "Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Citrus aurantium L. blossoms essential oil (neroli): involvement of the nitric oxide/cyclic-guanosine monophosphate pathway." Journal of natural medicines (2015): 324-331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-015-0896-6

• Citizenship: Iranian
• Date of Birth: 09/17/89
• Gender: Female