NASSER GUITI (1914-2004) FATHER OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE IN IRAN

Nasser Guity was born on 23 August 1914 in Tehran. He was among the first group of students who entered the newly established University of Tehran to study medicine. He graduated from the medical school in 1940 with distinction. As undergraduate student he joined Department of Physiology as assistant technician. He continued his education in physiology in Tehran, Paris, New York and Marseille. He was awarded a doctoral degree (D.Sc.) in Clinical Physiology from Pennsylvania State University in 1954 (1). His special interest was Electroencephalography (EEG) and he was the first person who introduced EEG for clinical practice and research in Iran. He was offered the chair of Experimental Medicine in Tehran University where he established the Institute of Experimental Medicine in 1967 (2). This institute became one of the leading organisations in biomedical research, which broke the ice of research inactivity in Iran in 1960s. Professor Guiti was one of the main founders of the Iranian Society of Physiology and Pharmacology (established in 1968), which became an official member of the International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) and International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) in 1969 and 1971, respectively (3). Guiti was a prolific writer who published several articles and books. After 35 years of academic activities he resigned form his position in Tehran University in 1973. He passed away in 2004 and is buried in Pere-Lachaise in Paris.