A newly published peer-reviewed study in the International Journal of Health Policy and Management (IJHPM) has warned that attacks on Iran’s scientific and academic institutions could seriously damage public health systems across the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The report, released on May 27, was produced by researchers from 16 institutions across eight countries, including experts affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine, the University of Toronto, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Geneva, and the American University of Beirut.
The authors describe the destruction of educational and scientific infrastructure in Iran as “scholasticide,” a term they use to refer to the deliberate targeting of universities, scholars, laboratories, and research centers during conflict.
According to the study, US-Israeli airstrikes carried out since February 2026 have damaged or destroyed 32 Iranian universities, killed at least 10 professors and 60 students, and severely affected the Pasteur Institute of Iran. Founded in 1920, the institute serves as a major regional center for vaccine development, infectious disease monitoring, and public health research under the World Health Organization framework.
Researchers warned that damage to the institute could disrupt disease surveillance and vaccine research efforts not only in Iran but across neighboring countries that rely on its scientific services. The report emphasized that the destruction of laboratories results in the loss of institutional knowledge, biological samples, research data, and long-term public health capabilities that cannot easily be rebuilt.
The issue has also drawn attention from The Lancet, another leading medical journal, which reportedly described the attack on the Pasteur Institute as a “clear example of a war crime.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry circulated the statement as part of a broader campaign to hold the United States and Israel accountable under international law.
Iranian officials have announced plans to seek international compensation for damage caused to universities and scientific institutions. Science Minister Hossein Simaei Saraf said documentation of the destruction is underway and will be submitted to international bodies for legal action.
Iran says several major universities, including Sharif University of Technology and Shahid Beheshti University, were directly targeted, while more than 30 additional institutions suffered indirect damage. Officials also reported damage to student dormitories and research centers.
The study further warned that attacks on academic institutions threaten fundamental human rights, including access to education, science, and healthcare. Researchers called on the international community to take concrete action to protect scientific infrastructure during armed conflicts and prevent further destruction of educational and medical institutions.