Kazemi Prize is an international Prize which was established in 2010 to respect the efforts and revive the memories of Dr Saeid Kazemi Ashtiani; the late founder of Royan Institute.

Dr. Saeid Kazemi Ashtiani was born in March 1961 in Tehran. Upon completion of his high school, he was admitted to Iran Medical University to pursue his studies in the field of Physiotherapy.
He started his postgraduate education in the field of Anatomy (Embryology branch) in Tarbiat Modaress University. He received his Doctorate Degree with Distinction In 1998. Dr. Kazemi established Royan Research Institute in 1991. This institute renders advanced medical services to infertile couples. The center is also one of the most important and active research centers in Reproductive Biomedicine and Stem Cell Technology in the Middle East. Dr. Kazemi and his colleagues at Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology could achieve a breakthrough in 2003 by establishing the first human embryonic stem cell line in the region.

Dr Kazemi was not only a scientist who led a lot of research projects in the field of stem cell and cloning, but a great director as well. He was the head of Academic Center for Education Culture and Research (ACECR) at Iran Medical University branch, head of Royan Institute, guest instructor and lecturer of many Iranian medical universities, manager and chief of quarterly scientific and research journal of Yakhteh, head of ethical research committee at Royan Institute, and an active member of Iranian society for reproductive biomedicine as well as Iran Anatomical Science Society. Dr. Saeid Kazemi was also the president of Royan International Award, which was held six times from 2000-2005. His short fruitful life was ended in 2006 when he died of a sudden heart attack.

After his loss, this prize was designated and a nomination committee consisting of prominent national and international scientists contributed in the proposal, evaluation and selection of the candidates along with the scientific board of Royan Institute.

The scientific board was and according to the statute is responsible for the final selection of the prize laureates.
In 2010 the first Kazemi Prize was awarded to Prof. Rudolf Jaenisch, one of the most innovative and creative scientists in the field of developmental biology, gene regulation, stem cell biology and stem cell therapies.

In 2011 the second Kazemi Prize was awarded to Prof. Hans Robert Schöler a world-renowned researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of stem cell biology over the past 40 years.

The third Kazemi Prize was awarded to Prof. Robert S. Langer; one of the most important individuals in biotechnology in the world and one of the best innovators worldwide.
In 2016 the fourth Kazemi Prize recipient was Professor Hans Clevers; a geneticist, physician, medical researcher and a professor in molecular genetics who was the first to identify stem cells in the intestine and one of the world’s leading researchers on stem cells and their potential for regenerative therapy.

In 2018 the fifth Kazemi Prize was awarded to Professor Michele De Luca; the full professor of biochemistry, and the director of Centre for Regenerative Medicine at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and the scientific director of Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l. He has reported lifesaving regeneration of the entire human epidermis of a Junctional EB patient by means of transgenic epidermal stem cells.