Iraj Lalezari, also called Amir Lalezari, was born in 1930 into a Jewish family in Hamadan, Iran. He was the eldest child of Harun Yaqubzadeh Lalezari and Farukh (the daughter of Daniel Sediq Irshadi).
He finished elementary education in a school called Alliance and pursued his education in a secondary school called Pahlavi, located in Hamadan. After passing the university enteral exam, Iraj Lalezari went to the University of Tehran to continue his education. In 1953, he graduated from the University of Tehran as a pharmacologist. Soon after, he went to France to complete his education. He received his doctorate in chemistry in the Sorbonne University and, one year later, graduated from the aforementioned university with a specialism in organic chemistry.
Studying for his doctorate in France, Lalezari was awarded Lavoisier Medal by the French Academy of Sciences because of his research in the field of heterocyclic chemistry. He also received an award called Lorea made for his work in chemical research.
Dr. Iraj Lalezari married Madeleine in 1954 from the Gentile family. She gave birth to two boys named Farzin and Ramin. As years passed by, their children grew young, and after some years, succeeded in completing their Electric Engineering education.
After returning to Iran, Lalezari served as an honorary assistant professor at the University of Tehran. After a while, he was appointed as a professor of organic chemistry, dean of the Organic Chemistry Department, and Medicinal Plants Department. He was also nominated as the manager of the Pharmacology Faculty at the University of Tehran in 1974 and remained in that position until 1979, a while after the 1979 revolution in Iran.
His research in the field of heterocyclic chemistry was such a unique achievement that he was granted membership of the American College of Heterocyclic and two years later, he established the College of Heterocyclic in Iran which was a highly successful college of chemistry in the country.
In 1966, Dr. Lalezari made a special study on a wildflower plant in Iran known as Papaver Bracteatum, one of the species of Poppy. Focusing his research on this plant, he succeeded in obtaining a noticeable amount of particular alkaloid called Thebaine. This kind of alkaloid was formerly obtained from opium. As a result of this discovery, scientists around the world, notably American scientists, carried out extensive research based on this fact. This research produced some important findings that led to developing some kinds of drugs, in particular painkillers and antitussive drugs. For instance, scientists succeeded in producing Naloxone, a very effective drug that treats the addiction to heroin.
Since Papaver Bracteatum was the only plant that had a large amount of Thebaine, this plant quickly attracted the attention of scientific communities and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, Dr. Lalezari was charged by the Shah with managing the cultivation, exploitation, and industrial development of this plant because it had an important role in the economic performance of the country. Moreover, the Ministry of Science was obligated to provide financing for the ongoing research and the project.
Iraj Lalezari was an eminent scientist, who was appointed as a member of Iran’s Academy of Science, president of Pharmacology College in the University of Tehran, and head of Iran’s Institute of Pharmacology. He took credit for his research in pharmacology and organic chemistry, and his discovery by which diabetes could be diagnosed correctly. Lalezari was acknowledged in Iran and other countries because of these scientific activities which created a considerable reputation for Iran among scientific communities.
Although he loathed leaving his motherland, Lalezari immigrated to America with his family in 1980. Soon after settling in New York, he was appointed by the Medical Institute of Einstein. In 2005, he went to Colorado in order to live with his children. That was where he founded his independent laboratory in which he continued carrying out research in organic chemistry for the rest of his life. The Graduate Society Foundation held a special ceremony in 2012 in Los Angeles to pay tribute to professor Lalezari. Many people attended the ceremony such as Dr. Lalezari’s family, his friends, professors, and scientists.
Because of his scientific activities, professor Lalezari had a good relationship with many other scientists, particularly with professor Parviz Rahbar. They were friends since elementary school and their relationship to each other continued during their period of education. After immigrating to America, this relationship developed into a closer cooperation between them. They carried out a study focused on a protein. Spending several years, their research yielded important results. Their work led to some important medical discoveries; a substance that made blood more durable. Professors Lalezari and Rahbar named their discovery “L & R” after their own last name.
Professor Lalezari possessed great moral virtues. He loved Iran with all his heart and soul, so if sad things happened to Iran and its people, it would break his heart. Although there were many problems in leaving home and living abroad, he faced these problems with dignity. He never forgot his motherland and always had patriotic feelings to it.
He was awarded the Order of the Crown (fourth class order) in 1965 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. He also earned many other prizes because of a great deal of effort at studying, researching, and teaching in Iran and France. He published more than 150 scholarly articles printed by high-ranked scientific journals, and published more than four titles in the organic chemistry and physical chemistry field. In addition, he patented eleven inventions in America. Lalezari often attended academic conferences around the world as a distinguished chemist.
He passed away in 2019 at the age of 89 in Boulder, Colorado. Professor Lalezari’s family held a service in commemoration of him in Los Angeles. At this meeting, it was announced that Professor Iraj Lalezari Foundation was established by his both sons to grant Iranian students a subsidy so that they could continue their education.
