Tajik Pharmaceutical Chemist Wins Global Award for Revolutionary Respiratory Therapy

Ganjina Navruzzoda, a pharmaceutical chemist at Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, has won the prestigious IFIA award at the 2025 Korea International Women's Invention Exposition (KIWIE) for her groundbreaking aerosol therapy designed to treat chronic respiratory illnesses like COPD and asthma.

Her invention, which uses an aerosol formulation of iron(II) diacetylcysteinate, offers a personalized approach based on lung function markers, promising improved treatment outcomes and better quality of life for patients, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

Navruzzoda’s work stands out among the achievements of a delegation of Tajik women scientists who collectively earned multiple medals at the event, reflecting the rising role of women in Central Asian science.

Moreover, Navruzzoda plans to further develop the therapy by exploring additional compound combinations and aims to implement the treatment in Tajikistan before expanding internationally. Despite facing challenges in optimizing the aerosol concentration and treatment protocols, her dedication has brought global recognition to her innovation.

The scientist credits her success to strong support from colleagues, mentors, and family, and she advocates for increased involvement of young researchers in real-world science through educational programs and innovation competitions.

Born in 1989 in Hisor, Tajikistan, Navruzzoda holds a PhD from the National University of Pharmacy in Ukraine and currently leads two departments at her home university. She has received notable honors including the Ismoili Somoni Prize and the Excellence in Education badge.