The vastness and diversity of the applications of biotechnology have made its definition and description somewhat challenging and varied. Some consider it synonymous with industrial microbiology and the use of microorganisms, while others equate it with genetic engineering. However, in general, the following definition can be provided for biotechnology:
"Application of scientific and technical methods to transform certain materials with the help of biological agents (such as microorganisms, plant and animal cells, enzymes, etc.) to produce goods and services in agriculture, food industries, pharmaceuticals, medicine, and other industries."
Although over time, scientists have come closer to shared concepts regarding the definition of biotechnology, each specialist and researcher provides a separate definition. The reason for this lies in the nature of biotechnology itself. The extensive applications of biotechnology in the 21st century are such that they will have a profound impact on the economy, health, treatment, environment, education, agriculture, industry, nutrition, and other aspects of human life. Today, possessing knowledge in this field can play a crucial role in the power and capability of a country. For example, in a world facing explosive population growth, it is biotechnology that can have a significant role in ensuring the food supply for the current and future generations of nations.

History of the Medical Biotechnology Department:

The Medical Biotechnology Department was established with the aim of training specialized and skilled professionals. It began accepting PhD students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences' Faculty of New Medical Technologies in 2008. The department commenced its activities alongside two other approved programs. With the establishment of three approved programs—Medical Nanotechnology, Molecular Medicine, and Medical Biotechnology—the faculty's establishment was officially approved by the university. Subsequently, in the spring of 2009, the Faculty of New Medical Technologies was officially inaugurated, with the presence of the university's president and the issuance of orders for the board of directors and department heads. Other educational groups gradually received approval for establishment as well.

To facilitate the involvement of well-known faculty members of the university, a secondary faculty member policy was developed and approved by the faculty’s board of directors. Consequently, well-known professors from the university became actively engaged in leading the Medical Biotechnology Department, including:

• Dr. Mohammad Reza Khormizadeh and Dr. Sasan Rezaei from the School of Public Health,
• Dr. Ebrahim Azizi, Dr. Ahmad Reza Shahvordi, Dr. Mohammad Ali Faramerzi, and Dr. Zarrgham Sepehri Zadeh from the Faculty of Pharmacy.

In 2009, a total of eight PhD students in Medical Biotechnology, under the guidance of these professors, began their educational and research programs in the department. Gradually, as the department established itself and progressed, the collaboration of Pharmacy faculty members changed from secondary faculty to invited professors, thesis advisors, and thesis consultants.

To complete the academic team, Dr. Ladan Timouri (Pasteur Institute), Dr. Mehdi Aminian, Dr. Gholam Ali Kardar (Faculty of Medicine), and Dr. Mohammad Reza Pourmand (School of Public Health) were invited as secondary faculty members.

The academic interactions of the department with other universities and centers expanded, especially due to the membership of Dr. Khormizadeh and Dr. Rezaei in the Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine Board of the Ministry of Health. Following the merger of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Iran University of Medical Sciences, the Master’s program in Medical Biotechnology, along with its students, was placed under the supervision of the Medical Biotechnology Department at the Faculty of New Medical Technologies at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Subsequently, the admission of Master's students to the program was added, and this continues to this day.

Following the department’s expansion and growing needs, Dr. Esmail Sadradini, a PhD graduate in Medical Biotechnology, Dr. Babak Negahdari, a physician with a PhD in Medical Biotechnology, Dr. Mohammad Ali Mazlomi, a pharmacist and Medical Biotechnology graduate from Sweden, and Dr. Elaheh Motavasseli, a graduate in Medical Genetics from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, began their academic activities as primary faculty members. Later, Dr. Motavasseli was transferred to the Molecular Medicine department.

With the appointment of a new dean and the completion of the term of the former department head, Dr. Esmail Sadradini assumed the position of department head in 2014. During his management, Dr. Yazdan Asgari, a graduate in Bioinformatics, joined the department as a primary faculty member.

To further expand the department's interactions and activities, and upon invitation from Dr. Sadradini, Dr. Mostafa Ghanei, director of the Pasteur Institute, Dr. Mohammad Javad Rasaei from Tarbiat Modares University, and Dr. Farid Abedin Darkosh from the Faculty of Medicine joined the department as secondary faculty members.

In May 2018, after the completion of Dr. Sadradini’s term as department head, Dr. Babak Negahdari took over as the head of the Medical Biotechnology Department.

Currently, the department has four full-time faculty members and one secondary faculty member. It admits students in Master's and PhD programs and collaborates with various biotechnology centers inside and outside the country (such as Royan Research Institute, Pasteur Institute, Children's Medical Center, Immunodeficiency Center, etc.). In recent years, in collaboration with the university's international campus, the department has also guided international students.