Scientific research and international teaching

Alongside his clinical and surgical work, Dr Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki is active in research, training and teaching in rhinology, with a particular focus on endoscopic sinonasal and lacrimal surgery, chronic rhinosinusitis and smell disorders.

Dr Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki speaking at an international rhinology congress

Scientific profiles

Current position

Consultant in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of USL Umbria 1 (since 2016), operating at the Gubbio-Gualdo Tadino Hospital. Holder of a professional appointment for “Minimally invasive approaches to sinonasal, orbital and skull base disease”.

Training

2023 – Second-level university Master’s in Management for the Direction of Complex Units (eCampus). Thesis: Resource management in Otorhinolaryngology: rationalisation, improvement of standard levels and quality of services.
2022 – Second-level university Master’s in Reconstructive, Functional and Aesthetic Surgery of the Nasal Pyramid, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (Dir. Prof. G. Paludetti). Thesis: Endoscope-assisted surgical treatment of nasal septal perforations.
2017 – Postgraduate advanced diploma in Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese (Dir. Prof. P. Castelnuovo, Prof. D. Locatelli).
2015 – Specialist training in Otorhinolaryngology, University of Perugia, 50/50 cum laude. Thesis: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation: 4 years retrospective study.
2008 – Degree in Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, with an experimental thesis in ENT surgery.

Surgical training in Italy and abroad

2015 – Surgical training in endoscopic sinonasal and skull base surgery, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese (Prof. P. Castelnuovo).
2014 – Honorary Observership in endoscopic sinonasal and skull base surgery, Imperial College London – Charing Cross Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, The London Clinic (Mr H. Saleh).
2013–2015 – Surgical training in rhinology, rhinoplasty and head and neck surgery, Città di Castello Hospital (Dr M. Manzini).
2013 – Fellowship in Rhinology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Prof. A. Shirazi).

Teaching and international faculty

Invited as faculty member, speaker and tutor at anatomical dissection courses in Italy and abroad. Recent activities include:

Dr Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki teaching at an international endoscopic sinus surgery course (EndoCairo)

2026 – Faculty & tutor, Danish Frontal Sinus Surgery Masterclass, Aarhus (Denmark)
2026 – Faculty & tutor, Rhinodays – FESS & Rhinoplasty International Cadaver Course, Thessaloniki (Greece)
2026 – Faculty and speaker, 8th Congress of European ORL-HNS, Gothenburg (Sweden)
2026 – Faculty & tutor, Advanced Sinus Surgery Techniques, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
2025 – Speaker and tutor, European Cadaver Dissection Course of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS (CEORLHNS), Cremona
2025 – Symposium chair (Advancements in clinical olfaction testing) and instructional course speaker (Endoscopic DCR – a step by step approach), 30th Congress of the European Rhinologic Society, Budapest
2025 – Three keynote lectures on endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery, endoscopic DCR and bleeding control in rhinosurgery, XIII International Academic Conference ORLIAC, Warsaw
2023 and 2024 – Faculty and lecturer, Fellowship Diploma in Anterior Skull Base Surgery (World Skull Base Foundation – M.S. Ramaiah University, Bengaluru, India), with lectures on the lacrimal apparatus and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy
2015–2021 – Tutor at the Permanent Anatomical Dissection Laboratory of the University of Perugia (otology, neurotology, endoscopic sinonasal and skull base surgery)

Congresses, training and scientific initiatives promoted with Naso Sano

As President of the “Naso Sano” – Research & Education association, Dr Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki has promoted and coordinated CME activities, multidisciplinary congresses, webinars and international scientific updates in otorhinolaryngology and rhinology.

2017 – Rhinobronchial syndrome, CME course promoted by the Naso Sano association and the Perugia Medical Council, 25 February 2017. Accredited with 7 CME credits, up to 100 participants; scientific introduction and lecture by Dr Dehgani-Mobaraki.
2018 – Rhinobronchial syndrome, multidisciplinary update course at the Gubbio-Gualdo Tadino Hospital, with Dr Dehgani-Mobaraki as Scientific Director; 12 CME credits and live streaming.
2018 – Epistaxis, CME event organised with the Perugia Medical Council, on the assessment and multidisciplinary management of nosebleeds.
2018 – Epistaxis: Clinical & Surgical Flowchart, scientific course on 15 December 2018 with national and international faculty, 12 CME credits and all places filled.
2019 – 1st Congress “Head and Neck Tumours in Umbria”, promoted by the Naso Sano association in Gubbio on 19 October 2019. A 12 CME credit event for 100 participants, with lectures, clinical case discussion and live streaming. The programme brought together Umbrian specialists and national faculty in head and neck oncology.
Since 2019 – AdherENT, an international programme of webinars and distance learning in rhinology and otorhinolaryngology. The first documented cycle included 10 meetings between February and June 2019 with Italian and international faculty.
E-Quality / International Grand Rounds – a later development of the international online training activity, with seasons documented in 2022 and 2024 and Dr Dehgani-Mobaraki as Chairman, involving international specialists and researchers.
Since 2019 – Make Sense Campaign, participation in awareness and early diagnosis campaigns for head and neck cancer, as part of the European campaign promoted by the European Head and Neck Society and coordinated in Italy by AIOCC.

These initiatives complement clinical, surgical and research work with an ongoing programme of scientific education, multidisciplinary collaboration and international training.

Editorial activity

Review Editor, Frontiers in Allergy – Rhinology section (since 2022)
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Allergy and Hypersensitivity Diseases (Elsevier) (since 2023)
Review Editor, Frontiers in Environmental Health (since 2023)
Guest Editor, Biomedicines – special issue “Upper Respiratory Infection: From Pathology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches” (2024)
Topical Advisory Panel, Life (MDPI) (since 2024)
Editorial Review Board, Therapeutic Advances in Allergy and Rhinology (since 2024)
Reviewer for Rhinology, Rhinology Online, European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Scientific Reports and other international journals

Scientific societies and affiliations

European Rhinologic Society (ERS), since 2013; member of the ERS Junior Executive Board (2013–2018)
Italian Academy of Rhinology (IAR), since 2014; member of the working group for the care pathway (PDTA) for type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis
Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SIO), since 2018
Board Member of the Young Confederation of European ORL-HNS, Rhinology and Facial Plastics section (since 2021)
Covid-19 Task Force of the Young Otolaryngologists of IFOS (YO-IFOS), since 2020
Founding member, president and member of the Ethics Committee of the “Naso Sano” – Research & Education association (Ringgold ID 567754)

Awards

2020 – Commendation from the Umbria Region (Health and Welfare Directorate) for research on COVID-19 smell and taste disorders
2018 – Travel Grant of the European Rhinologic Society – Foundation Rhinology
2016 – ERS Junior Grant on Rhinology Clinical Research for the work “Septal Flip Flap: a new option for anterior skull base reconstruction after endoscopic resection of sinonasal cancers”

Research projects

Principal Investigator of the clinical study “Clinical and Immunological Responses After SARS-CoV-2 Infection Causing COVID-19” (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05038475).

Scientific publications

Editorial: Innovation in the management of rhinologic disorders. Frontiers in Allergy, 2026. doi:10.3389/falgy.2026.1930895
Long Covid. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 2024. PubMed
COVID-19 pathogenesis. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 2024. PubMed
B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 2024. PubMed
Diagnostic Therapeutic Assistance Pathway (PDTA) of Type 2 Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Working Group of the Italian Academy of Rhinology. Frontiers in Allergy, 2023. PubMed · About chronic rhinosinusitis
Image-Guided Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS): a necessity or an advantage? Otorhinolaryngology, 2023. Article · About navigation in endoscopic sinus surgery (in Italian)
Extremely Rare Pathologies of the Craniovertebral Junction Region: A Case Series and Review of the Literature. Surgeries, 2023. Article
Coexistence of Proboscis Lateralis and Multiple Craniofacial, Neurological, Cardiac and Spinal deformities: a one-of-a-kind case report. BMC Pediatrics, 2023. Article
Long-term persistence of IgG antibodies in recovered COVID-19 individuals at 18 months post-infection and the impact of two-dose BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination on the antibody response. Virology, 2023. doi
The Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its Effect on the Olfactory System. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2022. doi
International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Olfaction. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2022. doi · About smell disorders (in Italian)
Collateral damage to elderly patients presenting with advanced skin cancer. Another toll to pay due to COVID-19 pandemic. Indian Journal of Cancer, 2022. doi
Impact of COVID-19 on the mortality rates for the resident population of the Umbria region in Italy. Italian Journal of Prevention, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medicine, 2022. doi
The mechanisms of action of ivermectin against SARS-CoV-2 – an extensive review. The Journal of Antibiotics, 2021. doi
Longitudinal observation of antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection at 14 months. Clinical Immunology, 2021. PubMed
Neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain 13 months after the recovery from the disease. Annali di Igiene, 2021. PubMed
The mechanisms of action of Ivermectin against SARS-CoV-2 – An evidence-based clinical review article. The Journal of Antibiotics, 2021. doi
Antibody persistency and trend post-SARS-CoV-2 infection at eight months. Annali di Igiene, 2021.
Consequences of intubation in COVID-19 patients: Are we ready? International Journal of Phonosurgery & Laryngology, 2021.
Face masks are an essential tool to mitigate the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a call to action. Rhinology Online, 2020. PDF
Key role of Annexin A2 and Plasmin in COVID-19 pathophysiology, clinical presentation and outcomes – a review. Italian Journal of Prevention, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medicine, 2020.
Critical Care Covid-19 Management Protocol: Clinical Case. Proceedings of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Medical Sciences, 2020.
International registry of otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons with COVID-19. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2020.
Sinus and anterior skull base surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review, synthesis and YO-IFOS position. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2020. Article
Smell and taste dysfunction in patients with COVID-19. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2020. Article
Septal Flip Flap for Anterior Skull Base Reconstruction After Endoscopic Transnasal Craniectomy: Long-Term Outcomes. World Neurosurgery, 2019. Article
Training in ENT; a comprehensive review of existing evidence. Rhinology Online, 2018.
Giant Temporal Lobe Abscess in a Patient With Ectodermal Dysplasia. Otology & Neurotology, 2018. PubMed
Hemifacial spasm and neurovascular compression syndrome. BMJ Case Reports, 2017.
Endoscopic Resection of a Giant Sinonasal Haemangiopericytoma with Preoperative Embolization and Cyanoacrylate Glue Injections: A Case Report and Literature Review. Global Journal of Otolaryngology, 2017. · About sinonasal tumours (in Italian)
Residual dizziness after successful repositioning maneuver for idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: a review. Audiology Research, 2017. PMC · Assessment of hearing and balance disorders
Indications to canine fossa puncture in management of maxillary sinusitis: review of literature. Cepal Review, 2017.
Combined external-endoscopic endonasal assisted removal of a nailgun. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2016. PubMed
Septal Flip Flap: a new option for anterior skull base reconstruction after endoscopic resection of sinonasal cancers. Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 2016. PubMed · About sinonasal tumours (in Italian)
Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation: 4 years retrospective study. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2016. PubMed · About lacrimal obstruction (in Italian) · Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)
Reliability of an anamnestic questionnaire for the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the elderly. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2015. PubMed

Books and chapters

In press – Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy: Surgical Technique and Post-operative Management. In: Office-Based Procedures in Rhinology: A Practical Handbook, Springer Nature.
2023 – Traction on the orbital fat resulting in avulsion of an orbital vessel during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In: 100 Complications of Otorhinolaryngology & Skull Base Surgery, Thieme.
2022 – IAR PDTA Type 2 Chronic Rhinosinusitis. In: Aggiornamenti in Otorinolaringoiatria – ORL News, vol. 6.
2018 – Temporoparietal Fascial Flap for Skull Base Reconstruction (with A. Schreiber). In: Atlas of Sellar, Suprasellar and Parasellar Lesions, Thieme.
2018 – Tumori Testa e Collo (Head and Neck Tumours), 1st edition, edited by P. Dehgani-Mobaraki. Associazione Naso Sano – Giant Leap. ISBN 978-1-951489-02-1.

Languages

Italian and Persian (native), English.