On June 25, at the ED 1.25 Dissertation Council, the defense of the thesis on "Research of biologically active substances of Lactuca L. species in Azerbaijan" presented by Emil Şukurlu, an employee of the Botany Institute of MSE RA, was held.

The dissertation work was carried out in the "Plant resources" department of the Institute of Botany, "Microbiological Biotechnology" laboratory of the Institute of Microbiology, department of "Medical Microbiology and Immunology" of Azerbaijan Medical University, Medicinal Plant, Drug and Scientific Research Application and Research Center of Anadolu University, and Faculty of Pharmacy in the "Pharmacognosy" department in 2017-2023. The scientific supervisors of the work are honored scientist, doctor of chemical sciences, deceased professor Sirajeddin Sarkarov and doctor of biological sciences, associate professor Adila Alasgarova.

The applicant broadly interpreted the main provisions of the dissertation. He noted that among the chemical compounds found in L. serriola and L. tatarica species, the ones that are important in medical practice were identified in the research work, and this information opens new perspectives for further research related to the development of the methodology for extracting these compounds from these species and their application in the pharmaceutical industry.

After listening to the speeches of the official opponents, extensive discussions were held around the dissertation. The applicant answered the council members' questions and expressed his attitude to the recommendations and reviews of the opponents. After listening to the applicant's final words, a vote was held. Based on the voting results, a decision was made to submit a petition to the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning awarding the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology to Emil Shukurlu.