In 1996 the Biophysics Center of Armenian NAS received the status of UNESCO Chair in Life Sciences and was reorganized in Life Sciences International Educational Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of RA.
The purpose of the Chair is to promote cooperative research, advanced training and exchange of information in neurosciences, biophysics, medical genetics, environmental sciences, algology, biotechnology and pharmacology in Armenia and other countries of the region to facilitate the collaboration between high-level, internationally recognized researchers and the local scientific community.

In collaboration with different international organizations the Chair is organizing regular International UNESCO Seminars on actual problems of Life Sciences with participation of leading scientists from different countries.
Since 1996 the Chair has organized the following International meetings:

2008 - UNESCO CONFERENCE IN LIFE SCIENCES, Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Victor Hambardzumyan " Non-Conducting Membrane Mechanisms of Under-Threshold Signal Transduction in Neurons".
2006 - ONRG/EOARD/IUPAB Seminar "Mechanisms of Mechanotransduction in Living Cells" (co-organizers: Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD) International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB)
2005 - NATO ADVANCED RESEARCH WORKSHOP "The Mechanisms of the Biological Effect of Extra High Power Pulses." (co-organizers: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD).
2005 UNESCO/WHO Seminar "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Biological Effects of EMF (co-organizers: World Health Organization (WHO); International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB),
2003 - Regional workshop on "Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security and Rural Development in the Caucasus Region and Moldova"(co-organizer: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2002 - Regional workshop on "Regulation of Cell Hydration in Norm and Pathology" (US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
2000 - Cellular Mechanism of Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Electromagnetic Fields" (co-organizers: World Health Organization (WHO), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD), Office of Naval Research (USA).
1998 - "Modem Problems of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics" (co-organizer: International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB).
1997 - "Modern Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience" (co-organizer: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).
1996 - "Pain Mechanisms and Management" (co-organizers: International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), (IBRO), Office of Naval Research (USA).

The materials of the seminars have been published in separate volumes serving as handbooks for young scientists:

1. "Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields" 2 volume books 1996 (Eds. D. O. Carpenter & S.N. Ayrapetyan), Academic press, New York,
2. "Pain Mechanisms and Management " 1998 (Ed. S.N. Ayrapetyan & A.V. Apkarian), IOS press, Netherlands, 390 pages.
3. "Magnetoreception and the Mechanisms of EMF Effects on Biosystems" 1999 (G.E. Grigorian) Yerevan, 80 pp.
4. "Modern Problems of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics" 2001 (Eds. Ayrapetyan S. N. & North A.C. T.), 360 pages.
5."Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security in the Caucasus Region and Moldova" 2004 (Eds. K. Nichterlein (FAO, Italy) & S.N. Ayrapetyan (Armenia) Noyan Tapan Press, 175 pages.
6. Book of Abstracts of UNESCO/WHO/IUPAB Seminar Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Biological Effects of EMF and NATO Advanced Research Workshop on The Mechanisms of the Biological Effect of Extra High Power Pulses, Noyan Tapan Press, 110 pages.
7."Bioelectromagnetics:Current concepts", Editors: S. Ayrapetyan (Armenia) & M. Markov (USA) NATO Science Series, Springer Press, The Netherlands, 2006, 480 pages

The Chair is carrying out bi-sided and multisided international research projects with some FSU countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus) in framework of ISTC, EOARD, CRDF, INTAS, FAO and other organizations.

During the International Conference: "Education and Capacity Building in Biophysics: Needs of Asia-African Region" (22-27 February 2003, India) organized by International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) our Chair was accepted as a model for organization of UNESCO Postgraduate University. A working group was set for organization of such University Network with the centers in Japan, India, China, Armenia, Egypt and SAR.

During the regional Workshop organized by FAO (Yerevan, 2003) it was decided to establish the UNESCO Chair in Agrobiotechnology for realization of postgraduate programs in Agrobiotechnology for MS and PhD.

The proposal of UNESCO Chairs in Life Sciences(Armenia) and Healthy Living(Georgia),to organize a joint UNITWIN Regional Network on Postgraduate Education in Life Sciences (with open participation of other interested countries), was unanimously accepted to improve the Life Sciences Postgraduate Education in Caucasus, based on UNESCO Postgraduate Centre( Armenia) with participation of Tbilisi State Medical University(Georgia) and local Universities of the region. The Chair serves as a means of exchange and networking on research and training in Life Sciences.

Currently we are in the process of establishing distance educational system (DES) M. S. and PhD courses in Neuroscience and Biophysics for the regional countries. It will give our prospective students a possibility to study at our short (as well as long) term courses regardless of their geographical occupation and financial situation.