Planning Team Members

• Dr. Elham Zare Nejad – Head of the Center
• Dr. Reza Tabrizi – Deputy for Research at the Center
• Dr. Mahsa Rostami – Executive Director of the Center
• Dr. Mojtaba Farjam – Faculty Member of the Center
• Asar Mansouri – Faculty Member of the Center
• Abdolmajid Ghasemian – Faculty Member of the Center
• Ali Ghanbari Asad – Faculty Member of the Center
• Maryam Zahmatkeshan – Faculty Member of the Center

Mission

The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, as part of the organizational structure of Fasa University of Medical Sciences, is determined to utilize existing potential and resources to provide the necessary scientific and objective evidence for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. This mission includes capacity building and fostering intersectoral collaboration in the areas of health provision, maintenance, and promotion for the community.

Vision

The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center of Fasa University of Medical Sciences aims, within the next five years, to fully harness its potential and institutionalize research at both national and international levels. The center seeks not only to improve its current standing in national and global rankings but also to play a significant role in guiding and planning health systems and community health in alignment with Iran’s national health program.

 

Values

Emphasis on adherence to exalted Islamic values

Full observance of ethical principles and scientific standards in research

Valuing group activities and teamwork

Taking steps toward achieving the national vision

Focusing on the impact of research results in improving community health

 

Internal Factors Analysis Form

 

 External Factors Evaluation (EFE) 

Code	Factor	Weight	Score	Final
O1	Proximity and collaboration with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences	0.83	0.32	0.266
O2	Strong research connections with extra-university research centers	0.13	0.24	0.031
O3	Support from the university and the Vice-Chancellor for Research for non-communicable disease research centers	0.83	0.24	0.199
T1	Lack of independent budget allocation for the center	0.12	0.10	0.012
T2	Limited access to certain international bibliographic resources	0.11	0.10	0.011
T3	Financial difficulties in sustaining cohort studies and existing registries	0.12	0.10	0.012

SWOT Matrix 

Category	Strengths (S)	Weaknesses (W)
Research Activities	Increasing quantity of national & international research activities	Shortage of researchers in the center
Quality & Collaboration	Improving quality of national & international research activities	Insufficient collaboration with other organizations and institutions
Focus Area	Addressing the most important health domain: non-communicable diseases	Deficiencies in the center’s website
Cohorts & Registries	Existence of Fasa PERSIAN Adult Cohort	Limited physical space and lack of privacy
	Existence of Fasa Youth & Adolescent Cohort	Few secondary research studies conducted
	Existence of Fasa Cardiac Registry System	Insufficient attention to impactful projects
Human Resources & Systems	Experienced experts and members	—
	Established Knowledge Translation System	—
	Active Student Research Committee & USERN	—
Recognition & Access	Ranked 3rd among biomedical research centers under 3 years (2019)	—
	Researchers’ access to the center’s website	—
	Annual awarding of Hakim Sharq Medal	—

 

Required Strategies (Narrative Form)

• Quantitative and qualitative development: Expand both the number and quality of research activities to strengthen the center’s impact.

• Training and empowerment: Build the capacity of researchers, staff, and students through continuous education and skill development.

• Promotion of knowledge translation: Ensure that research findings are effectively communicated and applied in practice and policy.

• Revenue generation: Develop mechanisms for financial sustainability, reducing reliance on limited external budgets.

• Advocacy with organizations and institutions: Actively seek support and collaboration from national and international bodies to enhance resources and influence.

• Data analysis and secondary impactful studies: Utilize cohort datasets to conduct secondary analyses and produce high‑impact research outcomes.

• Strengthening resources: Reinforce human capital, financial support, and equipment to ensure long‑term stability and growth of the center.

���� Strategic Goals

• S1G1. Improve the quantitative status of research to increase research outputs

• S1G2. Enhance the quality of the center’s educational and research activities

• S2G1. Focus on strengthening the capabilities of center members

• S2G2. Strengthen the research capacities of students and researchers

• S3G1. Conduct research, educational, and consulting activities that generate income for the center

• S4G1. Strengthen the center’s hardware and software resources

• S5G1. Increase stakeholders’ access to scientific evidence produced by the center through knowledge translation models

• S6G1. Conduct studies based on data collected from the PERSIAN adult and adolescent cohorts, registry datasets, and secondary analyses

• S7G1. Fulfill tasks assigned to the center in line with missions from the Ministry and University

���� Specific Objectives

• S1G1O1. Increase the number of articles published in national and international journals by at least 5%

• S1G1O2. Increase the number of proposals by 10% compared to the previous year, and impactful proposals by 5%

• S1G1O3. Increase the number of joint research projects with national and international centers by at least 2, plus one project within a one‑year period

• S1G2O4. Improve the H‑index of faculty members and the center, as well as the impact factor of the center’s publications

• S1G2O5. Enhance the quality of workshops and improve data collection for the PERSIAN youth cohort and related registries

• S1G2O6. Focus on at least one mega‑project or provincial research project

• S2G1O7. Increase the center’s awareness and capacity in data mining studies

• S2G1O8. Increase the center’s awareness and capacity in ad hoc analyses of cohort datasets

• S2G1O9. Increase the center’s awareness and capacity in secondary analyses

• S2G2O10. Strengthen researchers’ capacity by 5% through collaboration with the center

• S2G2O11. Strengthen students’ capacity by 5% through collaboration with the center

• S3G1O12. Attract financial resources from international, national, and provincial organizations (both governmental and private) by at least 1%

Specific Objectives (Linked to Strategic Goals)

• S4G1O13. Strengthen hardware resources proportionate to 100% of the center’s personnel

• S4G1O14. Strengthen software resources proportionate to 100% of the center’s personnel

• S5G1O15. Make the center’s research results accessible through knowledge translation, with a 50% annual increase

• S6G1O16. Conduct studies based on PERSIAN adult cohort data, with 5% annual growth relative to total research activities

• S6G1O17. Conduct studies based on PERSIAN adolescent cohort data, with 5% annual growth relative to total research activities

• S6G1O18. Conduct studies based on the center’s registry datasets, with 5% annual growth relative to total research activities

• S6G1O19. Conduct secondary studies, with 5% annual growth relative to total research activities

• S7G1O20. Carry out cancer-related studies within the research center

• S7G1O21. Implement at least one impactful project in the research center