Iranian Molecular Medicine Network
A growing interdependence and dynamic changes are the major
features of modern scientific and technological progress within a country and
within the world community. Scientific discoveries in the world have made such a
huge revolution that it seems impossible to predict where our world is heading
to. Science and technology have been recognized as the vital factors of growth,
progress and power of every country. However, the fact that most of the world's
technological capacities and resources allotted for research and development are
still concentrated in developed countries<ins datetime="2008-01-05T11:53" style="text-decoration: none" cite="mailto:Administrator">,</ins>
has led to the scientific and industrial potential of developing countries
remarkably depending on those of developed nations. Satisfactory progress in the
field of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine in Iran has been made owing to the
indefatigable efforts of biological
researchers and physicians across the country.
How
the network was started
In order to enhance collaboration and cooperation in doing
molecular medicine related research, a group of scientists, expert in molecular
biology, from the following institutes decided to from a collaborative network.
The initial or founding institutes were Medical Biotechnology Department and
Department of National Cell Bank both from Pasteur Institute of Iran; Research
Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease (RCGLD), Shaheed Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Digestive Disease Research Center of Tehran
Medical University. The work was coordinated by Deputy of Research and
Technology, Ministry of Health.<ins datetime="2008-01-05T11:56" style="text-decoration: none" cite="mailto:Administrator">
</ins>The network was named Iranian Molecular Medicine Network (IMMN).
Iranian Molecular Medicine Network
IMMN, a collection of all Molecular Medicine and Molecular
Biology research centers in Iran, coordinates and implements the mainframe
policies for related researches and also seeks to improve the health and
well-being of the people of all communities through prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and eradication of diseases.
Below, a diagram is trying to show, in brief, the main objectives
of the network. Some explanations are also given.
Definition:
Research networks are collection of research, educational,
services and industrial centers as well as other private or governmental
scientific organizations which all act towards a unified vision.
Mission
Organizing, strengthening and making goal-oriented research and
scientific activities in the field of Molecular Medicine in order to improve
state of public health. This can be done through collaborative expansion of
scientific activities and addressing the end-users needs.
Objectives
•
Ascertainment of research priorities
•
Coordinating and converging researches
•
Building Capacities
•
Laying the foundations for
effective teamwork
•
Bringing sprit of cooperation among member research centers
•
Development or promoting domestic and international scientific collaborations
and cooporations
•
Improving the quality and quantity of research
•
Promoting the application of research findings in health development
•
Creating and maintaining vibrant research culture
•
Enhancing resource mobilization and usage
•
Improving transparency and availability of information
Elements
- Founding board
- General Assembly
- Strategic Council
- Chief
-Research and Education Council
- Secretariat
Establishing to maturation
• Scoping
phase: face to face meeting, workshop, seminar,
• Operational & consolidation phase: organizing workshop, preparing action
plan, discussion about rule & low, organizing some tour or visit
• Stability phase: reviewing/ revising the objectives facing to new
challenging (this stage need about 5 years)
• Adaptation
phase: finding new interest/change the movement/change the objectives
IMMN is currently having 44 Research Centers as member, among
which 29 centers are located in Tehran. A few numbers of Member Research Centers
are involved in HLA project (4 centers) and DNA Bank building (24 centers).
