A delegation of the Iranian Shahid Beheshti Medical University, led by Dr. Ali Asghar Peyvandi president, visited Semmelweis University. The primary aim of the introductory visit was to identify the mutual areas of collaboration. The six members of the delegation were welcomed by Dr. Ágoston Szél rector, Dr. György Bagdy vice-rector for scientific affairs, Dr. Romána Zelkó dean and by Dr. Marcel Pop director of international relations. Dr. Gyula Szigeti, vice-president of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office also participated in the meeting.
Dr. Afshin Zarghi, deputy for research and technology, briefly introduced the Iranian university and he talked about the educational and research activities focusing on research conducted in drug development and food safety. Drug research was a central topic of the discussions during the meeting, therefore the representatives of Shahid Beheshti Medical University introduced their Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and its scientific activities separately.
The Iranian delegation was familiarized with the most important university research groups by Dr. György Bagdy. Afterwards Dr. Romána Zelkó provided details about the research activities of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Semmelweis University conducted at the areas of endocrinology, oncological diseases and personalized medicine.
Dr. Hassan Yazdanpanah, science and technology attaché of the Embassy of Iran in Budapest informed the participants that at the end of 2015 a technology related Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Budapest and Tehran, with the assistance of Dr. József Pálinkás, president of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. According to Dr. Yazdanpanah the joint fund created on these grounds provides a great opportunity for the establishment and development of research cooperations between the two institutions in the future.
At the end of the meeting Rector Szél concluded that pharmacy seems to be the mutual area of collaboration that enables the cooperation the most effectively. Besides pharmacy Rector Szél also sees opportunities in a possible cooperation between the doctoral schools of the two institutions. Rector Szél assured the representatives of the Iranian university that students from Iran are all coming to Semmelweis University with a very good, strong knowledge base.
Katalin Romhányi, Directorate of International Relations
Photo: Attila Kovács, Semmelweis University
Translated by: Katalin Romhányi
