Scientific Collaboration Meeting Between Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and the Radiology Research Center

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, a specialized meeting was held at the Radiology Research Center with the participation of faculty members from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This session, hosted by the Radiology Research Center and attended by a group of researchers, aimed to expand scientific collaborations—particularly in the fields of medical artificial intelligence and radiology data registry.

The session began with Dr. Ghanati presenting a brief history of the Research Center, highlighting its key activities and achievements. Following this, Dr. Jalali showcased the center's honors, including prestigious awards, published scientific articles, and major research projects through a slide presentation.

Dr. Haghighatkhah, a faculty member from Shahid Beheshti University, emphasized the unique position of the Radiology Research Center as the only such center in the country and pointed to the need for alignment between radiology departments across universities and the center. He stressed the importance of data collection and integration in enhancing the quality of research and publications through inter-institutional collaborations. He proposed the formation of a joint committee between the university’s radiology department and the center and highlighted the need for establishing a unified registry system to create a rich and credible database.

Dr. Dehghan further underlined the significance of structuring research projects around a robust registry framework and called for direct support from the research center in helping students develop research proposals.

Drawing on existing experience, Dr. Firooznia recommended a project-based registry system to ensure more precise data documentation. He also expressed the center's readiness to provide statistical and consultative support to students.

In another segment of the meeting, Dr. Haghighatkhah highlighted the value of leveraging national experience in registries and encouraged joint proposals and publications. Dr. Ghanati proposed setting up a representative office of the Research Center at Shahid Beheshti University and reiterated the center’s leading role in advancing AI in radiology in Iran.

Dr. Abrishami stressed the necessity of entrusting registry tasks to qualified and committed professionals, and emphasized the importance of updating registry platforms.

Medical data security was also a key topic of discussion. Dr. Haghighatkhah referred to challenges in data-sharing agreements with engineering companies and emphasized the need for a clear regulatory framework to protect data ownership and privacy. He noted that such guidelines are currently under development by the Iranian Radiology Society.

Dr. Haghighi emphasized the importance of formal agreements for AI collaborations, while Dr. Abrishami stressed the need for legal consultants to ensure the accuracy of research contracts.

Dr. Kalahi elaborated on the dual pathways in AI projects—research and application—and suggested that the Iranian Radiology Society should benefit from the center’s experience to organize and standardize applied research initiatives.

Closing of the Meeting:

At the end of the session, participants underscored the necessity of drafting a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Radiology Department of Shahid Beheshti University and the Radiology Research Center. This MoU is intended to create a structured framework for scientific and research cooperation in key areas such as artificial intelligence, data registry, specialized guideline development, and medical data security enhancement.

The agreement aims to elevate the scientific standing of research teams, synergize the resources and capabilities of both institutions, and pave the way for the development of indigenous knowledge in advanced medical imaging technologies. It was also agreed that regular expert meetings and joint working groups would be established to operationalize this collaboration through co-authored proposals, inter-institutional publications, and exchange of specialist personnel.

The session concluded with a strong emphasis on collaboration, synergy, and scientific responsibility—principles considered by the attendees as essential foundations for sustainable progress in the field of digital health and medical imaging research.