Introduction & Goals

The Rheumatology Research Center (RRC) was created in 1981. RRC had 3 goals; teaching, research, and patient care. It was originally based in Shariati Hospital, Tehran University for Medical Sciences.

In 1994 the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education officially recognized RRC. Later, in 2001 the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, chose the RRC as the "Center of Excellence" for Rheumatology in Iran. Since August 2003 RRC has been a member of the "Molecular Medicine Network of Iran".

RRC is mainly based in Shariati Hospital, in Tehran. The Center has three branches in Imam, Sina, and Amir-A'lam hospitals of Tehran University for Medical Sciences. A number of faculty members of other departments (Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine, Neurology, etc) participate in the research activities of RRC. (Link to Staffs)

The following Rheumatology departments of other Universities for Medical Sciences are affiliated to RRC:

·        Mashad University for Medical Sciences,

·        Ahwaz University for Medical Sciences

·        Guilan University for Medical Sciences

·        Army University for Medical Sciences

·        Azad University for Medical Sciences

·        Mazandaran University for Medical Sciences

·        Yazd University for Medical Sciences

·        Kerman University for Medical Sciences

·        Kashan University for Medical Sciences

·        Baghiatallah University for Medical Sciences

·        Children Medical Center,

·        Pediatric department of Iran University for Medical Sciences

 

The main research units of RRC are:

Units

Head

Establishment date

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Mahmood Akbarian, MD

1974

Behcet Disease (BD)

Farhad Shahram, MD

1977

Osteoporosis

Fereydoun Davatchi, MD

1993

Scleroderma

Farhad Gharibdoost, MD

1994

Polymyositis

Abdolhadi Nadji, MD

1994

Seronegative Spondylarthritis

Ahmad Reza Jamshidi, MD

1997

Serum and DNA Bank

Abdolhadi Nadji, MD

2003

 

RRC in the world

RRC is an active member of APLAR (Asia and Pacific area League of Associations for Rheumatology), and has four representatives in the Special Interest Groups (SIG) of APLAR (Behcet's Disease, Osteoporosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Scleroderma).

Members of RRC were selected several times as reviewer of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Journal of Rheumatology, and a number of Iranian medical journals and reviews. They were also appointed to the editorial board member of APLAR Journal of Rheumatology, Archives of Rheumatology, Acta Medica Iranica, Iranian Journal of Medical Academy, Journal Pezechki Ghanooni, and Journal Novin Pezechki.

 

Behcet’s Unit of RRC

RRC is best known in the world of International Rheumatology for its Behcet's Disease unit. RRC was one of the members of the International Study Group for Behcet's Disease and one of the main groups for the creation of the International Study Group Criteria for Behcet’s Disease. RRC was one of the founder members of the International Society for Behcet's Disease. RRC has the chairmanship of the APLAR Special Interest Group (SIG) for Behcet's Disease. In the field of Behcet's Disease, among many other works, RRC has created the latest classification and diagnostic criteria (traditional format and classification tree format), and 3 new therapeutic methods for the ocular manifestations (Pulse Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, Combination therapy).