Abstract

The Iranian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT), in an effort to further invest in transplantation-related research, established a scientific link with Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences (BUMS) at the beginning of the year 2006. BUMS instituted a network encompassing 1) Nephrology and Urology Research Center (NURC), directed by prominent nephrologists and urologists, 2) Clinical Research Unit (CRU), managed by qualified and competent young researchers, and 3) Medicine and Health Promotion Institute (mhpinstitute.ir ), which is a private research and development institute. Study titles were then extracted in discussion sessions between the NURC and CRU, the latter also being responsible for writing research protocols to be reviewed by the University ethical board for research grants. The CRU has hitherto carried out several research grants based on the following criteria: 1) accommodating the main objectives of the ISOT, i.e. the improvement in survival rates and well-being standards as well as the minimization of costs, 2) conducting low-budget yet cutting-edge research, and 3) ensuring publication-worthy study titles. This is a review of the tie between scientists and research and methodological assistants, which has already come to realization in the face of financial constraints.