Introducing medical genetics department

Activities related to the field of medical genetics began in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in the form of a cytogenetic research plan and in 1985 led to establishment of a medical genetics laboratory by Dr. Mohammad Hassanzadeh Nazarabadi in the medical school. Until 1995, this laboratory continued to provide diagnostic services as it did before; however, since then, the medical genetics department was established in the anatomy department following the laboratory expansion. In 2000, the human genetics department was established in Bu Ali research center by Dr. MohammadReza Abbaszadegan and managed to officially obtain the license for prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia from the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education and began to work in this area; following these, with new personnel joined, the medical genetics department started to work independently in 2009. Currently, the department educates, does research and diagnoses diseases in the field of medical genetics (Genetic counseling, cytogenetic tests, molecular genetics, and medical genetics research center). Since it was established, medical genetics department in Mashhad has been responsible to teach all genetic lessons related to fields of midwifery, nursing, laboratory sciences, speech therapy, optometry and medical genetics to students of medicine and dentistry. Moreover, the professors of the department cooperated in teaching some specialized lessons in departments such as sciences and techniques. Following the increase in the number of medical schools and lack of expert personnel in basic sciences fields, especially medical genetics, offering master’s degree programs was put on the agenda of the Deputy for Education of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, the license to run this course was issued for Mashhad genetics department in 2009 and in the same year, the first students admitted to the medical genetics course began their study in this department. Since then, every year, the department has admitted 6 to 8 students and the seventh group of master’s degree students have been registered in October 2015. With regard to medical universities’ need to basic sciences experts, gradually, the Deputy for Education of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education considered running basic sciences PhD programs. Following assessments made by the secretariat for basic medical sciences, specialized health and the examination board and evaluation of medical genetics, the license to run a PhD program in the field of medical genetics was issued for the first time to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014 and the first PhD students of medical genetics registered in January 2015. To date, of universities affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education Mashhad, Tehran, and Shahid Beheshti medical universities and University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences have been authorized to admit students to the PhD program. According to various memorandums of understanding, the medical genetics department scientifically and executively supports other scientific and diagnostic centers of Mashhad city including Jahad Daneshgahi genetics center supervised by Mrs. Dr. Sadr Nabavi and Khorasan Razavi genetics foundation supervised by Dr. Majid Mojarrad and Emam Reza research-treatment center headed by Dr. Mohammad Amin Karachian.

There are 9 faculty members in the medical genetics department of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, of which 9 are full professors, 3 are associate professors and the rest are assistant professors. Faculty members of this department have actively participated in scientific associations and medical genetics evaluation examination boards; Dr. Mohammad Hassanzadeh Nazarabadi has been a member of this board for the last 15 years. Besides, some faculty members are editor-in-chief and members of the editorial board of some specialized scientific journals. Interest and perseverance of faculty members of the genetics department together with supports from Dr. Mohammad Reza Abbas Zadegan made it possible to establish the medical genetics research center in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. This research center provides considerable facilities for post-graduate students.

There are now five active laboratories in the medical genetics department, medical genetics research center and molecular and cytogenetic educational laboratories in the medical school, the human genetics department in Bu Ali research center and the genetics department in Qaem Hospital as follows:

Name of the laboratory

Type of activity

Location

Supervisor

Cytogenetic

Amino synthesis-karyotype test aminocyte and Peripheral Blood cells and cancer cells

Medical school

Medical genetics department

Dr. Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan

Molecular

Extraction of DNA ، POST&PRE  ، PCR

Realtime-PCR

Medical school

Medical genetics department

Dr. Aryaneh Sadr Nabavi

Genetics diagnosis

Diagnosis of Thalassemia, Duchenne, Deafness, PKU، CF، SMA،

Qaem Hospital

Dr. Mohammad Amin Karachian

Research center

Conducting research- studying genetic disorders of syndromes

Medical school

Dr. Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan

Human genetics

Conducting research on cancer genetics

Bu Ali research center

Dr. Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan

Introducing courses: medical genetics master’s and PhD programs have two main sections, an educational and a research section, each with a special mission.

The educational section:

This section aims at offering lessons (mostly theoretical) that are arranged within two to three semesters. The purpose of this section is to teach theory and basis of some techniques common in the science of genetics. It is natural that neither in master’s program nor in PhD program is it possible to teach all genetics materials. However, the aim is to familiarize the students with some general concepts in various areas. Obviously, students themselves should make use of the available resources to learn more. A common problem that arises in this period is longer than normal duration of this program and untaught lessons during the semester. Most selected lessons are not completed during the same semester and continue to the next semester. Therefore, the previous semester lessons are added to lessons of the current semester. This imposes more pressure on students, makes the semester longer and affects the quality of the course. Furthermore, students are not able to benefit from between-semester holidays to get some rest. However, this problem can be lessened to a great degree or completely eliminated through measures taken by the person in charge of the post-graduate office and students’ perseverance.

Most students tend to postpone classes and examinations, but it makes the duration of the course longer and causes many problems. Thus, students are advised to hold classes and take examinations at the right time and help the professors in this regard.

Person in charge of the post-graduate affairs of the department can, to some extent, help you hold the lessons during the semester. Cooperate with him in case any problem occurs.

The research section:

The aim of this section is to teach and practice how to define, solve and present a research problem. In this section, the students should be able to define a research problem and find a solution for it in the form of an educational research plan. Finally, they are trained on how to present their findings to others in the form of writing a thesis and presenting it orally.

Students go through this stage under supervision of a faculty member of the department. Students are advised to choose their supervisors and the title of their thesis by the end of the first semester. As far as possible, they are also recommended to avoid offering the exact topic of their thesis. Rather, they had better let the faculty member suggest the topic to them or the topic is suggested by the faculty member and the details be completed by the students themselves.

Taking the above recommendations would lead you to pass through this stage more quickly.          

While choosing the supervisor and the thesis topic, make sure which laboratory and topic best meets your requirements.

Selecting the supervisor in the PhD course

The student is required to select their supervisor at the end of their first year as follows:

1. Carefully study scientific and research background of faculty members of the department that are given in a booklet.
2. Choosing three professors of medical genetics department to pass four months in the research section of each these professors.
3. Defining duties of this four-month period is the responsibility of the professor;
4. After passing 3 courses, the student should choose one of these three professors as their supervisor at the beginning of their second year. 

 

 

Department of Medical Genetics

Activities related to medical genetics field in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were initiated in the form of cytogenetic research proposal, resulting in the establishment of medical genetics laboratory by Dr. Mohammad Hassan Zadeh at school of medicine in 1985. The laboratory continued the initiative procedures in providing diagnostic services up to 1995. In this year, by expansion of the laboratory, the section of medical genetics in department of anatomical sciences was created. In 2000, Dr. Mohammad Reza Abbas Zadegan established human genetic section of Bu Ali research institute. He was officially granted the diagnosis license of prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia (PND) by genetics department of the ministry of health and medical education, which led to his activities in this field. In 2008 and by joining new manpower, the medical genetics department officially and independently initiated its activities. Currently, activities of this department are in educational and research fields, and diagnosis services in medical genetics field (genetic consultation, cytogenetic test, molecular genetics, and research center of medical genetics). Since the establishment of this department, teaching of all genetic courses related to fields of midwifery, nursing, laboratory sciences, speech therapy, optometry, and medical genetics for students of medicine and dental have been part of its responsibilities. Department professors have also cooperated with other educational department, such as science and technology department, in presenting some special courses. With the increase of medical schools and shortage of special human forces in basic sciences, particularly medical genetics, establishment of MSc programs became a part of the agenda of ministry of health and medical education. The license to provide MSc programs was issued for medical genetics department of Mashhad in 2009. The first admissions of this program started their MSc course in medical generic in the same year. Since then, the department admits six to ten students in this academic level every year. The seventh round of MSc students in this field were enrolled in October 2015.

Gradually and with regard to the need of medical science universities to have expertise in basic sciences, the ministry of health and medical education focused on the establishment of PhD programs in basic sciences. Following the evaluation of the process by the secretariat of medical basic sciences, specialty health, and examination and evaluation board of medical genetics, the license of presenting PhD program in medical genetics was granted to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014 for the first time. The first round of PhD students in medical genetics were enrolled in January 2015. To date, medical universities of Mashhad, Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, and University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences are among universities affiliated to the ministry of health and medical education have been granted the permission to admit PhD students. In addition, 47 MSc students have been admitted, 16 of which were graduated and 10 should defend their thesis.

In total, there are nine faculty members in the Medical Genetics Department of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, two of whom are professors, one is an associate professor, and the rest are assistant professors. The faculty members of this department have had active participation in scientific associations and examination and evaluation board of medical genetics. Head of the department, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Zadeh Nazar Abadi, has been a member of this board for the last 15 years. Moreover, some faculty members of this department are editors and members of editorial board of expert scientific journals. Efforts of faculty members of genetic department along with the guidance and supports of Dr. Mohammd Reza Abbas Zadegan have provided the opportunity to establish medical genetic research center in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Establishment of this research center has led to the provision of considerable equipment and spaces for activities of MSc and PhD students.