Developing a Roadmap for Achieving Scientific Supremacy in Pharmaceutical Sciences Groups in Iran

Khazaeli, Payam; Okhovati, Maryam; Shafian, Sara

doi:10.22062/sdme.2025.201412.1608

Developing a Roadmap for Achieving Scientific Supremacy in Pharmaceutical Sciences Groups in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Payam Khazaeli ¹

Maryam Okhovati ²

Sara Shafian ³

¹ Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

² Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

³ School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Education Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22062/sdme.2025.201412.1608

Abstract

Background: To attain and consolidate scientific supremacy, academic communities must actively foster cultural transformation and build scientific capacity within society through fundamental change. This study aims to develop a roadmap for Iran's scientific supremacy across all branches of pharmaceutical sciences. This roadmap will be a practical step toward Iran attaining global leadership in pharmaceutical knowledge and provide a model for similar roadmaps in other medical science disciplines.
Objectives: This study aims to develop a roadmap for scientific supremacy in Iranian pharmaceutical sciences by assessing current scientific momentum, evaluating researchers' academic standing, and identifying discipline-specific indicators through expert consultation.
Methods: This study employed a multi-phase, descriptive design conducted sequentially between January and December 2024. All pharmaceutical science groups active in Iranian medical universities were included (13 Disciplines). Phase One: Calculating Scientific Capability and Competitive Advantage of Pharmaceutical Sciences Groups. Phase Two: Determining Academic Reputation and Excellence of Pharmaceutical Sciences Groups and Phase Three: Identifying Discipline-Specific Indicators for Achieving Scientific Supremacy in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Results: The findings of this study categorized Iran's pharmaceutical science groups into three categories, including flagship (Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Toxicology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology), pioneer (Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Traditional Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Drug Control), and emerging (Biopharmaceuticals, Nuclear Pharmacy, Drug Economics and Management) groups. A tiered roadmap was developed, directing flagship groups toward networking and internationalization, while leading and emerging groups must first achieve foundational goals in quality improvement and capacity building, respectively. In addition, before reaching the areas mentioned above, necessary measures must be taken for the pioneer groups to achieve the goals of quality improvement, capacity building, culture building, and stewardship. Ultimately, the emerging group must take steps toward focused planning, ensuring alignment, and developing before reaching the status of flagship and pioneer groups.
Conclusion: This study provides a strategic, evidence-based model for systematically advancing Iran's pharmaceutical sciences globally, which can be adapted for other scientific disciplines. It is recommended that the general principles of the strategic plan for scientific authority for each pharmaceutical science group be formulated and communicated through legal channels to pave the way for implementation and achieving scientific authority gradually.

Highlights

Payam Khazaeli: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Maryam Okhovati: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Sara Shafian: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

Scientific Supremacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences Groups

Scientific Leadership

Roadmap

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