TUMS - Center for Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE)

kte@tums.ac.ir

One of the essentials of the correct, proper and efficient use of evidence is appropriately using the results of various researches which are conducted despite a lot of problems such as lack of research budgets and human resources. The results of such researches could be properly put to use. According to this standpoint, it is necessary for research projects and different investigations to have clear-cut results, and there has to be a reassurance that these results are efficiently implemented in the pertinent fields. In addition, in different levels of decision making, taking from clinical experts to policy makers and managers, some decisions are made without considering the existing scientific evidence throughout the world. Or scant attention is paid to native such scientific knowledge. The present center’s prospect is to promote decision making processes based on scientific knowledge in health-related fields so as to make the best of the conducted investigations.

The fields of responsibilities of this center is to transfer health science, planning for publication and distribution of research projects and creating the grounds for making behavioral changes in service providers and service users, mangers, as well as policy makers. On the other hand, producing scientific evidence for decision making processes such as assessing health technologies, clinical guidelines, and preparing policy briefs are included in the responsibilities held by this center.

Attending to improving clinical services is another field and arena for which the infrastructures have been prepared during last year and is called the “Clinical Governance”. This can be pursued in future at a higher speed and paves the way for providing better service.

During last years, the way for facilitating knowledge translation has been paved and one can hope that along with raised awareness and attitudes at university levels, proper results could be obtained.

One of the paramount aspects which need consideration is the promotion of the international status of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the region in particular and Islamic Republic of Iran in general. It has prepared a suitable ground for introducing the university and Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of science and knowledge translation. It has further prepared the grounds for providing short term courses including certificates. Based on this, TUMS will function as the axis of decision making based on scientific evidence and it can be hoped that through such undertakings and furthering them, TUMS will be functioning as the knowledge hub as well as a center for promoting evidence-based decision making in the region.