Mohammad Reza Shams Ardekani

Dr. Mohammad Reza Shams Ardakani, Pharm.D., Ph.D., is currently a full professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, a permanent member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, and the secretary of the "Center for Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine" directly under the Vice President for S&T. The Vice Presidency for Science and Technology is the highest policy-making body in the field of science and technology in the country, and therefore, the center for medicinal plants and traditional medicine has the highest responsibility in the field of natural products and unconventional medicines, and the secretary of this center (Dr. M.R. Shams) is considered the country’s number one person in this field. In 1987, he received his doctorate degree in pharmacy from Isfahan University, Faculty of Pharmacy, and after graduation, he went to Kerman and established a pharmacy school there. In 1990, he went to Canada and England to continue his studies, and in 1995, he obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Bradford, UK. Immediately after graduation he came back to Iran and began his career as a faculty member in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which is the country’s largest and best ranked medical university. Over several years of educational and research activities, According to Scopus; Dr. M.R. Shams, has published more than 130 papers, which has been cited more than 3100 times and currently his h-index is 30 (Scopus Author Identifier = 25923801000). He has also authored many books in Farsi and English languages. In addition to educational and research activities at the university, Dr. Shams has also had many executive responsibilities, such as being the head of the country's first Traditional Medicine School for 8 years (2007 – 2015), Vice Chancellor of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Secretary of The Academy of Sciences, and the Director General of the Traditional Medicine Office in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.