Nutrition and Food Security Research Center (NFSRC)

Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS)

History

Based on the approval issued in the meeting of the Research Structures Establishment and Decision-Making Committee of the Deputy for Research and Technology at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education on September 17, 2024 (27/06/1403 AP), the initial establishment of the Nutrition and Food Security Research Center (NFSRC) at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services was approved.

On February 9, 2026 (20/11/1404 AP), Dr. Majid Aminzare was appointed as the Head of the Center by the President of the University. The inaugural meeting of the Center’s Research Council was held on May 25, 2026 (04/03/1405 AP), with the council members in attendance at the Conference Hall of the School of Public Health and Allied Medical Sciences.

About the Center

The Nutrition and Food Security Research Center (NFSRC) of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences focuses on applied research in the fields of nutrition, food security, food sciences, and food safety. It plays a pivotal role in promoting public health and mitigating risks associated with poor dietary patterns and food contamination.

Given the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), emerging challenges in food safety, and the critical need to enhance the quality of food industry products, the center operates with a forward-looking approach. Its primary goal is to implement a strategic program centered on high-quality knowledge generation, the development of applied food technologies, close collaboration with industry and executive organizations, and the translation of research findings into actionable public health policies.

Mission

The mission of the Nutrition and Food Security Research Center is to generate and translate evidence-based knowledge in nutrition, food security, food hygiene and safety, and food technology. The center is dedicated to:

• Promoting public health and preventing non-communicable diseases.
• Improving the quality and safety of food products at regional and national levels.
• Responding to the dynamic needs of the healthcare system and the food industry.
• Training and empowering young researchers.
• Developing practical, high-impact technologies throughout the food supply chain, from farm to fork.

Vision

In the long term, the Nutrition and Food Security Research Center aims to become the premier leading academic and applied authority in the northwest region of Iran across the fields of clinical and community nutrition, food security, food industry, and food safety. By generating high-quality research, developing applied technologies, influencing health policymaking, and fostering national and international collaborations, the center will play a decisive role in enhancing public health, reducing diet-related diseases, and securing the food supply chain.

Faculty Members & Staff

Research Facilities & Equipment

The center features a fully equipped conference hall (complete with audio-visual units, video projectors, and computers) and utilizes the laboratory facilities of the School of Public Health and Allied Medical Sciences, as well as the central research laboratories of ZUMS, through official cooperative agreements.

Table: Laboratory Equipment and Instrumentation

Research Achievements

As a newly established center, this section is currently not applicable.

Contact Information

• Address: Health Research Institute, Next to Shafiyeh Specialty Clinic, Kargar Street, Zanjan, Iran
• Phone: +98 (24) 33780300
• Email: nfrc@zums.ac.ir
• Website: research.zums.ac.ir/nfrc