Board Members

Nizal Sarrafzadegan

M.D.

Dr. Nizal SarrafzadeganDr. Nizal Sarrafzadegan is a highly accomplished and internationally recognized Distinguished Professor of Cardiology with a profound impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, public health, and implementation science. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has founded and led world-renowned research institute, spearheaded large-scale national and international studies, and served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO). Her work combines a strong clinical background with a passion for preventive medicine and public health, resulting in over 800 peer-reviewed publications, numerous prestigious awards, and significant contributions towards empowerment of communities and health care providers.

Education

  • Fellowship in Cardiology, 1991-1993
    Tehran and Isfahan Universities of Medical Sciences, Iran
  • Specialty in Internal Medicine, 1985-1989
    Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), 1985
    Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Key Academic & Professional Appointments

  • Distinguished Professor, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (2020-Present)
  • Affiliate Professor, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada (2014-Present)
  • Founder and Director, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute (ICRI), a WHO Collaborating Center, Iran (1994-Present)
  • Founder and Chair, Iranian Heart Foundation, Iran (1999-Present)
  • Founder and Head, National Network of Cardiovascular Research in Iran (2010-Present)
  • Visiting Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada (2013-2014)
  • Visiting Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2003-2004)
  • Teaching: A Course in SPPH/UBC Canada, and two courses in Beijing, China (2020-2023)

Selected WHO & International Advisory Roles

  • Chair of the “WHO Global Guidelines on Dyslipidemia Management in Adults” Guidelines Development Group (GDG), 2025-2027
  • Vice-Chair of the “WHO Global Hypertension Treatment in Adults” Guidelines Development Group(GDG) (2019-2022)
  • Member, WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Management (2016-2020)
  • Member, WHO Expert Committee on the Selection & Use of Essential Medicines (EML) (2019)
  • Member, WHO Mid-Point Evaluation of the Global Action Plan for NCD Prevention (2019-2021)
  • Member, WHO Evidence Collaborative COVID-19 Network (2020-2022)
  • Temporary Advisor, Numerous WHO Consultation Meetings on CVD Prevention, Risk Factors like Tobacco Control, and NCD Surveillance (1994-Present)
  • Collaborator, World Heart Federation, International Atherosclerosis Society, World Hypertension League, International Council on CVD Prevention and Rehabilitation, etc

Principal Investigator of Major Research Initiatives

Dr. Sarrafzadegan has served as the Principal Investigator for numerous large-scale, impactful national and international studies, demonstrating her leadership in conducting groundbreaking research.

  • Isfahan Healthy Heart Program: A comprehensive, integrated community-based program for CVD prevention and control, serving as a model for developing countries.
  • PERSIAN Cardiovascular Disease (PROVE) Registry: A national registry for major cardiovascular diseases including Myocardial Infarction, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure, and PCI. Similar Registry was developed in Abu Dhabi, Emirates, 2022
  • Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS): A 20-year Prospective longitudinal cohort study examining the incidence of CVD and its risk factors. Other NCDs in three generations were added to the outcomes since 2013
  • Iran Salt Study: A national study focused on developing strategies to reduce salt consumption at the population level.
  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Registry & Cohort: A national initiative for developing and implementing cascade screening, management, and long-term follow-up for FH.
  • Cancer-CVD Risk Assessment Model: A multicenter prospective longitudinal study evaluating the occurrence of CVD risk in patients with Breast or Colon Cancers
  • Premature Coronary Heart Disease Based on Ethnicities in Iran. A multicentric study.
  • Developing the National Guidelines for “Hyperlipidemia Management and Treatment in Adults and Children”, ‘Hypertension Treatment in Adults”, and ”Acute Coronary Syndrome Management and Treatment”.
  • Isfahan Twins Registry & Cohort: To study the incidence and determinants of NCDs in twins from Epigenetic perspective
  • Environmental Pollution and CVD and Respiratory Disease Hospitalization and Death
  • Machine and Deep Learning, and AI Role in CVD Detection, and Management

Selected Awards & Honors

Recognized with over 40 national and international awards and medals for her contributions to research in medicine and public health.

  • The ‘World Hypertension Legue Claude Lenfant Excellence Award” on Hypertension Guidelines Development and Implementation. 2025
  • The WHO/EMR State of Kuwait Prize for NCD Prevention and Control (2016)
  • Multiple Medals and Awards from different countries
  • National Elite Foundation Award (Allameh Tabatabie) in 2025
  • One of the 0.5% of Top Scholar GPS Worldwide (2024)
  • One of the Top 1% Scientists Worldwide according to Stanford University (2022, 2023)
  • Featured as a leading female cardiologist, The Lancet (2007) and Nature Reviews Cardiology (2022)
  • National Research Razi Festival Award (Three times, last is 2025)
  • The Presidential Medal of Merit in 2004
  • Other national awards from different academic institutes.

Editorial/ Advisory Board Memberships in Peer-Reviewed Journals

  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) 2014-Present
  • Nature Reviews Cardiology 2012-Present
  • International J. of Cardiology 2014- Dec.2025
  • Editorial Board member in Many Other National and International Journals

Publications

  • Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals: 845
  • Citation According to Google Scholar: 143598
  • Books and Chapter Books: 16

Presentations

  • In International Meetings as Invited Speaker: 71
  • In National Meetings as Invited Speaker: 53
  • In WHO Consultation Meetings: 25
  • In International or National Meetings with Presentations: 38

Current Research Fields

  • Personalized Medicine in Cardiology
  • Shared Aspects of CVD and Cancers
  • Environmental Pollution and CVD
  • Lifestyle Medicine Programs and Education Courses in the EMR
  • AI Role in CVD Management and Treatment
  • Epigenetics and CVD
  • Developing Case-Studies or Stories or Policy Briefs of Long-Lasting Research in a field.
  • Evaluation of Guidelines Implementation at Physicians and patients levels