About Project

Fars Lung Cancer Registration (FaLCaRe) Project is a hospital based program for lung and pleural malignancies registration which has been designed and conducted in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences since 2021. The study is going to set up at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in near future. It is considered to merge data from these two center for a valuable and valid estimation of lung cancer epidemiology among Iranian population. We welcome the cooperation of other research centers in this field.

Why Lung Cancer? Why Registration?

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the world and the third leading cause of cancer death in Iran. Despite the decline in the incidence of lung cancer in developed countries, its prevalence in developing countries such as Iran is increasing due to increased risk factors such as smoking and air pollution on the one hand and changing the age pyramid of the population to aging on the other.

Access to reliable data about diseases is the first and most basic need of the health sector for decision-making control and monitoring of all agreed upon.

Drawing the epidemiological pattern of lung cancer in the province and then providing a suitable pattern for the region and the country is the vision of this project.

Conducting research based on valid and reliable data in the field of diagnosis, treatment and control of cancer is another goal of this project.

Project Phases

1st Phase: Designing
Data Collecting Questionnaires, Data Collection Methods and Process
2nd Phase: Pilot Study
Data entry and analysis in two provinces (Isfahan/Fars), at medical centers affiliated to Shiraz and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Educational interventions for professionals and general population
3rd phase: Evaluation and make Renovation
Process evaluation, Questionnaire validation and standardization, Outcome evaluation
4th phase: Project Development and Implementation

Project Structure

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

– Design and editing standardized, valid and local questionnaires, forms and checklist for data collection in stepwise approach model for lung cancer surveillance
– Design and Set up web based data bank based on forms and questionnaires
– Designing data collection processes (data sources, data entry, data security, authorship, etc.) and data extraction methods
– Identify epidemiological indices about Lung Cancer based on designed model
– Illustrating local (Iranian) natural history of lung malignancies
– Economic analysis of costs and benefits of lung cancer diagnosis, screening, treatment and rehabilitation among population
– Develop and demonstrate a national model for lung cancer surveillance
– Improving awareness, knowledge and practice of health care professionals about lung cancer (diagnosis, management and follow up)
– Improving awareness, knowledge and practice of at risk population, patients and their families about lung cancer (symptoms, screening, care and management, rehabilitation)

Consists of related specialties: Pulmonologist, Pathologist, Oncologist and Hematologist, Radio oncologist, Thoracic Surgeon, Radiologist (see the project team)

Data collection materials and methods: for more information, click here.

Monthly report of project progress is uploaded on FaLCaRe website

We look forward to your cooperation in the areas of scientific counseling, patient referral, proposing and participation in research projects related to lung cancer.
International collaboration through data sharing and design studies in field of lung cancer are highly welcome

Designing and setting up Tumor Bank of Lung Cancer
Conducting basic studies and clinical trials in the field of lung cancer based on data bank of FaLCaRe Project

Project Team

Steering Committee

Mohammad Javad Fallahi MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Abbas Rezaeianzadeh PhDEpidemiologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Babak Amra MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Co-Investigators

Seyyed Mohammad Ali Ghaumi MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Samrad Mehrabi MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Masoud Hossseinzadeh MDPathologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Forough Soltaninejad MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Elham Moazzam MDSocial Medicine
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Samira Shojaei MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Virginia Commonwealth University
Behrooz Momeni MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Armi Amirian MDThoracic Surgeon
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Farzaneh Ashrafi MDInternist, Hematologist
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Pouria Adeli MDRadio Oncologist
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Seyyed Masoum Masoumpoor MDInternist, Pulmonologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Mohammad Mohammadian Panah MDRadio Oncologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Reza Jelli MDRadiologist
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Hamid Talebzadeh MDThoracic Surgeon
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Mitra Heidarpour MDPathologist
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences