Habibollah Hedayat
Encyclopedia
Dr. Habibollah Hedayat (دکتر حبیب الله هدایت) (born 1917), known as the father of modern nutrition sciences of Iran
, is the founder of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Iran (INFSI). His pioneering work in nutrition sciences over the past 50 years, inspired by humanistic values and views, has been recognized by the Iranian academic community, industry and governmental organizations, as well as international food and nutrition authorities.
(previously Ghomsheh) near Esfahan, Iran in 1917. His early education was completed in Shahreza, and he received his high school diploma in Esfahan. Hedayat was then admitted to Tehran University Medical School in 1936 where he finished his medical education with honors in 1941. Upon finishing his medical internship in Tehran’s Women’s Hospital, he performed his military service for one year in the Iranian Army Health Services and then departed for France
in 1948 to attend medical school at the University of Paris
. He completed his thesis under Professor Varangot at the Port-Royal Paris Hospital where he received his OB/GYN specialty diploma. While studying courses in his specialization of gynecology, he also took general hygiene and workers’ medicine courses in the evenings with the hope of establishing a hygiene research institute back in Iran.
in poor working conditions and this caused an internal revolution in him. He decided to focus on "nutrition" as the vital factor in the health and wellbeing of the Iranian people - a subject not taken seriously by the medical community at the time.
Since neither he, nor his colleagues in Iran, had formally studied or specialized in the field of nutrition, Dr. Hedayat decided to study nutrition sciences overseas under Professor Colin B.S. Platt (Prof. of Nutrition and President of Human Research Centre) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London
) as well as the Medical Research Council
. Dr. Hedayat’s master thesis in nutrition was entitled: "A Study of Nutrition in Persia, Including a Laboratory Investigation of the Nutritive Value of Typical Dietaries."
Upon his second return to Iran in 1961, Dr. Hedayat was appointed Director General of Health Affairs for the Tehran province. It was during this period in his career that he established the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Iran (INFSI). The initiative started with modestly sized classes, few laboratories, and a library at the Firouzgar hospital in Tehran. The name of the Institute was later changed to National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute (NNFTRI).
It was during the establishment of INFSI that Dr. Hedayat became acquainted with his long-time colleague and friend, Dr. Shahab Vaez Zadeh. These two scientists pledged to work together to make the INFSI, a vital necessity for Iran, into a success.
The Institute, in collaboration with the nutrition section at the Embassy of France under the auspices of Professor Tremoulier, organized seminars and conferences and granted scholarships to students interested in the field. The Institute was to soon find international fame. United Nations entities such as Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), World Health Organization
(WHO), and UNICEF started supporting the Institute. These organizations provided 28 academic scholarships for staff and students. Dr. Hedayat was invited to a UNICEF conference in New York where Sir Herbert Broadley, the former acting Director-General of FAO and UNICEF's representative in Great Britain, indicated that establishment of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science in Iran had inspired several other Middle Eastern countries to follow suit and establish similar institutes in their respective countries. As an integral part of the Institute, Iran’s College of Nutrition Sciences and Food Chemistry was established. Additionally, a rural research center was established in Gorg-Tapeh, a rural area in Varamin, near Tehran
. Later, in cooperation with Dr. Abdolrahim Emami, who had been sent by Dr. Hedayat to London to receive his specialty under supervision of Prof. Platt, a branch of the Nutrition Institute was established at the Esfahan University in Esfahan, Iran. In 1970, the Iranian Diabetes Society was also established with Dr. Hedayat as a founding member and Chairman of the Board.
, Cambridge, MA.
, Prudential-Bache International Ltd. and Dresdner Bank AG) before functioning as a member of the management/executive board and COO at Hansa Group AG/Germany. He is currently Managing Director at Commerce Advice, an international consulting company in Düsseldorf, Germany. Dariush Christian, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis/France, a specialist in electronic physics, worked as an R & D Engineer at Texas Instruments France (Villeneuve-Loubet), ATMEL France (Rousset), and is now functioning as head of Fraunhofer ENAS Advanced System Engineering- Paderborn/Germany.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, is the founder of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Iran (INFSI). His pioneering work in nutrition sciences over the past 50 years, inspired by humanistic values and views, has been recognized by the Iranian academic community, industry and governmental organizations, as well as international food and nutrition authorities.
Early life and education
Habibollah Hedayat was born in the city of ShahrezaShahreza
Shahreza , also Romanized as Qomīsheh, Qumisheh, and Qowmsheh) is a city in and the capital of Shahreza County, Isfahan Province, Iran...
(previously Ghomsheh) near Esfahan, Iran in 1917. His early education was completed in Shahreza, and he received his high school diploma in Esfahan. Hedayat was then admitted to Tehran University Medical School in 1936 where he finished his medical education with honors in 1941. Upon finishing his medical internship in Tehran’s Women’s Hospital, he performed his military service for one year in the Iranian Army Health Services and then departed for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1948 to attend medical school at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. He completed his thesis under Professor Varangot at the Port-Royal Paris Hospital where he received his OB/GYN specialty diploma. While studying courses in his specialization of gynecology, he also took general hygiene and workers’ medicine courses in the evenings with the hope of establishing a hygiene research institute back in Iran.
Career and Services
Upon returning from France to Iran in 1951, Dr. Hedayat and colleagues established the Hafez specialty clinic in Tehran which remained open until 1953. After long discussions with the then Minister of Health, Dr. Jahanshah Saleh, Dr. Hedayat obtained approval for a research project on Iran’s workers’ health. As part of this research project, Dr. Hedayat observed malnourished Iranian girls weaving carpets in KermanKerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
in poor working conditions and this caused an internal revolution in him. He decided to focus on "nutrition" as the vital factor in the health and wellbeing of the Iranian people - a subject not taken seriously by the medical community at the time.
Since neither he, nor his colleagues in Iran, had formally studied or specialized in the field of nutrition, Dr. Hedayat decided to study nutrition sciences overseas under Professor Colin B.S. Platt (Prof. of Nutrition and President of Human Research Centre) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
) as well as the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
. Dr. Hedayat’s master thesis in nutrition was entitled: "A Study of Nutrition in Persia, Including a Laboratory Investigation of the Nutritive Value of Typical Dietaries."
Upon his second return to Iran in 1961, Dr. Hedayat was appointed Director General of Health Affairs for the Tehran province. It was during this period in his career that he established the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Iran (INFSI). The initiative started with modestly sized classes, few laboratories, and a library at the Firouzgar hospital in Tehran. The name of the Institute was later changed to National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute (NNFTRI).
It was during the establishment of INFSI that Dr. Hedayat became acquainted with his long-time colleague and friend, Dr. Shahab Vaez Zadeh. These two scientists pledged to work together to make the INFSI, a vital necessity for Iran, into a success.
The Institute, in collaboration with the nutrition section at the Embassy of France under the auspices of Professor Tremoulier, organized seminars and conferences and granted scholarships to students interested in the field. The Institute was to soon find international fame. United Nations entities such as Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO), World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO), and UNICEF started supporting the Institute. These organizations provided 28 academic scholarships for staff and students. Dr. Hedayat was invited to a UNICEF conference in New York where Sir Herbert Broadley, the former acting Director-General of FAO and UNICEF's representative in Great Britain, indicated that establishment of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science in Iran had inspired several other Middle Eastern countries to follow suit and establish similar institutes in their respective countries. As an integral part of the Institute, Iran’s College of Nutrition Sciences and Food Chemistry was established. Additionally, a rural research center was established in Gorg-Tapeh, a rural area in Varamin, near Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Later, in cooperation with Dr. Abdolrahim Emami, who had been sent by Dr. Hedayat to London to receive his specialty under supervision of Prof. Platt, a branch of the Nutrition Institute was established at the Esfahan University in Esfahan, Iran. In 1970, the Iranian Diabetes Society was also established with Dr. Hedayat as a founding member and Chairman of the Board.
Scientific Works
Dr. Hedayat is author or co-author of six books, thirty three academic papers, over fifty research reports on food and nutrition, and over one hundred presentations at national and international conferences (in Persian, English and French). He was the founder and editor-in-chief of the Nutrition Journal published in Persian by INFSI. He was also a member of the editorial board of Ecology of Food and Nutrition published in English in London, Washington and Tokyo. One of his major scientific achievements was overseeing the evaluation of the nutritional status and needs of the Iranian people conducted by survey teams in 30 different urban, rural, tribal and industrial locations. The result of this survey (published in Persian and English) which was reported to FAO, was considered as the most reputable nutritional survey in the third world, and used as a reference for developing countries. Dr. Hedayat also managed research projects on Favism and Endemic Goiter in Iran. He personally presented the results of his research project on the fortification and enrichment of Iranian bread with synthetic amino acid Lysine in a conference at Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, Cambridge, MA.
Honors and awards
Dr. Hedayat’s pioneering work in nutrition sciences over the past 50 years, inspired by his humanistic values and views, has been recognized by the Iranian academic community, industry and governmental organizations as well as international food and nutrition authorities. A significant number of Iran’s current leaders in nutrition and food sciences are alumni of the college he established, the College of Nutrition Sciences and Food Chemistry. In 2005, Dr. Hedayat was elected as a member of the distinguished faculty of the College of Food Technology of Scientific Research Unit, part of Islamic Azad University. In 2006, Dr. Hedayat (together with Dr. Shahab Vaez-Zadeh) was officially recognized for his pioneering work in nutrition and food science by all sectors of the Iranian society including Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, former President and Chairman the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran. Dr. Hedayat’s lasting legacy is manifested by the "Dr. Hedayat Award", the highest award in Iran bestowed annually by the Iranian Food Science and Technology Association (Chairman: Dr. Seyed Mohammad Hosseini) to the most achieved Iranian persons or institutions in the field of nutrition and food science. In 2008, dozens of his former students gathered together with him in Los Angeles to celebrate with him his myriad lifetime achievements.Family life
Dr. Hedayat has three sons. Iraj Roland, M.S. in Computer Sciences from University of Uppsala/Sweden, worked as an Engineer at Ericsson before running his own business as a specialist in design of computer networks especially for the healthcare sector. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Parviz Jean-Pierre, M.A. in Economics from University of Heidelberg/Germany, worked at the investment and private banking for twelve years (Dominick & Dominick Inc.Dominick & Dominick LLC
Dominick & Dominick LLC , formerly Dominick & Dominick Inc., is one of the oldest, privately held investment firms in the United States. It was one of the original members of the New York Stock Exchange, with an original founder serving as a president. The firm was the syndicate head for General...
, Prudential-Bache International Ltd. and Dresdner Bank AG) before functioning as a member of the management/executive board and COO at Hansa Group AG/Germany. He is currently Managing Director at Commerce Advice, an international consulting company in Düsseldorf, Germany. Dariush Christian, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis/France, a specialist in electronic physics, worked as an R & D Engineer at Texas Instruments France (Villeneuve-Loubet), ATMEL France (Rousset), and is now functioning as head of Fraunhofer ENAS Advanced System Engineering- Paderborn/Germany.