Under the patronage of the Iraqi Doctors Syndicate – Basra Branch, and in collaboration with the Iraqi Society for Medical Research and Studies, a distinguished scientific symposium was held on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Training, Development, and Scientific Research Center at the Syndicate’s headquarters, titled:
“Scientific Research Safety Risk Index (R12) and Iraqi Journals.”

This symposium is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of scientific research in Iraq and to introduce the R12 Index, which was launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research with the aim of classifying scientific journals according to rigorous standards.

 The event was moderated by Professor Dr. Sadiq Hassan from Al-Zahraa College of Medicine, who led an in-depth discussion about the need to curb publishing in low-ranking journals and to elevate academic awareness regarding international standards in scientific publishing.

 The symposium featured prominent participation from Assistant Professor Dr. Jawad Ramadan Fadhel, Dean of Al-Zahraa College of Medicine, who offered a precise perspective on the challenges faced by Iraqi researchers in the current publishing environment, emphasizing the importance of setting clear research priorities for each specialization. Active contributions also came from Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs, Lecturer Dr. Ihsan Mardan Hammoud, and Dr. Mustafa Imad, who highlighted the critical role of academic institutions in improving the quality of published research.

 The symposium concluded with a set of key recommendations, including:

•  Emphasizing publication in internationally recognized journals
•  Strengthening oversight of research quality within universities
•  Organizing more awareness-focused symposiums
•  Focusing on the quality of research in alignment with national scientific aspirations

This event reflected the commitment of academic institutions in Basra to advancing Iraq’s scientific research system and moving toward a more mature and balanced approach to publishing standards.