MAHAK’s Joint Cooperation to improve Retinoblastoma care

With the aim of improving healthcare services for children with eye cancer (retinoblastoma), a memorandum of understanding was signed between MAHAK Charity and the Non-governmental organization for the Prevention of blindness (MAPINA) and the Ophthalmic Research Center (ORC) affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU)

Arasb Ahmadian, Chief Executive Officer at MAHAK Charity, declared that MAHAK is always committed to expanding sustainable activities and comprehensive support for children with cancer and their families. One of the most important activities to fulfill this commitment is extensive efforts in the field of research. Given that, MAHAK Research Center started its activities from the beginning of the hospital’s inauguration. In 2018, this center, increased its capacity and capabilities in the field of blood and cancer, was able to introduce itself as the only active research center in the specialized area of pediatric cancer and succeeded in obtaining preliminary approval from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Ahmadian added, “In 2023, MAHAK Research Center began a new era of activities under the direct supervision of the Iranian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Society. This has led to a significant development in the quality of scientific and research activities utilizing the scientific capacity of national specialized centers.”

Announcing this three-year memorandum of understanding as one of the recent achievements of MAHAK research center, he stated: “Considering that retinoblastoma is one of the common cancers in children, MAHAK has decided to conduct a joint project with the aim of drug studies, preclinical and artificial intelligence-based research with the parties to this memorandum of understanding. Collaboration in organizing joint seminars and conferences is another provision of this memorandum of understanding.”

Ahmadian summed up that MAHAK research center conducts its research activities independently and in collaboration with similar institutions, universities, and national and international research centers. Accordingly, it has entered into this joint research agreement to improve health sector and to address scientific and research problems and challenges.”