MAHAK Holds Press Conference during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

The press conference marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, titled “From Transplantation to Innovative Treatments: MAHAK’s Vision for the Future of Treatment and Support for Children with Cancer,” was held on September 22, 2026, at MAHAK’s Arkan Hall.

Organized by MAHAK’s Public Relations and International Affairs Department, the event presented the organization’s latest activities and future plans in childhood cancer treatment and support, with a focus on stem cell transplantation, innovative therapies, molecular diagnostics, research, and digital transformation. The conference also emphasized the importance of public awareness, timely diagnosis and treatment, and the role of the media in improving health literacy and addressing misconceptions surrounding childhood cancer.

MAHAK managers and specialists from its treatment, laboratory, transplantation, and research departments participated in the event, alongside representatives from national and international media.

A number of MAHAK managers and specialists from its treatment, laboratory, transplantation, and research departments participated in the event, alongside representatives from media outlets including Hamshahri, Tehran Times, Radio Salamat, Khabar Iran, Akhbar Novin, Zanan News, Sayeh Daily, Zanan Iran, and Arman Emrooz.

Dr. Hedieh Eslampanah, Director of Public Relations and International Communications at MAHAK, opened and moderated the conference. She described the event as an opportunity to bring together medical knowledge, MAHAK’s treatment and support capacities, research and innovation, digital technologies, and the media’s role in raising public awareness.

She emphasized that the program was designed to present a realistic and evidence-based picture of MAHAK’s future direction, particularly through the development of its transplant program, the responsible introduction of emerging treatments, the presentation of its scientific and specialized capacities, and its ongoing digital transformation.

After that Dr. Arasb Ahmadian, CEO, opened the conference by outlining MAHAK’s overall vision, the importance of expanding specialized services, and the organization’s future direction. His presentation focused on the development of the “MAHAK Transplant Program,” the move toward innovative treatment approaches, and the role of digital transformation in the future of MAHAK’s services. Within the structure of the program, the CEO’s presentation was defined around “MAHAK’s overall vision, development of the Transplant Program, innovative treatments, and digital transformation.”

Referring to MAHAK’s 35 years of activity, Ahmadian also emphasized the organization’s role in three key areas: support, treatment, and childhood cancer research. According to information presented during the conference, approximately 50,000 cases have so far been registered for children with cancer at MAHAK, and around 40 percent of them have recovered and returned to normal life. MAHAK’s services for children with cancer are provided free of charge, and the organization also covers the treatment costs of children under its support who receive care at university-affiliated and public hospitals.

MAHAK provides its services to children with cancer free of charge and also covers treatment costs for children under its support who receive care at university-affiliated and public hospitals.

Other speakers presented MAHAK’s current capacities and future plans in specialized childhood cancer treatment. Dr. Alireza Daneshgari, Deputy Director of Treatment, reviewed the hospital’s treatment services and plans for expanding specialized care, while Dr. Saeed Haeri, Director of the MAHAK Hospital Laboratory, addressed molecular diagnostics, cancer genetics, precision medicine, and the role of laboratory services in selecting and monitoring advanced treatments.

Stem cell transplantation and emerging therapies were also among the key themes of the conference. Dr. Ali Naderi, Head of MAHAK’s Transplantation Department, presented the capacities and future development of the MAHAK Transplant Program and discussed opportunities for collaboration with treatment centers, universities, specialists, and national and international scientific networks.

Dr. Vahid Fallahati, Head of MAHAK’s Transplantation Clinic, reviewed the evolution of cancer treatment toward more targeted approaches intended to reduce damage to healthy cells. He discussed developments in immunotherapy, cell therapy, gene therapy, and precision medicine, while emphasizing the importance of appropriate patient selection and specialized clinical assessment.

The role of research in improving childhood cancer care was addressed by Dr. Mohsen Ashrafi of the MAHAK Research Center. He referred to more than 182 research projects conducted at MAHAK, noting that the organization’s research activities include treatment effectiveness, healthcare economics, reducing treatment costs, improving early diagnosis, and examining factors that may delay the diagnosis of childhood cancer.

At the conclusion of the conference, the Director of Public Relations moderated a Q&A session, during which panel members provided coordinated and expert responses to questions from the media.