Children’s Medical Center Approaches Milestone of 1,000 Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants

Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ Children’s Medical Center is approaching a major milestone in the field of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with the hospital set to celebrate its 1,000th pediatric transplant in October 2026.
The milestone reflects years of clinical expertise, research, multidisciplinary collaboration, and dedicated care for children living with serious and life-threatening diseases.
The history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Iran dates back to 1991. However, until 2007, there was no dedicated pediatric HSCT unit in the country. In 2007, the first specialized pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation unit in Iran was established at Shariati Hospital in Tehran under the leadership of Professor Amir Ali Hamidieh. This marked an important step in expanding access to advanced transplantation services for children.
Professor Hamidieh later played a key role in establishing the pediatric HSCT service at Children’s Medical Center in 2016. The development of this service within a major pediatric referral centre provided an important platform for integrating transplantation with a wide range of pediatric subspecialties and advanced clinical services.
Over the years, the Centre has continued to expand its capabilities in cell and gene therapy. Its research and clinical infrastructure now supports the development of advanced approaches, including CAR-T cell therapy, NK cell therapy, mesenchymal cell-based therapies, exosome-based approaches and photopheresis.
The upcoming 1,000th pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant is therefore more than a numerical milestone. It represents the collective efforts of physicians, nurses, researchers and other healthcare professionals who have contributed to the development of pediatric transplantation and advanced therapies in Iran.
A special ceremony marking the 1,000th pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant is scheduled to take place on 2 October 2026 at Children’s Medical Center.
The milestone highlights the importance of sustained investment in clinical expertise, research infrastructure and multidisciplinary collaboration to advance innovative treatments for children with complex and life-threatening conditions.