A Global Honor for Tehran University of Medical Sciences: Professor Amirali Hamidieh Receives the World Health Organization Award for Cancer Control

In a major achievement for Iran’s scientific and medical community, Dr. Amirali Hamidieh, a faculty member at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), received the World Health Organization (WHO) Award for Cancer Control from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The award recognizes his pioneering contributions over many years to the development of pediatric cancer treatment and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This international recognition highlights the capabilities of Iranian scientists and TUMS’s role in advancing medical science and promoting health equity.

According to the TUMS Public Relations Office, Dr. Hamidieh, a professor at TUMS and a leading specialist in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and pediatric cancer treatment, received the award at the meeting of health ministers of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, held on October 13, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt, where the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is headquartered.

The award was presented by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the presence of senior health officials from across the region.

This international achievement reflects TUMS’s contribution to advancing innovative treatments, expanding equitable access to specialized healthcare services, and strengthening Iran’s standing in regional and global medicine.

From Establishing the First Pediatric Transplant Center to Giving More Than 2,200 Children a Chance to Survive

In his address, Dr. Hamidieh highlighted the establishment of Iran’s first pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation center in 2007, noting that the program has since given more than 2,200 children a chance to survive.

He also identified the launch of the region’s first unrelated donor registry in 2009 as a major milestone in expanding access to life-saving treatments. The initiative was designed to reduce inequalities in access to transplantation and improve treatment opportunities for children in need.

TUMS Professor Emphasizes Equity in Pediatric Cancer Care

In his speech, Dr. Hamidieh described the international award as a shared achievement of physicians, nurses, researchers, students, and all professionals involved in pediatric cancer care. He dedicated the recognition above all to the children whose struggles with the disease have inspired continued scientific and clinical efforts.

Emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in the fight against cancer, Dr. Hamidieh called for greater exchange of knowledge and scientific data, more collaborative research, and equitable access to advanced treatment technologies.

He also highlighted emerging technologies—including CAR T-cell therapy, CRISPR gene-editing technology, and mRNA-based approaches—as important opportunities for the future of cancer treatment. He stressed that children and adults across the Eastern Mediterranean Region should be able to benefit from these advances.