According to a statement from the Public Relations Office of the Children’s Medical Center, on Wednesday, February 10, Dr. Shahin Akhundzadeh, Vice President for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, alongside Dr. Seyed Reza Raees-Karami, President of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, conducted a visit to the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Department and the Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center at the Children’s Medical Center.

Accompanied by Professor Amir Ali Hamidieh, Head of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Department and the Cell, Gene and Tissue Research Institute, as well as his specialized team, the visit involved a comprehensive review of the treatment and stem cell transplantation processes for children suffering from incurable diseases. The visitors also examined the latest scientific advancements in the fields of cell and gene therapy being conducted at this facility.

Dr. Hamidieh and his team presented a detailed report outlining these centers' therapeutic and research accomplishments, along with an acknowledgment of existing challenges, including shortages in space, equipment, and human resources, which impede future development. They underscored the support received from donors for essential equipment and facility improvements. Dr. Maryam Behfar, Deputy Director of the Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center, indicated the pressing need for additional physicians, specialists, and elite conscripts to enhance the medical services available within the transplantation department. Moreover, Dr. Moghtaderi, Head of the Chronic Kidney Disease Research Center, emphasized the necessity for increased physical space due to the ongoing advancements of the Kidney Research Center following its merger with the Cell, Gene, and Tissue Research Institute.

Dr. Akhundzadeh and Dr. Raees-Karami expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Dr. Hamidieh, his medical team, and the researchers in the domain. They highlighted the critical importance of both scientific and financial support in advancing modern treatment methodologies. They regarded the expansion of research initiatives in stem cell transplantation, cell therapy, and gene therapy as essential for improving the health of pediatric patients. Dr. Akhundzadeh further stressed the necessity of recruiting specialized physicians for this center.

The visit concluded with an assessment of the department's current facilities, discussions aimed at improving patient treatment processes, and shared optimism regarding the future expansion of this medical department.