From Karachi to San Antonio: IHHN’s Childhood Cancer Care Team Makes Its Way to 58th Annual Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP 2026), San Antonio, USA

The multidisciplinary Childhood Cancer Care Team at Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) has achieved a remarkable milestone, with 13 abstracts accepted for presentation at SIOP 2026 in San Antonio, USA. These include 9 poster presentations covering a diverse range of topics, including childhood leukemias, lymphomas, solid tumors, treatment-related neurotoxicity and infections, telemedicine, e-learning, and quality improvement in pediatric oncology daycare.

The abstracts reflect collaborative efforts across multiple disciplines, involving teams from Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Nursing, Pharmacy, Quality Improvement & Patient Safety and the Community Engagement Center. In addition, 3 abstracts have been selected for oral presentation, focusing on the early recognition of childhood cancer through a Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model, as well as improving patient navigation and daycare flow. The Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology’s Shared-Care Network project, implemented with support from Foundation S’ My Child Matters initiative and evaluated through St. Jude Global Scholar Project, has also been selected for a Nursing Rapid Fire oral presentation, while another study has been accepted for online publication.

Multicenter collaborative projects on the development and implementation of National Protocol of Hodgkin Lymphoma & Leukemia, co-led by IHHN Principal Investigators Dr. Muhammad Rafie Raza and Dr. Naeem Jabbar, with the support of the Pakistan Society of Pediatric Oncology (PSPO), have also been accepted for poster presentation. The presentations will highlight the development, implementation and data generated through these national protocols.

Dr. Javeria Aijaz, Section Head, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Services, IHHN, has been invited to speak at two distinguished programs at the congress. She will deliver a presentation titled “Use of RNA-Based Nanopore Sequencing for Tumor Classification” during the President’s Lecture Session, “Nanopore Sequencing for Childhood Cancer All Over the World: Promise or Reality?” She will also speak at the SIOP-NEXT Symposium, a global platform for early-career professionals advancing translational research in pediatric oncology, where she will contribute to “Inspiring Session II: Advancing Translational Research in LMIC Settings.”

Mr. Bashir Ahmed Khan, Nurse Educator, My Child Matters Program, has been awarded the prestigious SIOP Nursing Scholarship to attend the congress and present his work, representing IHHN on an international platform dedicated to advancing pediatric oncology nursing.

The IHHN presenting team will attend the congress from 15 to 18 September 2026, sharing its work and experiences with the international pediatric oncology community while representing Indus Hospital & Health Network and Pakistan on a global stage.