Head of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Department and Director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) Program in Kuwait. Currently leading the Pediatric SCT Unit at NBK Children’s Specialized Hospital. Chair of the committee for Stem Cell and Tissue Principles and Technical and Administrative Standards, and head of the committee for Central Policies for Secondary and Tertiary Care. Member of the general pediatric council in Kuwait , Vice-President of the Sickle Cell Disease Higher Committee, President of the Kuwait pediatricians Association, and Treasurer of the Kuwait Thalassemia League. Active member of international organizations including EBMT, ISCT, ASTCT, ASHI, and ARSHI.

Graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), with dual qualifications in pediatrics (Kuwaiti Board and MRCPCH). Completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and SCT in the UK. Established the Pediatric SCT program in 2020 and initiated the treatment of CCP in Kuwait in 2020. Research interests include benign hematology, thrombosis, hemostasis, and stem cell transplantation.

Head of Pediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) at Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE 57357) and Professor of Pediatric Oncology at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo. A pioneer of BMT in Egypt, he established transplant units across leading hospitals and helped transition the Egyptian NCI toward accredited postgraduate education. His research spans hematologic malignancies, HSCT in low- and middle-income countries, cost-effectiveness of childhood cancer care, and outcomes in retinoblastoma, CNS tumors, and leukemia. Prof. Elhaddad has held senior leadership roles including Dean of the National Cancer Institute (2011–2015) and serves with regional and global transplant networks (ABMT, WBMT, EBMT), ASH, ASCO, and SIOP. His work continues to expand access to high-quality cancer care across Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East.

Dr. Eman Taryam AlShamsi was working as Consultant and the Head of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Department at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital. Clinical Assistant Professor of Oncology at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health.

After graduation, Dr. AlShamsi trained and practiced at Tawam Hospital, UAE, from 2005. She served as staff from January 2017 until June 2021 when she joined Al Qassimi Women and Children Hospital (AQWCH) as a Consultant in Hematology Oncology and Head of Department. In August 2023, she moved to Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, taking on her current role.

Dr. AlShamsi holds the Arab Board Diploma of Medical Specialization in Pediatrics and a diploma from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). She also obtained a Diploma in Clinical Research affiliated with the Vienna School of Clinical Research. She completed her clinical fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Canada. This fellowship included training in Pediatric Clinical Hematology Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Thrombosis. Additionally, she attended an administrative fellowship program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, USA.

Throughout her career, Dr. AlShamsi has been involved in several ongoing collaborative research projects at Tawam and AQWCH hospitals, MBRU, UAEU, and Zayed University, with publications on PubMed. She has authored and reviewed chapters on bleeding disorders and pediatric cancers for upcoming medical textbooks.

Dr. AlShamsi hosted the SIOP Asia Conference in Abu Dhabi in April 2019. She actively participates in numerous national and international committees and activities, including the Scientific Sub-Committee of the International Medical Awards 2023-2024 (Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Science), the Transfusion Committee at AQWCH/AQH, and the NIHS Pediatric Hematology Oncology Accreditation (Head of the Sub-Committee). She is also involved in national bone marrow transplants, cancer screening, and prevention initiatives, as well as the SIOP and Women Leaders in Pediatric Oncology (WLPO). Her patient support and awareness activities include work with CCI and Friends of Cancer Patients UAE (FOCP). In recognition of her contributions, Dr. AlShamsi received the EOS Cancer Awareness Advocate of the Year 2024 Award from the Emirates Oncology Society.

Dr. Mohammed Al Shahrani is a Consultant in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is a recognized expert in the management of pediatric hematologic disorders, childhood cancers, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Al Shahrani currently serves as the President of the Saudi Society for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease, where he actively contributes to advancing patient care, education, research, and advocacy for individuals affected by inherited blood disorders. He has extensive experience in clinical practice, academic teaching, and scientific research, and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences focusing on pediatric hematology, oncology, hemoglobinopathies, and stem cell transplantation.

His professional interests include thalassemia, sickle cell disease, pediatric bone marrow transplantation, and improving outcomes for children with hematologic and oncologic diseases.

Prof. Waleed Al-Herz is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, and a distinguished clinician-scientist with expertise in immunology, primary immunodeficiency disorders, and inflammatory diseases. He has made significant contributions to clinical research, medical education, and the advancement of immunological sciences in Kuwait and the region.

Prof. Al-Herz’s research focuses on the mechanisms of immune dysregulation and inflammation, with particular interest in the interaction between epithelial barrier function, the microbiome, and immune-mediated diseases. His work has highlighted how cutaneous barrier leakage and gut inflammation can drive skin disease, providing important insights into the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory and allergic disorders.

He is widely recognized for his contributions to patient care, academic leadership, and international collaborations in immunology and related fields. Prof. Al-Herz is a frequent speaker at regional and international scientific meetings and remains actively involved in advancing research, education, and clinical excellence in immunology.

Prof. Josu de la Fuente is Professor of Practice in Cellular and Gene Therapy and Consultant Hematologist at Imperial College London. He specializes in pediatric hematology, bone marrow failure syndromes, hemoglobinopathies, stem cell transplantation, and gene therapy.

He leads innovative programs in blood and marrow transplantation, particularly for sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and bone marrow failure disorders, and has pioneered the use of alternative donor transplantation. Prof. de la Fuente is internationally recognized for his contributions to pediatric hematology, cellular therapies, and the development of advanced treatments for rare blood disorders.

Rupert Handgretinger was trained at the Children's University Hospital Tübingen in General Pediatrics and Hematology/Oncology. In 2000-2005 , he was appointed the director of the Division of Stem Cell Transplantation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, USA. From 2005-2021, he was Chairman of the Department of General Pediatrics and Hematology/Oncology at the Children's University Hospital Tübingen. He retired in April 2021 and is currently professor emeritus at the University of Tuebingen. Since 2021, he serves as a consultant to the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center and Yas Clinic Khalifa City in the United Arab Emirates and in 2024, he was appointed as the George and Jennifer Yeo Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. His main research interests are immunotherapeutic approaches and gene therapy for pediatric patients. He is a member of the German Academy of Science Leopoldina and received the Life Achievement Award from the American Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium (PTCTC) in 2021.

Eugene (Gene) Hwang, M.D., is chief of the Division of Oncology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is also part of the Children's National Hospital pediatric neuro-oncology team, focusing on treating children with brain tumors. Dr. Hwang has developed and led many novel early phase therapeutic clinical trials with a focus on immunotherapeutic trials, and he also leads trials focused on gene therapy and new, targeted agents. He is the site Principal Investigator of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, where he is the co-chair of the Immunotherapy Working Group. He serves on grant review committees and on the scientific advisory boards of several large foundations. For each patient, Dr. Hwang carefully considers the best possible options for treatment, trying new, cutting edge treatments coupled with the best available known therapies.

Dr. Hwang is not only dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, but also to making the current treatments as safe as possible for children: "We often focus on curing the children - that's the number one goal - but we also need to pay attention to the toxicity of these treatments, and what quality of life the children will have after treatment." Dr. Hwang is involved in several international efforts to study how to best mitigate treatment side effects.

In the meantime, Dr. Hwang makes sure he is doing everything he can to combat pain, dizziness, fatigue and other common side effects of cancer treatments by leveraging the multidisciplinary team approach of Children's National. He sees this as something the organization does exceptionally well, and thinks that having so many people focus on a single patient in a single visit is crucial to well-being during cancer treatment.

Birte Wistinghausen, M.D., is a pediatric oncologist and member of the leukemia and lymphoma team. She treats children, adolescents and young adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), histiocytosis and leukemia. Her clinical research concentrates on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, specifically on the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (PTLD) and cellular therapy in EBV-positive PTLD as well as the biology and treatment of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Dr. Wistinghausen's roles within the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) include serving as the principal co-investigator of a clinical study using EBV-specific T-cells in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and being the responsible investigator for B-lymphoblastic lymphoma. She is also serving as vice-chair for education of the COG NHL committee.

Jeffrey Dome, MD, PhD, is senior vice president of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Thomas Willson and Lenore Williams McKnew professor of pediatric oncology. Dr. Dome received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and PhD degree in medicine from Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital and completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After fellowship, Dr. Dome was a faculty member at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital before joining Children’s National in 2006.

• Dr. Lucas Krauel-Giménez – Coordinator of the Oncological Surgery Program
• Expert in Pediatric Surgery. Pediatric Oncological Surgery. Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Training:
• ECFMG-USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). 2012.
• Specialist in Pediatric Surgery (through Resident Medical Internship training). SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, University of Barcelona. 2009.
• Specialist in Pediatrics and its specific areas, with training as a Resident Medical Intern. Mútua de Terrassa University Hospital, University of Barcelona. 2004.
• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. Autonomous University of Barcelona. 1998.
• International experience:
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
• Fellow of the European Board of Paediatric Surgery (FEBPS).
• Paediatric Surgical Oncology Fellow. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, USA. 2013.
• Paediatric Surgery Department. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.

• Master in Health Management, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain, 2016 - 2018.
• Fellowship in Paediatric Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Hospital, United States, 2012 - 2013.
• Clinical and Research Fellowship, Section of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation of the Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago, United States, 2009 - 2012.
• Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Oncology, SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, Spain, 2007 - 2009.
• Residence in Paediatrics, Hospital Vall d'Hebron Barcelona, Spain, 2003 - 2007.
• Degree in Medicine and Surgery. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, 1994 - 2002.
• International experience:
• Clinical and Research Fellowship, Section of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation of the Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago, United States, 2009 - 2012.
• Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Hospital, United States, 2012 - 2013.

Dr. Nisreen M. Khalifa is a Consultant Pediatric Oncologist in the Solid Tumor Unit at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait. Dr. Khalifa received her MD degree in 1992 from Assiut University in Egypt and completed her training in General Pediatrics in Assiut University Hospitals. She received her MSc degree in Pediatrics from Assiut University in 1997. Dr. Khalifa started her career in Oncology at the South Egypt Cancer Institute in Assiut University in 1998. She trained at National Cancer Institute. Cairo University before receiving her PhD in Pediatric Oncology in 2006 and becoming a faculty member at the South Egypt Cancer Institute. Dr. Khalifa joined the Pediatric Unit in the Medical Oncology Department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre in 2007. She later joined the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at the NBK Children’s Hospital as a consultant. Over her 22 years of practice, Dr. Khalifa has developed experience in solid tumors in children including sarcomas, brain tumors and malignant lymphomas.

Qualification

• Graduated from faculty of medicine, Kasr El-Eini, Cairo University, Egypt, 1987
• Master of Clinical and Chemical pathology, Kasr El-Eini, Cairo, Egypt, 1992
• MD of immunology, Kasr El-Eini, Cairo, Egypt, 2005

Experience

• Clinical Pathology at Al-Sahel Educational Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
• Clinical Pathology at Cairo Kidney Center, Egypt
• Kuwait central blood bank; October 2005 till now
• Immunohematology department; January 2007 till 2013
• Head of Stock Management and Hospital Liaison Departments; 2013 till now

Dr. Maha Jassim Bourusly is a pediatric consultant at the department of hematology and oncology at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait. Dr Maha received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University, 1990, She received her Diploma in child health, Dublin (DCH) 1994. And Kuwait Board in Pediatrics (PGTP) 2002. And MRCPCH (UK) 2003. Dr Maha Joined the department of hematology and oncology at the NBK Children’s Hospital in Kuwait in 2003. Over her 32 years of practice, Dr. Maha has developed experience in general Pediatrics and pediatric hematology and leukemia, and shared these experiences through scientific literature and mentoring young pediatricians. She headed the Thalassemia league up until recently, and currently VP Pediatric league, Kuwait Medical Association. She is also board member and Co- founder of I want to learn society, an initiative to teach children at hospital with chronic debilitating illnesses.

Dr. Matthew Merguerian is a Pediatric Hematology specialist based in Baltimore, MD, with subspecialties in pediatric anemia, coagulation disorders, and platelet disorders. He completed his pediatrics residency at Yale-New Haven Medical Center and fellowships in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at both Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute. As an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Merguerian is experienced in general pediatrics and pediatric hematology. His research contributions include several published works on congenital platelet disorders and hematopoiesis.

Dr. James Casella is a professor of pediatrics and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As the Johns Hopkins’ Rainey Professor of Pediatric Hematology, Dr. Casella is chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology at Johns Hopkins Children's and director of the Basic and Translational Research Program in Sickle Cell Disease, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and the Maryland Hemophilia Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins.

He supervises several labs investigating the cellular and molecular basis of pediatric blood-borne diseases. He is seeking to develop better treatments for sickle cell disease and the prevention of central nervous system complications of this disorder, including stroke.

Dr. Casella received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Union College. He earned his M.D. from SUNY of Syracuse and completed a residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he was subsequently a fellow in hematology/oncology. He has been a member of the Johns Hopkins’ faculty since 1983.

Dr. Mohammad Naghi, MD, MBA is a Consultant in Pediatric Hematology at Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait, where he leads the development of the Pediatric Hematology Unit. He is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Capital University, Egypt, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Naghi has held leadership roles in pediatric hematology-oncology and was part of the founding physician team at the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357. He holds an MD in Pediatrics from Banha University and an MBA from the University of Cumbria, UK, and completed the Global Pediatrics Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School. An active researcher, author, and international speaker, his work focuses on pediatric hematology, oncology, leadership, and sustainable healthcare.

Dr. Fatemah AlHaddad is a Pediatric Specialist and Clinical Tutor at Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait. She graduated from the Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine in 2014 and completed the Kuwaiti Board of Pediatrics in 2021. She also holds a Professional Diploma in Infectious Diseases from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Dr. AlHaddad has a special interest in pediatric infectious diseases, medical education, quality improvement, and patient safety. She is actively involved in pediatric residency training, mentorship, and the advancement of competency-based medical education.

• PICU Senior Registrar
• Pediatric surgery Department, New Maternity Hospital, Kuwait
• PALS Instructor AHA
• NRP Instructor AHA

Dr. Hiba Al‑Tarrah is a Consultant Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist and Program Director for Oncology Fellowship Program at King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, where she serves as Director of Quality Improvement for the Oncology Center of Excellence, and Head of the Cancer Registry. She is a Harvard Medical school Global Health Leader graduate and an international leader in pediatric oncology, serving as Executive Board Member for SIOP Asia and Board Member of POEM and a member of the Saudi Arabian Pediatric Society, with recognized expertise in pediatric solid tumors, cancer predisposition syndromes, and health‑care quality and patient experience.

A consultant pediatrician at the department of pediatric hematology / oncology /SCT NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait.

Dr. Al Tahou joined the pediatric stem cell transplant unit at NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait in 2011.

She later joined the pediatric oncology unit at the NBK Children’s hospital in Kuwait in 2019

Dr.Al Tahou has developed experience in general pediatric , pediatric oncology and pediatric stem cell transplantation .

• MBBS Arabian Gulf University / Faculty of medicine and medical sciences in Bahrain in 1990
• Diploma in child health (DCH ) / National University of Ireland in 1994
• E.C.F.M.G certificate / USA 1999
• Pediatric Residency training certificate issued from Miami Children’s hospital, Miami, FL./ USA Sept .2002
• American Board in pediatric ,2008
• Fellow of the American academy of pediatric ,2009
• Physician license - medicine .Board of medicine / Michigan ,USA in Oct 2010

• Dr. Eman Elmattar is a paediatric consultant at the department of hematology and oncology at NBK Children's Hospital in Kuwait.
• She received her Bachelor Of Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University,she received her Diploma in child health,Dublin[DCH]
• Dr. Eman joined the department of hematology and oncology at NBK HOSPITAL in 2000. Over 34 years of practice she developed experience in general pediatric and pediatric hematology and leukemia and shared experience through scientific literature and teaching young pediatricians.
• Head of accreditation committee of ministry of health Sabah hospital from 2005-2016
• Head of child abuse and child protection committee Sabah hospital from 2005-2017
• Member of mortality and morbidity committee from 2000-2017
• Member of performance measurement committee of NBK HOSPITAL
• Dr. Eman running benign and malignant blood disorder
• Also covering leukemia clinic and platelets disorder clinic in NBK hospital
• Also running leukemia off therapy clinic