In its pursuit of developing applied research and leveraging scientific expertise to enhance public health, the University of Zanjan has established the "Cancer Prevention Research Center."

To achieve its diverse objectives in cancer prevention, the University signed a joint memorandum of understanding with the Mehraneh Charity Association in 2023. The Mehraneh Charity Association for the Support of Cancer Patients has been actively engaged in treating cancer patients since 2006. Today, it has become one of the most capable and recognized charitable institutions in the country, providing extensive services to support cancer patients and combat the disease. For the past decade, the association has placed a special emphasis on cancer prevention and public education, and in recent years, has also incorporated a serious research-oriented approach into its mission.

Cancer management is one of the most significant challenges in public health policy. The accelerating rate of cancer incidence globally and in Iran serves as a critical alarm for all officials to swiftly implement preventive strategies and curb the growth of this deadly disease. The factors contributing to its rise are multifaceted, necessitating diverse approaches from various specialized fields. Many non-medical disciplines—including nutrition, agriculture, sports science, engineering, bioinformatics, statistics and probability, mathematics, psychology, and economics—can play a vital role in cancer prevention studies.

Accordingly, drawing on its diverse pool of specialists in non-medical fields and driven by its social mission, the University of Zanjan, in cooperation with the Mehraneh Charity Association and with the grace of God and the support of sponsoring organizations, planned and hosted the "First International Congress on Cancer Prevention" in September 2024. The first congress was met with enthusiastic participation from domestic and international researchers (from Canada, Turkey, and Taiwan) and featured the presence of ambassadors from Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Belarus. A total of 112 research papers were accepted and presented either orally or as posters. Furthermore, on the second day, a variety of educational and awareness-raising workshops on different cancer prevention topics were held for the public.

In light of the highly positive feedback from the first congress, the University of Zanjan and the Mehraneh Charity Institute agreed to make it an annual event. Plans are now underway for the Second International Congress, scheduled for October 2025.

The goal of the second congress is to facilitate the presentation and exchange of novel cancer prevention strategies with the participation of professors and experts from various disciplines. The promotional segment will feature educational workshops and public lectures for attendees, alongside a dedicated exhibition to showcase the activities of relevant organizations, institutions, and companies.

We hereby extend a cordial invitation to all officials, experts, specialists, related organizations, companies, and students to participate actively in the second congress by presenting their latest research findings. The presence and contribution of each participant will be a fundamental step toward realizing the congress's objectives.

We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Zanjan!