THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL ORGANISING AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OF THE CONFERENCES
Dear Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure to welcome you in Paphos, Cyprus, EU, host town of the 10th ICOAR, 13th RAHMS and 31st ICOC conferences in 2025.This joint annual conference make this gathering of great significance to many physicians, academics, students and patients from all over the world, especially for those monitoring recent developments on health and many diseases affecting millions of people.
New visitors should be aware that Papho’s history spans through thousands of years and has many natural, cultural and ancient attractions. In particular, Paphos has been known in ancient times as the birthplace of Aphrodite or Venous, the goddess of love, who was born from the foam of the sea waves. Paphos was also the capital of Cyprus when the apostles Paul and Barnabas visited the island in 45 AD.
The participants of the multidisciplinary conference will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the ancient city of Paphos, visit the ancient sites, museums and other areas, which are of cultural and natural sightseeing interest. Most importantly, they will have the opportunity during conference breaks to enjoy a swim in the blue Mediterranean sea and visit different beaches.
It is noteworthy that the venue of the conference is situated on a beach area on the seafront, not very far from the centre of Paphos. As in previous conferences the tranquillity of the venue and the excellent Cypriot cuisine and hospitality will be contributory factors for a successful conference in relaxing surroundings.
The staff at the registration desk and the local organising and scientific committee will be available for any enquiries. It is hoped that all the participants will have stimulating scientific sessions, memorable experience and an enjoyable and relaxing time in Cyprus.
Theodora Karafyllidou MD
General Practitioner, Blue Cross Hospital and Postgraduate Research Institute, Paphos, Cyprus.
THE PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF CHELATORS AND METALS (ISOCAM)
Dear Colleagues,
As the inaugural and continuing President of the International Society of Chelators and Metals (ISOCAM), I take great pleasure in welcoming you to the sunny shores of Cyprus for the 31st International Conference on Chelation (ICOC) for the treatment of thalassaemia, cancer, and other diseases.
In the 31-year history of ICOC we have witnessed many substantial and beneficial developments in β-thalassemia treatment using iron-binding ligands known as chelators. In fact, the successful development of orally effective Deferiprone and Deferisirox has been a critical clinical advance, which was once thought impossible to achieve by some. Clearly, this negativity was gladly proven wrong, although it took many years of hard work that united chemists, biologists and clinicians. Orally effective drugs open the doors to inclusive use amongst the community and when coupled with economical synthesis, are "game changers"!
Development of unique chelators has over the past 31 years, also led to surprising twists and turns in terms of the design of innovative ligands for the treatment of cancer. The ability of these compounds to up-regulate powerful metastasis suppressor proteins such as NDRG1 and overcome P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance has underscored the importance of following research dreams. However, the development of an orally active drug for the treatment of the spread of the tumour, metastasis, which kills 90% of patients, remains a critical research goal, and a dream worth pursuing! In fact, this goal is underscored by the problems with many of the world’s most advanced anti-cancer therapies that require intravenous administration and are highly expensive.
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the landscape of many fields, and this year ICOC will feature lectures on this very important technological advance. AI is set to revolutionise drug development, promising a far quicker path from bench to bedside. Its introduction this year at ICOC is timely, given the great interest in this important tool. AI will pave the way for frontier innovations that we can all look forward to in research and medicine, and certainly even more broadly! Perhaps even in the design of new, orally active and economical ligands for the treatment of cancer and other diseases!
The vibrant city of Paphos will again be the home of the conference, and we can all look forward to the wonderful seaside climate, Mediterranean culture, and cuisine!
Thank you again for taking the time to join the conference. I very much look forward to greeting you and enjoying the science and hospitality that Paphos will provide!
Professor Des. R. Richardson
Alan Mackay-Sim Distinguished Chair of Cancer Cell Biology and Director, Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE 13th RAHMS, SECTION OF IRON METABOLISM IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Dear Colleagues,
Iron is an essential micronutrient for nearly all living cells and organisms. Its flexible coordination chemistry and redox properties make it crucial for oxygen transport, electron transfer, and catalytic reactions. However, these same properties also render iron potentially toxic by promoting oxidative stress, necessitating tight regulation of iron metabolism to meet cellular needs while preventing toxicity. The biomedical importance of iron is underscored by the widespread prevalence of iron-related disorders. Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, affects nearly a quarter of the global population, while hereditary hemochromatosis — an iron overload disorder — is the most common genetic disease among people of Northern European descent.
Initially, only ferritin (for iron storage) and transferrin (for iron transport) were known players in iron metabolism. The later discovery of the transferrin receptor revealed the mechanism of cellular iron uptake. A major milestone came in the 1980s with the identification of the IRE/IRP system and the iron-sensing proteins IRP1 and IRP2. The subsequent discovery of iron transporters DMT1 and ferroportin shifted the focus from cellular to systemic iron regulation. A breakthrough came with the identification of hepcidin, the key iron regulatory hormone, and its target, ferroportin, in the early 2000s. Hepcidin’s role in maintaining iron balance is now well-established, with its deficiency leading to hemochromatosis and its excess contributing to anemia of inflammation. Beyond serving as a biomarker, hepcidin is a promising pharmacological target, and therapies modulating hepcidin levels are currently in clinical trials.
Thanks to these transformative discoveries, the field of iron biology has seen remarkable growth. It is our great pleasure to invite you to the 13th RAHMS meeting, where we will discuss these exciting advances. The 13th RAHMS offers a stimulating environment and an excellent forum to exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world. We look forward to welcoming you to Paphos!
Kostas Pantopoulos,
Professor, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ATHENS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND OF THE GLOBAL DOCTORS’ HIPPOCRATIC INSTITUTE
Dear Colleagues,
The development of Ηealth and Wellness Tourism constitutes a dynamically expanding sector with significant prospects for Greece. The global promotion of Hippocratic Ethics and the Hippocratic Oath can serve as a decisive factor in strengthening this field. The principles of Hippocrates, such as ethics in medical practice, a holistic approach to health, and the connection between humans and nature, align with contemporary trends in wellness and medical tourism.
Through targeted promotional actions, Greece can establish itself as an international center for health tourism by leveraging its long-standing medical tradition, modern infrastructure, and natural environment. The integration of Hippocratic philosophy into medical centers, thermal spas, and wellness programs can attract visitors from around the world. In this way, the country will enhance its tourism offering, providing a unique experience that combines medicine, ethics, and holistic health care.
George Patoulis MD
Professor and President of the Athens Medical Association and of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, the National Inter-Municipal Network of Healthy Cities, the Greek Health Tourism Council – ELITOUR. (Former Regional Governor of Attica). Athens, Greece.
THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF GLOBAL DOCTORS' HIPPOCRATIC INSTITUTE AND AMBASSADOR OF HELLENIC TOURISM
Dear Colleagues,
Before the establishment of the Greek Health Tourism Council (ELITOUR), the President of the Athens Medical Association, Dr. George Patoulis, implemented the Healthy Cities Network in Greece, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative, under the slogan “Healthy Citizens, Healthy Cities,” highlights the essential prerequisites for the development of Medical Tourism in any advanced country.
The Healthy Cities program includes 240 municipalities across Greece, featuring numerous actions and outcomes comparable to those of other European cities. Following this initiative, Dr. Patoulis and colleagues founded the Global Doctors' Hippocratic Institute, which now has thousands of members from medical associations across five continents.
The Institute’s mission is to promote the Hippocratic Spirit and preserve the authentic Oath of Hippocrates. Busts of Hippocrates have been installed in several medical schools of Greek and international universities, and physicians have been sworn in using the original Oath of the Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates.
Through the Hippocratic Week program for outstanding medical students, we aim to introduce future colleagues to Greek culture, heritage, and education. These efforts include visits to Greek medical schools and the organization of seminars that explore the origins of Western Medicine as established by Hippocrates.
Antonios Polydorou, MD
Professor, General Secretary of Global Doctors' Hippocratic Institute and Ambassador of Hellenic Tourism, Athens, Greece.
WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE ICOC, RAHMS AND ICOAR CONFERENCES
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Local and International Organising and Scientific Committees, I would like to welcome you to the 31st International Conference on Chelation (ICOC), the 13th International Conference on Recent Advances in Health and Medical Sciences (RAHMS) and the 10th International Conference on Oncology and Anticancer Research (ICOAR), which will take place in Paphos, Cyprus, in October, 2025.
The joint conferences, organised by volunteer academics and physicians, are open and free to the public. Hundreds of esteemed academics from all over the world have participated in the joint conferences over the years and hundreds of articles have been selected from the ICOC conference proceedings and published in many peer review international journals. As a result thousands of patients globally are taking the life-saving oral iron chelating drug Deferiprone (L1) daily, which eventually led to the transformation of thalassemia from a fatal to a chronic disease in Cyprus and many other countries.
Furthermore, ferric maltol is another new drug discovered and promoted through ICOC, which has been recently released for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia, a disease affecting a quarter of the world’s population. Most recently, the discovery of ferroptosis and its association to almost all diseases including all types of cancer, imposed new challenges for new drug discoveries, including repurposing treatments using L1 and other chelating drugs.
We anticipate, as always, to organise many social and other events and also a constructive, high standard scientific and medical conference in Cyprus.
Looking forward to welcoming you to Paphos.
George J Kontoghiorghes
Professor, Director, Postgraduate Research Institute of Science, Technology, Environment and Medicine, Limassol and Paphos, Cyprus.
