📍UOD, May 10, 2025 – University Press Office (UNPO) | The University of Duhok (UOD) proudly announces a significant medical breakthrough by one of its esteemed researchers. Dr. Hazhmat Abdolkhaliq Ali, a professor at the College of Medicine, has successfully developed a highly effective treatment targeting cervical cancer cells infected with Human Papillomavirus Type 18 (HPV-18), a leading cause of aggressive cervical malignancies in women.

This treatment is extracted from a plant, (Centrapalus Paucifloris), mainly located in AfrIca. This innovative therapy has shown the ability to eliminate up to 95% of HPV-18-infected cervical cancer cells in laboratory settings—an unprecedented success rate that could reshape the global approach to cervical cancer treatment.

International Collaboration Leads to Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment

This pioneering achievement is the result of a robust international research collaboration between the University of Duhok and a team of nine esteemed scientists from the University of Szeged in Hungary. The experimental phase of the project was conducted at the University of Szeged’s advanced biomedical laboratories, where the treatment was meticulously tested and refined.

A Milestone in Medical Research at UOD

Dr. Abdolkhaliq’s research embodies UOD’s Strategic Vision 2023–2038, particularly in the area of scientific innovation, health sector development, and international research collaboration. The discovery is expected to:

• Contribute to global cancer treatment strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to advanced therapies remains limited.
   
• Open new channels of collaboration between UOD and international cancer research institutions.
   
• Empower the university’s medical students and researchers to engage in cutting-edge health sciences and translational medicine.
   

Alignment with UOD’s Strategic Plan

This scientific achievement supports UOD’s broader mission to become a regional center for research excellence by:

• Advancing health innovation as part of the university’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being).
   
• Enhancing the reputation of the College of Medicine as a hub for clinical and translational research.
   
• Promoting the university’s role in tackling non-communicable diseases through targeted, community-relevant medical research.
   

Institutional Recognition

This pioneering achievement demonstrates the quality and impact of research being conducted at the university. It proves that the University of Duhok is not only producing knowledge but actively contributing to life-saving solutions.

Future Outlook

Dr. Abdolkhaliq expressed that this plant is highly possible to be found in Kurdistan too. He stated that they would work on it in the region. Plans are already underway to collaborate with pharmaceutical research firms and cancer centers to move into clinical trials, aiming to validate the treatment’s effectiveness in patient populations. If successful, this could lead to a cost-effective alternative to current treatments and a new medical protocol in cervical cancer care.

University Press Office, May 10, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

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