Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, and May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health, at the signing of the Practical Arrangement with representatives from the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health. (Photo: E. Harsdorf/IAEA)
The IAEA and Morocco's Mohammed VI Foundation of Health Sciences (FM6SS) have signed a Practical Arrangement in Vienna, strengthening their cooperation in cancer care, radiation medicine, medical training and research.
The agreement builds on an existing relationship and sets out a framework for expanded cooperation that could benefit Morocco and the wider African region.
The Mohammed VI Foundation for Sciences and Health (FM6SS) is a Moroccan non-profit public utility institution dedicated to healthcare development, medical education, and scientific research. Operating as an integrated health ecosystem, the Foundation manages a network of universities, healthcare facilities, and research centres across the country.
"This partnership with the IAEA aligns with our institutional mandate to expand medical education and research capabilities," said Professor Youns Bjijou, Deputy Director of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health. "By combining our clinical infrastructure with the support of technical expertise from IAEA, we aim to accelerate innovation and enhance the regional capacity in radiation medicine, particularly in low- and middle-income countries."
A Strategic Commitment to Cancer Care
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Africa, where gaps in trained professionals, equipment and access to treatment continue to limit patient outcomes.
The new arrangement between the IAEA and FM6SS directly addresses these challenges by bringing together the IAEA's technical expertise and FM6SS's clinical and research infrastructure.
The scope of cooperation includes the exchange of information and best practices, joint training and capacity building, development of learning materials and collaboration in research and quality management.
FM6SS will also support fellowship and internship placements at its facilities across Morocco and contribute to major IAEA initiatives, including Rays of Hope .
"We are very pleased with this partnership with the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sciences and Health," said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. "The role of FM6SS is central to advancing cancer care in the region, and we look forward to collaborating with the foundation to strengthen medical training, quality management, research, and innovation."
Building Skills in Radiation Medicine
A shortage of trained specialists in nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, diagnostic imaging and medical physics remains one of the most significant barriers to effective cancer care throughout Africa. This partnership prioritizes closing that gap.
"This arrangement reflects our commitment to enhance access to care and to support the patients. Training the next generation of medical physicists, nuclear medicine specialists and radiation oncologists in Africa is not just a technical priority - it is a health equity priority," noted May Abdel-Wahab, IAEA's Director of Division of Human Health .
By combining education with clinical application, the partnership aims to strengthen early detection and expand access to treatment across the region.
Supporting Innovation and Regional Cooperation
Morocco is increasingly being recognized as a regional hub in medical sciences, and this agreement reinforces that role. It also supports South-South cooperation - promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration among developing countries - and opens pathways for engagement with the IAEA's Rays of Hope Anchor Centres network.
In this note, Morocco already has an anchor centre. In 2023, Morocco's National Oncology Institute was designated as an IAEA Rays of Hope Anchor Centre. With support from the IAEA, the International University of Rabat launched a Master of Science programme in Nutrition and Nuclear Techniques and has enrolled students from French speaking countries in the African region.
The Practical Arrangements also opens space for joint innovation. FM6SS brings strong capabilities in precision medicine and advanced research, while the IAEA contributes its global technical network. Priority areas include radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, medical imaging, medical physics and nutrition.
The signing ceremony concluded with a visit to IAEA laboratories, where FM6SS representatives learned about technologies and research programmes supporting nuclear applications in medicine.
