In its continuing efforts to understand and utilize state-of-the-art information in hematology for clinical benefit and to educate its members and the public, ASH has reached out to, and interacted with, other clinical and scientific societies within and outside the United States. I have the pleasure of briefly updating you on two recent meetings ASH was involved in.
On May 10, ASH held a guest symposium at the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) in Baltimore, MD. The concept was for AAI and ASH members to get to know each other better, since both societies involve the study of blood and immune cells, and to inform AAI members about our Society. The symposium was titled "Stem Cell Biology, the Niche, and Hematopoietic Cell Engraftment," and I co-chaired it along with Dr. David Scadden, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Irving L. Weissman, Stanford University, covered "Stem Cell Biology and Characterization," Dr. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, University of Tokyo, discussed "The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Signature," Dr. David Scadden elucidated "The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche," Dr. George Q. Daley, Children’s Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, talked about "Embryonic Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, and Reprogramming," and I covered "Enhancing Engraftment and Recovery of Hematopoietic Stem Cells." Active discussion in response to audience questions occurred after all the talks were finished. We are indebted to the speakers, many of whom had to reorganize their schedules to speak at this symposium. Special thanks to Ulyana V. Desiderio, Scientific Affairs Manager, who helped make this symposium a reality.
The second Highlights of ASH® Latin American (HOA-LA) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 14-15. Success was highlighted even before the meeting took place. Registration was closed one month early after more than 500 individuals registered for the meeting. The program was co-chaired by Drs. Armand Keating, vice-president of ASH, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto; Alexis Thompson, Northwestern University, Chicago; Richard Van Etten, Tufts University Medical Center, Boston; José Orlando Bordin, Associação Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia; and Carlos Chiattone, from the same Society. The program featured 19 speakers, eight panel discussions, and a breakfast with speakers as table hosts. Panel discussions were facilitated by moderators from Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Brazil. Success was ensured by the efforts of speakers and organizers from ASH and Associação Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, the National Hematology Society in Brazil, and through generous contributions of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, which provided support that makes international programming possible. This support funded travel awards for 25 trainees from seven Latin American countries. We acknowledge the vision, encouragement, and support of the HOA-LA from the Wallace Coulter Foundation.
In June, we had the joint ASH/American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) symposium at the annual ASCO meeting in Chicago, and the joint ASH/European Hematology Association (EHA) symposium at the annual EHA meeting in Barcelona, Spain. We look forward to updating you on these events in the future.
