EHA-SWG Scientific Meeting “Developing a research agenda for transfusion in Europe”
On September 15-17, 2022, the EHA-SWG Scientific Meeting “Developing a research agenda for transfusion in Europe” was successfully held at the Occidental Praha hotel in Prague, Czechia.
The meeting was focused on strengthening and prioritizing opportunities for Europe-wide research in transfusion. The meeting helped to identify research gaps and enable the start of a dialogue between transfusion researchers (including juniors) across Europe.
S Stanworth and H Feys led the meeting, with the main goal to foster and develop networks of research for transfusion in Europe in mind. Together with the various session chairs they navigated extensive and informative discussion and fielded questions from both the in-person and online audience.
The meeting consisted of ten sessions that featured presentations on various topics:
• Transfusion therapy - current status & future needs
• Strategies in transfusion research
• Special situations for transfusion
• What makes a successful research program?
• Opportunities in immune-based therapies
• Stakeholders and the donor
• Hospital practices
• Transfusion research in Europe
All sessions were live-streamed directly on the virtual platform, resulting in attendees from different countries being able to join. The meeting was small and intimate which resulted in a more personalized meeting, where the chairs, speakers, and delegates had the opportunity for fruitful discussions after every presentation. In addition, in-person attendees could benefit from an offline, informal, round-table discussion to aid identify potential research gaps and opportunities.
Abstract submission was part of this meeting and selected abstracts could not only be presented during oral pitch presentations, the work was also available as a scientific poster, presented on day 1. Furthermore, speaker Prof Meritxell Alberich Jorda explained that EHA provides small grants for young researchers and proposed to apply for them.
For these younger researchers Isabelle Verbaeys, a patient representative, pointed out the necessity of a patient-centered approach during the treatment of diseases and blood transfusion which was welcomed by the participants of the meeting.
The meeting was attended by 55 participants (both virtual and physical). The average rating of the meeting that was given by delegates was a 9.2/10.
Delegate: “The meeting taught us that progress starts by joining forces, and sharing ideas. We hope that researchers in 5 years will say that the first seed of their cooperation was planted here at the EHA-SWG Meeting in Prague”
EHA would like to thank the meeting organizers, the faculty and delegates to the meeting’s success.
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