The dramatic improvement in outcome for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the major achievements in hematology in the last 40 years. However, while 90% of children with this disease can now be cured, the outlook has not been so good for the less common type of childhood leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although only 1 in 7 children with leukemia have AML, half of these children will die from their disease. The challenge now is to harness the new developments in genomics to improve the outcome for these children.

Blood cancers (leukemias) are life-threatening diseases that can devastate the lives of patients and their families. Great progress has been made in treatments to improve the survival of these otherwise invariably fatal conditions. Major advances in the understanding of leukemia genetics for genome sequencing of individual patients has taken us one step further towards realizing personalized medicine for many patients.

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) partners with thrombosis related organizations from every continent to launch World Thrombosis Day focused on single cause of top 3 cardiovascular deaths worldwide.

EHA endorses and supports the initiative for this World Thromobis Day.

The European Hematology Association is organizing its 19^th Congress in Milan, Italy- June 12-15, 2014.

Following last year’s successful introduction, the EHA congress program will be complemented by a dedicated advocacy track. This track combines all patient and policy related sessions into one comprehensive full-day program on Saturday.

The Board of the European Hematology Association (EHA) has the pleasure to cordially invite you, as a member of the press, to the 19th Congress of EHA.More than 9,500 participants from around the world are expected at the upcoming 19th Congress of the European Hematology Association at the MiCo - Milano Congressi in Milan, Italy from June 12-15, 2014.

The European School of Haematology (ESH) hosted an international meeting on haematological disorders in the elderly in Barcelona from November 6 to 7, 2013.
Chairs of the meeting were L. Balducci, M. Björkholm, and P. Fenaux. The local organizer: E. Montserrat. The meeting was organized to provide a comprehensive review of the aspects to be considered when managing elderly patients with a variety of hematological disturbances.

Report the unavailability of Hematology Medicines to EHA today!

In the course of one day – December 11, 2013 – two calls for applications and expressions of interest were published that are of interest to researchers in hematology.

CASCAIS, PORTUGAL: The ISTH is hosting its Second Annual Advanced Training Course on Thrombosis and Haemostasis on March 13-16, 2014, at the Hotel Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, Portugal. As part of the Society’s mission, the course will provide the latest training in the treatment of thrombosis and bleeding disorder management to meet the needs of hematologists and related specialists around the world. Space is limited to only 200 participants; early registration is recommended to ensure availability.

The meeting will provide three full days of intense examination on the subjects of blood coagulation and bleeding disorders, platelets and venous thrombosis. Leading scientists with vast experience in education will deliver focused lectures followed by ample time for discussion and close interaction with the participants. Meet the Expert sessions will be devoted to discussion groups with the day’s speakers. There will also be interactive sessions in the evening with exercises relating to the analysis of the topics discussed during the day or on clinical case studies. A formal program is available here.

The second EHA-SWG Scientific Meeting, titled Focus on Thrombocytopenia & platelet function disorders took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 27-29, 2013.

The meeting was chaired by Roberto Stasi, MD from the Heamtology Unit from St. George`s Hospital, London, UK.

101 participants attended the meeting from Europe, Middle-East, Australia and United States. Attendance included faculty members, trained and in training doctors involved in the field of platelet disorders.

Hematology is one of few medical disciplines that have made significant steps in realizing the promise of personalized medicine. Together with ESMO and Eurocan Platform and in the context of our membership of the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM), EHA was involved in the organization of a Roundtable  ‘Oncology/Haematology: How to provide the right prevention and treatment to the right patient at the right time’.

Transfusion of erythrocytes is the most common form of cellular therapy. It rapidly restores the oxygen supply to the tissues in patients suffering from sudden blood loss, reduced erythrocyte production following for instance cytotoxic cancer treatment, or in patients suffering from chronic anemia due to congenital diseases such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Matching transfusions for ABO and Rh-D blood group antigens is in general sufficient for successful transfusion. However, over 300 additional blood group antigens are known, against which we do not normally generate antibodies, and that are not matched for in general transfusion practice.

Access to medicines is a fundamental element of the human right to health. While recognizing the need to keep our health systems affordable, we see great danger in hematologists having to prioritize patients, substitute standard for improvised regimens or choose unproven treatment options. As part of our mission to promote excellence in clinical practice in hematology we call upon the EU to promote knowledge building, increase transparency and take evidence-based measures that remove unnecessary barriers to patient access to medicines in Europe.

Trainees and specialists in hematology must be fit for practice. It is our mission to promote excellence in education in European hematology. To improve patient care and public health it is essential to raise and maintain the skills and competences of hematologists to an equally high standard across European countries. Therefore, we aim to harmonize and improve training and education in hematology in Europe.

It’s in the blood of hematologists to do research. It is our mission to promote research in European hematology. To sustain and improve research in blood disorders, it is essential to secure funding. Therefore, we seek to improve funding opportunities for research in blood disorders in Europe.