The 2014 International Scientific Symposium convened physicians treating bone marrow failure diseases and laboratory researchers studying the immunology and cell biology of bone marrow failure to discuss current areas of controversy, share recent research results and propose specific recommendations for the highest priority directions for basic and clinical research needed to advance the field.
Watch these interviews on the AA&MDSIF YouTube channel with the symposium co-chairs and session chairs which summarize the symposium highlights and key takeaways from the presentations.
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Dr. David Margolis from the Medical College of Wisconsin and Dr. Richard Childs of NHLBI from NIH discuss transplant treatments for bone marrow failure. "Data is very encouraging that the outcomes for matched and unmatched donors are very similar." Unrelated transplants are no longer considered a treatment of last resort. Watch the video. |
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Drs. Judith Marsh and Phil Scheinberg summarize non transplant
treatments for aplastic anemia.
Eltrombopag appears to be a promising area for new treatment protocols.
Watch the video.
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Options for non-transplant therapy of MDS are discussed by Dr. Elihu
Estey of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Dr. Valeria Santini from the
University of Florence. Options have improved for patients. Transplants
can occur for patients well into their 70s. Participation in clinical trials in the U.S. is
well below what it is in Europe and efforts should be underway to
correct that. Watch the video.
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Highlights of the 2014 AA&MDSIF Scientific Symposium are presented by Symposium co-chairs Neal Young, MD of NHLBI of NIH, and Dr. Richard Stone from Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Discussion includes genomics, genetics, use of eltrombopag for aplastic anemia, and discussion of the migration of MDS to AML. "Wonderful science and practical information."People should come to the next meeting. This is one of the best hematology meetings there is." Watch the video. |
Additional resources for patients and health professionals:
- Read the meeting report summarizing the 2014 Symposium that was published in Leukemia Research.
- Lay language reviews of research studies reported at ASH which are most relevant for patients
- Interviews with our experts attending the ASH Annual Meeting in New Orleans to explain the most important new research on aplastic anemia, MDS and PNH. These physicians are AA&MDSIF Medical Advisory Board members or AA&MDSIF research grant recipients who shared their time and expertise to discuss the latest advances in bone marrow failure disease research.
- Interactive Updates in
Non-Transplant Therapy of MDS: Highlights from the 2014 Aplastic Anemia & MDS
International Foundation Bone Marrow Failure Disease Scientific Symposium. Learn more on Bloodline. Available for download with iBooks on your Mac or iPad, or
with iTunes on your computer. This iBook includes lectures and imagery on the following
topics:
- Lecture on MDS vs. AML: How Different? with Elihu H. Estey, MD
- Lecture on Potential Sources for Clinical Heterogeneity in del5q Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)with David P. Steensma, MD, FAACP
- The Challenge of Prognosis and Sequential Therapy in Lower-Risk MDS with Valeria Santini, MD
- Biology and Clinics of Resistance/Failure of Hypomethylating Agents with Hetty Carraway, MD, MBA