News and updates
EHA returns to Cairo with the Highlights of the 24th EHA Congress
The 4th Highlights of Past EHA (HOPE) Middle East & North Africa (MENA) took place (for the third time) in Cairo, Egypt, organized in collaboration with the Pan Arab Hematology Association (PAHA) and hosted by the Egyptian Society of Hematology and Research (ESHR), and supported by the national hematology societies from the region, who were represented in the program as chairs of various sessions.
EHA’s Prof Jäger elected HCPWP co-chair
![HCPWP co chairs Prof. Ulrich Jaeger EHA and Juan Garcia Burgos EMA](/assets/Uploads/HCPWP-co-chairs-Prof__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.-Ulrich-Jaeger-EHA-and-Juan-Garcia-Burgos-EMA.jpg)
On September 24, Prof Ulrich Jäger, former EHA President and current member of the EHA European Affairs Committee, was elected as co-chair of the Health Care Professionals Working Party (HCPWP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). He will lead the working party during its 2019-2022 mandate alongside Juan Garcia-Burgos, EMA’s head of Public Engagement.
Without access to treatment, can we truly innovate in rare diseases?
![HemAffairs Sept 24 v2](/assets/Uploads/HemAffairs-Sept-24-v2__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
There have been many developments on rare diseases since the EU Orphan Medicinal Products Regulation came into force in 2000. As the European Commission is evaluating its effectiveness, EHA discussed with Prof. Giampaolo Merlini, Director of the Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center and researcher at the Department of Molecular Medicine of the University of Pavia, how far we have come and what still needs to be done to improve access to treatment for rare diseases.
COST Action ‘EuNet-INNOCHRON’
![HemAffairs Oct 3](/assets/Uploads/HemAffairs-Oct-3__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is an EU-funded, intergovernmental framework that aims to create pan-European research networks in all science fields and promote excellence, foster interdisciplinary research and empower young researchers and innovators.
Open Access: the ‘Plan S’
![HemAffairs Sept 24 v3](/assets/Uploads/HemAffairs-Sept-24-v3__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
Research and academic groundwork funded with public means should be free and open to everyone. That is the principle behind Open Access that was formulated in 2003 in the Berlin Declaration. More than a decade has passed since and for years no significant action was taken. Scientific research, paid for by the taxpayer, is still mostly locked behind paywalls.
EHA Issues Recommendations on Mild to Moderate Bleeding Disorders
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HemaSphere presents first in a series of Consensus Reports on Diagnosis of Inherited Bleeding Problems For hematologists, it can be challenging to make the correct diagnosis in patients with bleeding problems…
Meet Irene Roberts, our September volunteer of the month
![Voulenteer of the month 3](/assets/Uploads/Voulenteer-of-the-month-3__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg)
Meeting report | HOPE ASIA 2019 Kolkata
![HOPE Asia cover image](/assets/Uploads/HOPE-Asia-cover-image__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg)
The first edition of the Highlights of Past EHA (HOPE) in Asia was held in Kolkata, India and was a great success. The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Indian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT) and hosted by the Eastern Haematology Group (EHG), attended by over 600 participants from India, Nepal, Bangledesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.
Meet Robert Hills, our August volunteer of the month
![Voulenteer of the month 2](/assets/Uploads/Voulenteer-of-the-month-2__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg)
Professor Robert Hills started volunteering for EHA when he participated in the Clinical Research Training in Hematology (CRTH) program in 2016. This year, Professor Hills started as an Associated Editor for HemaSphere. Meet Professor Hills and learn about what he does and why he's volunteering for EHA.
Anna Vardi Physician Scientist Research Grant winner 2018
![Anna Vardi EHA News 02](/assets/Uploads/Anna-Vardi-EHA-News-02__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg)
Large-scale detection and characterization of T Cells with anti-tumor specificity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Can it pave the way for cellular treatments or vaccination strategies?
Meet our first Physician Scientist Research Grant winner
![Award winner Duarte Delfim web 02 02](/assets/Uploads/Award-winner-Duarte-Delfim-web-02-02__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg)
In 2018, the Physician Scientist Research Grant was awarded for the first time. During the 24th EHA Congress, Delfim Duarte from Porto, Portugal received the award. In a recent interview, Dr Duarte explains how he experienced the application procedure and describes the impact of winning this award.
Meet Shaun McCann, our July volunteer of the month
![Voulenteer of the month Shaun McCann 01](/assets/Uploads/Voulenteer-of-the-month-Shaun-McCann-01__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
Professor Shaun McCann started volunteering for EHA since the start of the association and is still actively contributing. This year, Professor Shaun McCann was awarded the EHA Education and Mentoring Award. Meet Professor McCann and learn about what he's doing and why he's volunteering for EHA all these years!
Addressing the bureaucracy challenge
![HemAffairs afbeelding 2](/assets/Uploads/HemAffairs-afbeelding-2__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
EHA has recently brought key stakeholders around the table to discuss bureaucratic obstacles in clinical research. Regulators, patient organizations, the European Commission and industry representatives were invited for a day-long discussion at EHA offices, building on an informal dialogue with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) that had been initiated by a group of prominent clinical researchers.
FUNDING ALERT: Calls published on ATMPs, T cells and cancer research
![HemAffairs afbeelding](/assets/Uploads/HemAffairs-afbeelding__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.png)
In recent weeks, two Calls for proposals were published that offer relevant funding opportunities for hematologists: IMI2 – 18th Call for proposals, a jointly funded partnership between the European Union, and Horizon 2020 – Call for cancer research proposals, call for research proposals in the category ‘Societal Challenge 1 (SC1): Health, demographic change and wellbeing’. .
Current status of the Clinical Trials Regulation
![AdobeStock 191513461 clinical trials2.jpg](/assets/Uploads/AdobeStock-191513461-clinical-trials2__ScaleMaxWidthWzY0MF0.jpg.png)
In 2014 the European Parliament approved the Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) that is supposed to replace the Clinical Trials Directive (CTD) from 2001. Five years later, the regulation has not yet become applicable. What is the aim of the ‘new’ regulation, what issues does it address, and why was its application delayed?