Scientific and educational activities

SWG organized meetings

EHA-SWG Scientific Meeting on Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Secondary AML

Date and location: April25-26, 2025, Berlin

Agenda:

  • The meeting convened leading international experts to address key challenges and emerging opportunities in secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML).
  • The program highlighted major advances in the understanding of sAML biology, including clonal hematopoiesis, clonal evolution, and genetic predisposition, as well as the progression from antecedent hematologic conditions such as MDS and MPN.
  • These insights were directly linked to evolving therapeutic strategies, with a focus on translating biological knowledge into improved and more personalized treatment approaches. A key strength of the meeting was its highly interactive format, combining expert presentations with panel discussions that facilitated dynamic exchange and critical reflection.
  • The active involvement of early-career researchers, including oral presentations, was a central component, supporting capacity building and fostering the next generation of AML leaders.
  • The meeting reinforced the importance of integrated biological and clinical approaches in sAML and strengthened international collaboration within the AML community. It provided important momentum for ongoing research efforts and highlighted priorities for future studies aimed at improving patient outcomes.

AML SWG Scientific session at the 2025 EHA Scientific Congress

Date and location: June 2025, Milan

Agenda:

  • The session was focusing on biomarker-guided therapy using BCL-2 inhibitors in combination with hypomethylating agents. Approximately 70% of AML patients are ineligible for intensive therapy, for whom the current standard of care is venetoclax in combination with azacitidine.
  • The session explored how to best use this combination and how to further improve outcomes. International experts from Europe and the United States discussed the latest data on mechanisms of resistance to this regimen, the role of biomarkers in guiding prognosis, and the potential of advanced single-cell approaches.
  • These technologies may help to identify early during treatment which patients are likely to achieve sustained responses, and which may experience only short-lived benefit from emerging combination therapies currently being evaluated in Phase III registration studies, with venetoclax–azacitidine as the backbone.
  • The session was particularly timely, as venetoclax/HMA–based approaches have the potential to be applied more broadly, including in younger patient populations.

Quality of Life Joint Symposium – in cooperation with SWG QoL

Date and location: July 4-5, 2025, Reggio Calabria

Agenda:

  • The Quality-of-Life Symposium included participation from the EHA Specialized Working Group (SWG) on Quality of Life and Symptoms and featured an EHA Joint Symposium.
  • The meeting focused on the growing importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and quality of life (QoL) assessment in hematology, both in clinical trials and routine care. Discussions addressed methodological aspects, implementation strategies, and the integration of patient perspectives into clinical research and decision-making.
  • The program was designed to be interactive, combining expert presentations with discussions that encouraged active engagement and exchange among participants. The symposium also served as a platform to strengthen collaboration within the QoL research community and to align ongoing initiatives across different disease areas.
  • The meeting extended beyond patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to also address current aspects of both malignant and benign hematologic disorders, reflecting the broad relevance of quality-of-life considerations across disease areas.
  • Overall, the meeting highlighted the increasing importance of QoL endpoints in hematology and reinforced the need to integrate patient-centered measures into research, clinical practice, and regulatory decision-making across a wide spectrum of hematologic conditions.

Budapest Lighting the Flame (LtF) Retreat

Date and location: July 9-13, 2025, Budapest

Agenda:

  • Another highlight was the continued success of the EHA Lighting the Flame (LtF) program, with a retreat held in Tallinn, Estonia, in July 2024, followed by a subsequent meeting in Budapest in July 2025. The LtF program is designed for medical students, interns, and residents who have not yet decided on their specialty but are considering a career in hematology, either as clinicians or researchers (basic or translational).
  • Through an intensive multi-day format, participants are introduced to the fundamentals of hematology and provided with guidance on how to build a career in the field.
  • The Budapest retreat further strengthened the program by bringing together a new cohort of participants alongside engaged alumni, creating a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. The program included interactive teaching sessions, small-group discussions, and close mentorship by experienced hematologists.
  • Particular emphasis was placed on career development, interdisciplinary exchange, and the integration of clinical and research perspectives. In addition to scientific content, the program addressed essential aspects such as patient interaction, communication with caregivers, and physician well-being.
  • Several members of the AML SWG actively contributed as mentors, supporting participants in their early career development. The meeting also demonstrated the sustainability and growing impact of the LtF initiative, with participants from previous cohorts remaining actively engaged.
  • Notably, alumni continued to run a journal club established after earlier retreats, fostering ongoing scientific exchange and collaboration.
  • Overall, the LtF program represents a highly successful initiative in attracting and nurturing early talent in hematology, providing structured mentorship and fostering a new generation of clinicians and researchers in the field.

EHA-SWG Pilot Preceptorship: Integrated AML Diagnostics

Date and location: October 1-3, 2025, Perugia

Agenda:

  • The EHA-SWG Pilot Preceptorship on Integrated AML Diagnostics, was successfully delivered as an intensive educational initiative aimed at strengthening expertise in the integrated diagnostic approach to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The program brought together participants from 12 countries, alongside an international faculty of experts, to address key components of modern AML diagnostics, including cytomorphology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular profiling.
  • Particular emphasis was placed on the integration of these modalities to support accurate diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment decision-making. The preceptorship was highly interactive, combining expert-led lectures with case-based discussions and active participant engagement. This format facilitated practical learning, in-depth discussion of real-world diagnostic challenges, and close exchange between faculty and participants.
  • A key outcome of the meeting was the strengthening of competencies in integrated AML diagnostics among participants, as well as the promotion of harmonized diagnostic approaches across institutions. The preceptorship also contributed to building a network of early-career clinicians and scientists with a shared interest in AML diagnostics.
  • As a pilot initiative, the program demonstrated strong educational value and provides a solid foundation for potential future editions and broader implementation within EHA’s educational portfolio.

Business Meetings 2025

  • Two AML SWG business meetings were held in March 2025 (virtual) and in June 2025 (in person) during the EHA Congress in Milan.
  • The SWG business meetings provide an important platform for active exchange among members on ongoing activities, the presentation and discussion of new projects, and upcoming meetings and initiatives of relevance to the group.
  • They also enable alignment on strategic priorities and facilitate coordination across different workstreams within the AML SWG. In addition, opportunities for interaction and collaboration between different SWGs are highlighted and discussed.
  • The SWG business meetings also serve to encourage active engagement in EHA programs, particularly within the SWG framework, including grant calls, educational initiatives, and SWG scientific meetings.

Updates on EHA activities are shared, and members are invited to contribute to ongoing and future initiatives, fostering collaboration and strengthening the AML research and clinical community.

Collaborations on international projects promoted by/involving the SWG

  • Joint HOVON-AMLSG clinical trials including a large number of international cooperators/study groups (https://hovon.nl/en/about-hovon; https://www.cto-im3.de/amlsg/)
  • HARMONY projects: i) measurable residual disease as a surrogate marker for survival in AML (PI: Gert Ossenkoppele); ii) big data to evaluate the clinical impact of genomic alterations (PI: Lars Bullinger), iii) the validation of an appropriate blast threshold for AML definition: MDS/AML (10-19%) vs AML (≥20%) category (Jordi Esteve).
  • Collaboration between HOVON and UK AML NCRI Group on novel AI-based prognostic scoring system for AML patients in first relapse. Van der Maas NG, Breems D, Klerk CPW, Pabst T, Gradowska P, Thomas A, Biemond BJ, Kuball J, Van Elssen CHMJ, Visser O, Vekemans MC, Graux C, Maertens J, Knapper S, Dennis M, Freeman S, Thomas I, Beverloo HB, Huls G, Craddock C, Valk PJM, Vyas P, Russell N, Ossenkoppele G, Löwenberg B, Cornelissen JJ, Versluis J. A revised prognostic model for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and first relapse. Blood Advances 9(15): 3853-3864. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025015797. (2025) PMID: 40402082

Presentations on behalf of the SWG

  • European School of Hematology: 7th International Conference: ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA “MOLECULAR AND TRANSLATIONAL”: Advances in Biology and Treatment, October 16-18, 2025 – Estoril, Portugal: Meet the Expert session: Molecular diagnostics in clinical practice (Konstanze Döhner)
  • Annual meeting of the Sociedade Portuguesa Hematologia (SPH): Molecular diagnosis of AML, implications of monitoring and clinical decision; invited speaker (Konstanze Döhner)
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