15th International Conference on CML: Biology and Therapy – updates on biology and clinical research and therapy in CML
The 15th International Conference on CML: Biology and Therapy took place in Estoril,
Portugal, from September 26-29, 2013. This leading international CML meeting was again co-sponsored by the iCMLf and the European School of Haematology (ESH). The conference being chaired by John M Goldman (UK), J. Cortes and Timothy P. Hughes (Australia) again focused on the latest up-dates on biology and clinical research and current therapeutic approaches.
Around 542 people from 43 different countries worldwide attended the meeting. The group of participants represents the increasing global nature of the CML scientific community: “Especially the number of attendees from Emerging Regions significantly increased compared to previous years”, emphasised John Goldman during his opening remarks.
The latest updates in therapy and research in CML were reviewed from clinical and scientific perspectives. During nine different scientific sessions well-distinguished panels of international speakers highlighted the latest research findings in CML. Topics included; molecular genetics and leukemic stem cells, molecular biology, progression to blastic transformation, and predicting and monitoring response to CML. New clinical strategies in CML, novel therapeutic approaches and immunology and immunotherapy were also discussed. The new session dedicated to CML in children was well received.
Again this year, poster presentations including a series of poster walks were a strong focus, covering over 100 abstracts of key scientific and clinical findings. The scientific program also included special lectures, brief oral communications, three satellite symposia and workshops for non-clinical scientists that looked at the next generation sequencing and methods for more sensitive mutation detection. “This is a remarkably successful meeting that enables clinicians and scientists with a CML focus to exchange their latest findings and share emerging concepts.” said Professor Tim Hughes at the meeting’s conclusion.
The conference was accredited by the European Haematology CME system and participants received 19 CME credit points.