• August
2011 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference
Aug. 11-15
The Grand Hyatt
Kauai, Hawaii

Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST)
Annual Scientific Conference
Aug. 13-14
Vancouver Congress Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

• September
1st World Congress on Controversies in Hematology
Sept. 2-5
Rome, Italy

ISCT Europe Regional Meeting
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
Sept. 11-14
Best Western Hotel Villa Carlotta
Belgirate, Italy

International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH)
39th Annual Scientific Meeting
Sept. 15-18
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center
Melbourne, Australia

12th International Conference on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia - Biological Basis of Therapy
ESH (European School of Haematology) and iCMLf (International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation)
Sept. 24-26
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, DC

American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI)
36th Annual Meeting
Sept. 26-30
Westin Diplomat
Hollywood, Florida

• October
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology
6th International Symposium on Neuroprotection and Neurorepair
October 1-4
Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne
Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
35th Annual Meeting
Oct. 8-12
Milano Convention Centre
Milan, Italy

American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
2010 Annual Meeting
Oct. 9-12
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Maryland

International Society of Hematology (ISH)
33rd World Congress
Oct. 10-13
ICC Jerusalem International Convention Center
Jerusalem, Israel

National Marrow Donor Program
2010 Council Meeting
Oct. 14-16
Minneapolis Hilton
Minneapolis, Minnesota

European School of Haematology
8th International Conference
Oct. 14-18
Cascais, Portugal

ISCT Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
Oct. 17-20
Phoenix Seagaia Resort
Miyazaki, Japan

Histiocytosis Association of America (HAA)
Oct. 18-20
Boston, Massachusetts

European Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ESGCT)
18th Annual Congress
Oct. 22-25
Stella Polare Convention Centre
Milano, Italy

• November
World Cord Blood Congress
Nov. 4-7
Marseille, France

Neoplastic Hematopathology Update
Nov. 11-13
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa
Hollywood, Florida

• December
American Society of Hematology (ASH)
52nd Annual Meeting
Dec. 4-7
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

• 2011
BMT Tandem Meetings
Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings
Feb. 17-21
Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii

• 2012
BMT Tandem Meetings
Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings
Feb. 1-5
Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Diego, California

• 2013
BMT Tandem Meetings
Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings
Feb. 13-17
Salt Palace
Salt Lake City, Utah

• 2014
BMT Tandem Meetings
Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings
Feb. 19-23
Gaylord Palms
Orlando, Florida

A Word from President John Barrett, MD

Writing this column has been a stimulus to think about the many issues which surround stem cell transplantation, and where relevant, to describe what the ASBMT does to promote the art and science of our discipline. The space does not allow for scholarly reviews and at worst the content can be so anodyne that nobody is interested to read it. In attempting to address what I think are significant issues I devoted the June letter to contrasting transplantation research through human or animal studies. I raised the issue of the appropriate role of animal models in stem cell transplantation research, how to find the right emphasis on support for human or animal transplant research and how the two areas should be coordinated to advance research in stem cell transplantation. In doing so I unwittingly instigated a storm of indignation from many prestigious animal investigators in our Society for which I sincerely apologize. A major concern was that funding for transplantation research in general is inadequate and at risk in the current financial climate and that the opinions in my letter could prejudice funding for animal research. Please therefore be assured that ASBMT and its officers are unwaveringly committed to supporting all forms of research that forward the practice of stem cell transplantation. ASBMT of course does not have a position or viewpoint on the questions I raised, and within the Society all aspects of transplant research are given equal support. Clearly, in an environment where funding for any transplant research is at a suboptimal level, the only important thing is that quality research of all types should be properly funded.

Since this column puts me in an unfair position of holding a one-sided debate, let me then redress the balance and remind those that need reminding of the highly informative transplantation research that is done outside the human arena. Historically it should not be forgotten that the entire cellular basis of marrow transplantation, GVHD and GVL was discovered in the mouse, and these key early experiments were fundamental to performing the first transplants in man. Nor should we forget that the dog has for more than 50 years served as a unique model for developing amongst other things conditioning regimens and GVHD prophylaxis and understanding graft rejection. But also today, investigators continue to successfully overcome the constraints of working with a species whose last common ancestor with man occurred 65 million years ago, by skillful design of models which are relevant to the human situation. Stem cell transplant investigators are best placed to design appropriate and relevant animal studies and know which questions can best be answered through animal experiments. In this way we have learned of the importance of host antigen-presenting cells in GVHD, and through imaging techniques have reliable in vivo models of tumor control and cell homing that cannot be studied in man in the same way. Mice have proved very useful to understanding the interaction of cytokines and growth factors during immune recovery. So there is no doubt our understanding of human alloimmunology and our ability to perform the transplants we do today stands on the shoulders of our fellow mammals. Alongside this, if we are to advance further, we also need to develop the technologies for human immunological studies, difficult as it will be. ASBMT members have been at the forefront of all aspects of transplantation biology research and the ASBMT membership is a diverse family. It is inevitable and healthy that people should hold different views. But ultimately we all have the same goal as the Society which is to promote all fields of research that improve the success of blood and bone marrow transplantation.

-- John