European experts in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia meet at the Josep Carreras Institute to advance its treatment
On 9 and 10 January, Dr Josep Maria Ribera and his research group welcomed members of EWALL, the European Working Group on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, to the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute. The meeting brought together researchers and clinicians to share expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of ALL and to work together on the development of new treatments.
The fight against blood cancers, like biomedical research more broadly, depends on close collaboration and international partnerships. As part of its commitment to improving the lives of patients with haematological cancers and their families, the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) regularly hosts meetings that bring together leading experts in this field. Dr Josep Maria Ribera, group leader at the IJC and an experienced organiser of such events, hosted the latest EWALL (European Working Group on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia) meeting on 9-10 January.
EWALL is a scientific group that brings together European national cooperative groups focused on the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). It includes groups such as GMALL (Germany), GRAALL (France-Belgium-Switzerland), GIMEMA (Italy), UKALL (United Kingdom), HOVON (Netherlands), PALG (Poland), NOPHO (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark) and PETHEMA (Spain). EWALL is also part of and leads the Adult ALL Specialized Working Group of the European Haematology Association (EHA), which is which works to generate and disseminate knowledge about the treatment of this disease.
This was the second occasion on which IJC hosted a meeting of this working group, which convenes twice a year. These meetings provide a forum for European groups to exchange diagnostic approaches and to collaborate on the development of new treatments for the different ALL subtypes. At this winter meeting, key topics included advances in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, central nervous system prophylaxis in leukaemia, and T-cell ALL therapy. In addition, the meeting also provided opportunities to exchange experiences on treatments, studies, and trials conducted in the different participating countries.
Dr Ribera highlighted “the high scientific standard of the talks and the interesting discussions sparked by the results shared at the meeting”. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the Josep Carreras Institute and thanked the organisers for hosting focused scientific workshops of this kind.