President's message
Dear ASH member:
It gives me great pleasure to extend to you a warm invitation to the forthcoming 48th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH™). I hope you will join us to experience cutting-edge science, learn about important clinical advances in hematology, do some old-fashioned networking, and also have fun. The meeting will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from December 9-12, 2006.
This year’s program promises to be one of the most exciting to date. I want to point out some highlights of the program and hope that you will agree that the 2006 meeting will meet the traditional ASH standards of excellence and enable you to learn about the exciting new advances in our specialty.
This year, Nobel laureate Aaron Ciechanover, MD, DSc, a world-renowned scientist at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), will deliver the Ham-Wasserman Lecture on the topic of “The Ubiquitin-Proteolytic System: from Basic Mechanisms to Drug Targeting and the Patient Bed. Dr. Ciechanover, along with Drs. Avram Hershko and Irwin Rose, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation.
Dr. E. Richard Stanley, a pioneer in the study of the biology and action of colony stimulating factor-1, will offer new approaches in our understanding of chronic inflammatory diseases in the E. Donnall Thomas Lecture, examining how colony stimulating factor-1 controls macrophage and osteoclast production and function.
At the Presidential Symposium, we are exploring an exciting new discovery, the micro RNAs (miRs), which has important relevance to hematology. Three of the leading scientists in this field, Carlo Croce, MD, James Dahlberg, PhD, and Chang-Zheng Chen, PhD, will speak about the role of miRs in cell signaling and in the development of lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
This year’s Plenary Policy Forum is jointly sponsored by ASH and the European Hematology Association and will feature Elias Zerhouni, MD, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as Colin Blakemore, FMedSci, FRS, Chief Executive of the U.K. Medical Research Council. Drs. Zerhouni and Blakemore will discuss challenges to governmental funding of biomedical research and share their thoughts about how scientists can increase public support for research.
Each year, an ASH/ASCO Joint Symposium is held at both the ASH and ASCO annual meetings. This year’s symposium in Orlando will be co-chaired by myself and Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, President of ASCO, and will focus on the biological and clinical implications of angiogenesis inhibition in malignant diseases. The panel of speakers will include Lee M. Ellis, MD, Shahin Rafii, MD, and Brian Rini, MD.
The 2006 Education and Scientific Programs, co-chaired by Charles Linker, MD, and Charles A. Schiffer, MD, and Alan M. Gewirtz, MD, and Thomas Kipps, MD, respectively, promise to be of the highest quality and will provide excellent opportunities to learn from experts in every area of hematology.
This year, we will be holding a special session on Tuesday afternoon. This new endeavor has been planned at the request of the leaders in basic science research in hemostasis and thrombosis and will feature focused sessions on topics related to these subjects, including plenary lectures and oral presentations of selected abstracts.
Each year, we strive to provide all of our attendees with opportunities to earn continuing medical education credits, hear updates in hematology, renew old friendships and make new ones, and also to have some fun in addition to all this serious work. To ensure that you have fun while learning, we continue to hold the Welcome Reception, the Exhibit and Poster Hall Receptions, and the All-ASH Reception (where the band, Jubilation, will be back by popular demand to entertain us).
I look forward to greeting you in Orlando.
Sincerely,
Kanti R. Rai, MD
ASH President
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Debate Continues and Election-Year Politics Rage After President Bush’s Veto of the Stem Cell Bill
Mila Becker, Esq., and Peter Emanuel, MD
Ms. Becker is the Director of Government Relations and Practice at ASH.
Dr. Emanuel is the Editor-in-Chief of The Hematologist as well as a five-year member of the ASH Committee on Government Affairs.
President Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810) on July 19 only temporarily put to rest this legislation, as the debate over the number of embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding continues to rage and promises to become a major election year issue. The failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to override the President’s historic first use of his veto power was seen by many policy watchers as the latest skirmish in an often rancorous eight-year-old battle over the science and ethics of embryonic stem cell research that started back in November 1998 when James Thomson and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin announced they had become the first to isolate and maintain long-term cultures of the cells.
The current federal policy allows federal money to be used to study embryonic stem cell colonies made only from embryos that had been destroyed by August 9, 2001. Shortly after this policy was announced, however, it turned out that cells from only a handful of colonies were available for distribution and study. It also became clear that virtually all those colonies had been maintained in culture dishes with blood products from rodents, calling into question their usefulness as medical products because of the risk of animal viruses and other contaminants. The number of colonies available for distribution and study has never exceeded 24.
Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) took the lead in designing HR 810 to loosen the President’s restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research in response to complaints by leading stem cell scientists that the policy slowed progress, burdened laboratories with red tape, reduced American competitiveness, and discouraged young researchers from entering the field.
The bill provided for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived after August 9, 2001, and required strong ethical guidelines on stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research. The bill stated that no federal funds will be used to derive stem cells or destroy early-stage embryos. In addition, it directed the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to support appropriate research on stem cell lines derived from early-stage embryos that also meet the following criteria: originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need; would otherwise be discarded; and, the individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
A year after passing the House of Representatives, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 63-37 on July 18, 2006. With the threat of a presidential veto looming, statements by House and Senate supporters made clear that the debate would not be over. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) noted that “72 percent of Americans and 63 percent of the Senate” supported the bill and said he would bring up the issue “again and again and again.” Representative Castle also promised to reintroduce the legislation at the start of the next Congress.
The Senate vote is particularly interesting when viewed through the lens of the 2006 midterm elections. Of the 33 Senators facing reelection in November, 24 voted in favor of the bill, while nine were opposed. For example, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), who is locked in a competitive reelection battle, was the only Democrat to oppose the bill and conform to the president’s position. During his campaign, Senator Nelson has gone out of his way to associate himself with President Bush, who remains popular in the Cornhusker State. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), who will retire from the Senate this year, famously broke with President Bush and came out in support of the bill, yet the three Republicans vying for his seat have come out against embryonic stem cell research, while Representative Harold Ford, the Democratic candidate, supported it in the House — a vote that will certainly be used against him by his opponent in the general election.
Proving that the stem cell issue does not divide along traditional “pro-life” and “pro-choice” lines, a number of traditional abortion opponents voted in favor of the bill. This includes two senators not up for reelection this year — Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) — and it includes two senators facing easy reelection races this fall — Senators Trent Lott (R-MS) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
Of the Senators known to be mulling a 2008 presidential bid, only George Allen (R-VA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) voted against the bill. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Bill Frist (R-TN), John Kerry (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), and Evan Bayh (D-IN) all voted in favor of it.
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Drs. Elias Zerhouni and Colin Blakemore to Discuss Challenges in Governmental Funding at the ASH™-EHA Policy Forum in Orlando
With federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) slipping by almost $4 billion from fiscal year 2005, researchers looking for government backing face daunting prospects. With these concerns in mind, ASH and the European Hematology Association (EHA) have invited NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, and Medical Research Council Chief Executive Colin Blakemore, FMedSci, FRS, to discuss the obstacles facing government-funded research.
The two will meet at the ASH-EHA Joint Symposium Plenary Policy Forum held at this year’s annual meeting. The forum, titled “Challenges in Governmental Funding for Research,” represents a joint effort by ASH and the EHA to keep researchers informed of policy decisions, both here and abroad, that can significantly affect their work.
The almost 20,000 individuals expected to attend the 2006 ASH Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to listen and respond as the two prominent health officials share their perspectives on governmental support for biomedical research, translational research and its impact on hematology, and the role of hematology in cross-disciplinary research. The 75-minute session will include time for official remarks as well as audience comments and questions, allowing researchers troubled by lagging federal funding to voice their concerns to two of the individuals most qualified to respond.
Dr. Zerhouni has served as NIH Director since 2002, supervising the organization’s 27 Institutes and Centers. Meanwhile, Dr. Blakemore has headed the Medical Research Council as Chief Executive since 2003, overseeing three institutes and 29 units.
Attendees should anticipate a stimulating discussion of issues affecting clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the advancement of medical science. The forum is scheduled for Sunday, December 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Visit the ASH Web site for changes to the program and updates about the program location. For additional information about the Symposium, contact the ASH Government Relations and Practice Department at 202-776-0544 or grassroots@hematology.org.
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ASH™ Introduces Electronic Membership Renewal Notices
In an effort to make membership renewal easier and more convenient for its members, in early October ASH will send the first 2007 renewal notices electronically to all members with a valid e-mail address. All others will receive paper renewal notification by mail. Prevent suspension of your membership benefits by renewing on or before the deadline of December 15, 2006. Dues can be paid online.
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Leadership Election Ballots Online
Active members in good standing should look to receive election
materials by mail in late August for this year's ASH leadership election for
Vice President, Treasurer, and two Councillors. Ballots are due by September
30, and the results of the election will be announced in the November/December
issue of The Hematologist.
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ASH™ Reception
On Monday, December 11, ASH members will have the opportunity to enjoy the company of friends old and new at the All-ASH Reception. Held from 9:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m., the reception will feature Jubilation, the New Orleans band that proved so popular at last year’s reception. Desserts and coffee will be served and a cash bar is also available. Tickets for the event are $20 per person, which includes two complimentary drinks. You may purchase tickets on the meeting registration form in the Preliminary Program brochure sent out to all ASH members, online, or on site. Reception attendees can pick the tickets up on site at the ticket counter in the registration area of the West Building of the Orange County Convention Center; tickets purchased in advance will not be sent in the mail.
ASH is currently in the early stages of a fundraising campaign to endow the Clinical Research Training Institute in time to celebrate ASH’s 50th anniversary in 2008. To assist in this effort, $5 of the $20 ticket price for the All-ASH Reception will be a tax-deductible donation to the Clinical Research Training Institute Endowment Fund. Put on your dancing shoes and show your support for ASH!
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ASH™ Special Session on Hemostasis and Thrombosis
At the 2006 ASH Annual Meeting, a special session on the basic science of hemostasis and thrombosis will be held on Tuesday, December 12, from 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Chaired by Bruce Furie, MD, this session will highlight the most important basic science contributions in 2006 in each of the four major areas of the field: (1) thrombosis; (2) blood coagulation and fibrinolysis; (3) platelet biology; and (4) structural biology.
In addition to invited speakers David Ginsburg, MD, PhD, James A. Huntington, PhD, Sriram Krishnaswamy, PhD, Mingdong Huang, PhD, and Lawrence Bass, MD, PhD, this special session will include a number of oral presentations selected from abstracts submitted to ASH for the annual meeting.
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ASH™ New Member Reception
The 2006 ASH™ Annual Meeting marks the start of a new event at the meeting — the ASH New Member Reception. The reception will present the opportunity for new members to meet members of ASH’s Executive Committee and learn from them how to become actively involved in the Society. Along with networking opportunities, the event will offer complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The New Member Reception is scheduled for Friday, December 8, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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Annual Meeting Advance Registration Now Open
Avoid lines at on-site registration counters and benefit from a discount by registering for the annual meeting prior to November 6, 2006. ASH encourages members to register online, but registration can also be made by faxing the ASH registration form with credit card payment to 888-273-5706 (U.S. and Canada toll-free number) or 703-631-6288. The registration form may also be mailed along with the appropriate fees to the ASH Registration Center. For more information or forms, visit the ASH Web site.
Advance Registration Fees
ASH Members (Active and International): $195
ASH Associate Members : $90
Honorary/Emeritus: No charge
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ASH™ Welcomes 58 Experts to Annual Meeting
Attendees at the 2006 ASH Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to meet with experts from across the nation and around the world. ASH’s Meet-the-Expert sessions, available to registered medical professionals only, offer doctors the chance to interact with some of the field’s leading experts, and the exchange of ideas that these sessions stimulate can prove invaluable to attendees. This year, 58 experts will offer their advice on a wide range of topics. A complete list of experts and topics appears on the ASH Web site. This year’s Meet-the-Expert sessions will be lunch sessions, instead of the breakfast sessions they’ve been in years past, and will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, and Sunday, December 10. Tickets are $20 for ASH Active, International, and Associate members, and $30 for non-members. Tickets include a boxed lunch and can be purchased at the Meet-the-Expert counter located in the ASH registration area, West Building, Orange County Convention Center, starting Thursday, December 7, during registration hours. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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