The ASH Katrina Relief Fund – A Success on All Fronts
Although more than six months have passed since Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, its effects are still very much in evidence. While the hurricane forced ASH to relocate its annual meeting from New Orleans to Atlanta, the Society is strongly committed to New Orleans and wants to help the city in the wake of destruction.
The ASH Katrina Relief Fund was created to assist the hematology/oncology training programs at Tulane University, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, and the Ochsner Clinic, as well as to help hematologists/oncologists in the area to re-establish their practices. The fund will also benefit convention center, restaurant, and tourism workers affected by this disaster through the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau Employee Relief Fund and the New Orleans Tourism Workers Relief Fund.
The Society wanted to bring awareness to this effort while at the annual meeting in Atlanta. On Monday, December 12, nearly 2,000 attendees danced the night away at the All-ASH Mardi Gras Partners in Relief Reception. Attendees adorned in Mardi Gras beads danced to the beats of Jubilation – a popular band from New Orleans. As a result of this reception as well as donation envelopes distributed at the annual meeting, attendees, exhibitors, vendors, staff, and the city of Atlanta responded with generous donations — the ASH Katrina Relief Fund now stands at $430,000. The Society is pleased to have raised such an impressive amount in a short period of time. Special thanks go to Novartis, Genentech BioOncology, Genzyme, and SuperGen for their generous support.
The Society is currently working with each of the recipient groups to clarify how this funding will be used, and an ASH member will be assigned as an advocate for each of the three institutions to see that the money is applied as requested and that no overhead or administrative expenses are taken from these contributions. The Society looks forward to reporting to the membership about the difference this funding has made in the lives of those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
ASH would once again like to thank all members who donated to this worthy cause and attended the All-ASH Mardi Gras Partners in Relief Reception at the annual meeting – your generosity and participation will be greatly appreciated by those trying to rebuild their lives and businesses in New Orleans.
Katrina E-mails
ASH is proud to report that it assisted 29 hematologists and trainees from the Gulf Coast region (both members and non-members) in attending the annual meeting in Atlanta. Below are a few of the e-mails that the Society received about this aspect of the relief effort.
Please convey to ASH my appreciation for making it possible for me to attend the ASH annual meeting in Atlanta. The Society’s efforts on behalf of its members (and non-members) affected by Katrina are astonishing. The generosity shown to us is just overwhelming. I don’t know how to convey how much it is appreciated. Trying to explain the gratitude that we feel towards ASH and the entire nation is as difficult to express as is explaining what this area looks like to those who have not seen it for themselves.
Thank you very much for your efforts in organizing and disbursing Katrina relief funds. I am so proud to be a member of ASH.
Sincerely,
Ginger Rogers, MD
Biloxi, Mississippi
I would like to say a very special thank you to you and all who extended assistance to us from your organization. We are so grateful!
Giddel Thom, MD
Children’s Hospital, New Orleans
Thank you very much for the good time we had in Atlanta. I would like to acknowledge what you and ASH have done for all affected by Katrina. The meeting was a great event!
Thanks again,
Chandra Kallanagowdar
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
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2006 Scholar Award Winners
The ASH Scholar Awards are designed to support hematologists who have chosen a career in research by providing partial salary or other support during that critical period required for completion of training and achievement of status as an independent investigator. Each year ASH grants roughly 15 of these awards. The following individuals submitted outstanding applications and the Society congratulates these winners on their success.
Basic Research Fellows
Benjamin Braun, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Ras and SHP-2 Signaling in Hematopoietic Growth Control
Jonathan Grim, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Deregulation of Fbw7 and Notch as a Mechanism of T-Cell Leukemogenesis
Mondira Kundu, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
Role of Ulk1 and Autophagy in Erythroid Maturation
Ross Levine, MD
Brigham and Women's Hospital
The Role of the JAK2 V617F Disease Allele in the Pathogenesis of Myeloproliferative Diseases
Dinesh S. Rao, MD
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Generating Instructive Immunity Against B-Cell Lymphoma
Michael P. Rettig, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine
Preclinical Models to Regulate GVHD and GVL Using Regulatory and Genetically Modified T Cells
Clinical/Translational Research Fellows
James Bradner, MD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A Chemical Genetic Approach to Protein Catabolism in Multiple Myeloma: Discovery and Characterization of Selective HDAC6 Inhibitors
Sarah O'Brien, MD
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Thrombophilia Screening in Children with Venous Thromboembolism: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
John J. Strouse, MD
Johns Hopkins University
Cerebral Blood Flow and Neurocognitive Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Basic Research Junior Faculty
Ricardo C.T. Aguiar, MD, PhD
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Intersection of the cAMP-PDE4B Signals and Survival Pathways in B-Cell Lymphomas: Transcriptional Control and Relevance for Targeted Therapy
Titus Boggon, PhD
Yale University School of Medicine
Structure/Function Studies of Janus Kinase Family Members
James J. Hsieh, MD, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine
The Roles of Taspase1 and MLL Proteolysis in Hematopoiesis
Ruhikanta A Meetei, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Role of FAAP250/FANCM Enzymatic Activities in the FA-DNA Repair Function
David Traver, PhD
University of California, San Diego
Utilizing Zebrafish for New Insights into Embryonic Hematopoiesis and Childhood Leukemia
Clinical/Translational Research Junior Faculty
Koho Iizuka, MD
University of Minnesota
"Masking-self" Hypothesis for NK Cell Tolerance and Graft-Versus-Leukemia
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2007 Scholar Award Deadline
The application process for the 2007 Scholar Awards has begun. The letter of intent deadline is Wednesday, May 3, and the application deadline is Thursday, August 31. Applications are only available to those who successfully submit a letter of intent and are confirmed to be eligible. If interested in applying, visit the ASH Web site at www.hematology.org/education/awards/scholar.cfm for complete details, including eligibility requirements.
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Public Service Award Photo
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Apply Now for ASH's 2006 Visiting Trainee Program
The ASH International Members Committee is now accepting applications for the 2006 Visiting Trainee Program. This program was created to provide funding support to scientists and hematologists in developing countries to allow them an opportunity to gain valuable clinical or laboratory experience, or, alternately, technological training. The program is intended to allow these professionals to gain educational and practical experience on a specific topic for up to 12 weeks at a host institution. During this period it is expected that the trainee will gain new knowledge and skills that can be applied upon return to his/her home institution. Applicants will need to identify a host site and representative for their proposed short-term clinical or laboratory experience and give a clear statement of the topic or goal of the training program. Applicants will also need to explain why this experience cannot be obtained in their own country as well as what infrastructure is available and how the knowledge will be applied once they return to their home institution. Applications became available on the ASH Web site, www.hematology.org, on January 17. The deadline to apply for this program is April 3.
For more information about the Visiting Trainee Program, visit the ASH Web site at www.hematology.org/education/awards/visiting.cfm.
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CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
ASH members are invited to submit nominations for the William Dameshek Prize, Henry M. Stratton Medal, and E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize for the year 2006. Letters of nomination must include a brief paragraph summarizing the nominee's contributions to hematology as well as a current bio-sketch or curriculum vitae. Nominations should be sent by postal mail to American Society of Hematology, Attn: Elisa Shea, 1900 M Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, or via e-mail to eshea@hematology.org.
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Dameshek Prize Winner
2005 ASH President James George, MD (right), presents the William Dameshek Prize to John Dick, PhD, at the 47th ASH Annual Meeting. |
Stratton Prize Winner
Barry S. Coller, MD (left), receives the Henry M. Stratton Medal from 2005 ASH President James George, MD, at the 47th ASH Annual Meeting. |
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CALL FOR OFFICERS, COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
ASH is currently accepting nominations for leadership and committee member positions for the year 2007. Nominations for any of the positions available must include name, institution, and a brief paragraph to describe why the ASH member is being recommended for service. These nominations should be sent to LaFaundra Neville at lneville@hematology.org. Nominations must include all requested information. For more information about ASH committees, visit www.hematology.org/about/call_for_nominations.cfm.
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