Supporting Hematologists in the Global Fight to Conquer Blood Diseases 

Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa (CONSA)

CONSA, an ASH-sponsored international network that seeks to demonstrate the benefits of newborn screening and early interventions for children with sickle cell disease (SCD), now spans seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa with 10 clinical sites. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 75% of the global SCD burden, and a majority of children with SCD die before the age of five. With increasing government support and stakeholder engagement, CONSA’s initiatives – ranging from practitioner training to policy awareness – are driving progress toward scaled-up screening and improved care for children with SCD. An assessment of the program presented at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition confirmed the program’s long-term feasibility.

Influencing Hematology Worldwide

ASH’s international influence grew in 2024. Hematologists from more than 113 countries attended the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting. ASH also hosted several international Highlights of ASH meetings in Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Colombia featuring content localized to each region with partner societies including the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand, Emirates Society of Haematology, and Colombian Association of Hematology and Oncology. 

Blood Global Hematology

Blood Global Hematology opened for submissions in 2024 with a mission to publish local adaptations of clinical guidelines, epidemiologic studies, public health analyses, and opinion articles addressing global hematology issues. Jorge Cortes, MD, director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, serves as the inaugural editor-in-chief.

International Outreach Initiative

The International Outreach Initiative, which has distributed educational materials to hospitals and universities in low- and middle-income countries since 1999, distributed materials to over 550 institutions in 72 countries in 2024.

Supporting Research and Training

ASH has programs and awards designed specifically for hematologists working and residing outside of the United States and Canada. This includes programs aimed at building capacity in low- and middle-income countries – from the Visitor Training Program, which pairs a hematologist with a mentor to help address a specific topic or technique to improve care in their home country, to the Clinical Research Training Institute (CRTI), which helps participants from a specific region (Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa) become familiar with clinical trial design and execution.

Global Research Award

In 2024, ASH awarded 11 hematologists from 11 different countries the Global Research Award, which supports hematologists between the completion of training and establishment of their independent careers to build hematology capacity in their countries and support future international scientific leaders.

Abstract Achievement Awards

At the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting, ASH, in collaboration with national partner societies, provided nine distinguished abstract achievement awards, recognizing trainees in Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain who were first or last author and presenting a high-scoring abstract.