Traveling to the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) annual meeting on December 7–10? We hope to see you at one of our sessions! Save these events to your calendar:
When & Where:
Friday, December 6, from 12–2 p.m. at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Each year, ASH joins thousands of leaders around the world who are working to conquer blood diseases. This is a special opportunity for ASH attendees to share insight and chat with physicians practicing in under-resourced countries.
Discussion topics:
Get to know the speakers:
Plan on joining?
To reserve your place, please email Arlene Harris-Buchan.
FYI: The Rosen Plaza Hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Orange County Convention Center.
When & Where:
Two sessions on Saturday, Dec. 7 | 7:30–9 a.m. & 2–3:30 p.m. |Orange County Convention Center, W315, Level 3
Physicians in lower-income countries are facing challenges related to disease diagnosis, optimal management and monitoring, and providing access to treatment for patients with rare blood diseases. As part of ASH Education program, this session will discuss the obstacles of providing services in low-income countries, and how international partnerships are tackling these barriers.
Peek inside the session:
Dr. Scott Ramsey, Director of Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes at Fred Hutch, will discuss issues related to introducing generic imatinib, costs, and outcomes for patients, and what the implications are for care as second-generation TKIs become available as generics.
Dr. Hemant Malhotra, Professor of Medicine & Head, Division of Medical Oncology at Birla Cancer Center, will focus on disease characteristics in resource-poor countries and the challenges with monitoring CML.
Dr. Jerald Radich, Faculty Member at Fred Hutch, will discuss the problem of BCR-ABL monitoring in areas where a large number of patients have minimal laboratory facilities for RT-PCR testing. He’ll highlight the innovative ways and means for testing and transporting blood samples.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO, The Max Foundation, will highlight the challenges when TKIs and basic diagnostics are unavailable for CML patients living in low-income countries. She’ll also discuss the incredible efforts and partnerships The Max Foundation have made to address these issues.
Learn more about this session here.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
Earlier this month, The Max Foundation celebrated the delivery of 110 BCR-ABL molecular tests to Mercy Medical Center Cambodia. The delivery was the first of its kind for Max, made possible through our 2018 Diagnostics Solidarity Fund. Two more deliveries – one to Kyrgyzstan and one to Bolivia – are in process now, and we’re hopeful there will be many more to come.
A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health, The Max Foundation, and Novartis Oncology found that chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking first-line treatment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as part of the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) have survival rates that compare favorably to those of CML patients receiving treatment in high-income countries.
Watch The Max Foundation’s video from Max Global Experience Uganda. The Max Global Experience Uganda was a fundraising and engagement opportunity for patient leaders, industry partners, and Max team members to come together to expand access to cancer treatment in Africa. The global experience included an all-day symposium, a visit to the Uganda Cancer Institute, and a “last mile” walk along the Nile in solidarity with patients across Africa.
