Invitation to the International Press Conference of the 11th Congress of the European Hematology Association

Rotterdam, Netherlands (ots/PRNewswire) -

- RAI CONVENTION CENTRE, AMSTERDAM

Presentation of results of groundbreaking hematological research
in the fields of donor stem-cell transplantation and thrombosis

The 11th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) is
being held from June 15 to 18 2006 at the RAI Convention Centre in
Amsterdam. Many current topics and research in the field of
hematology are being presented at the event, which will be attended
by more than 5000 hematologists from Europe and other continents.

You are invited to attend the presentation of some of these
groundbreaking developments in the fight against both benign and
malignant disease of the blood, at the Presidential Symposium and at
the EHA press conference on Thursday June 15. At this meeting,
leading European hematologists will be addressing two particular
themes: donor stem-cell transplantation and thrombosis.

As a journalist, you will be admitted free of charge to the
congress and all its symposia and sessions. However, you are
requested to register in advance using the form at the congress
section of www.ehaweb.org.

Press conference

Thursday June 15, 2006, 1.30-3pm; Room M,

RAI Convention Centre, Europaplein 22, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

On behalf of the EHA will be present: Prof.Dr. A. Hagenbeek (EHA
Treasurer, President of the 11th Congress.), Prof. Dr. E.
Hellström-Lindberg ( EHA President) Prof. Dr. W.E. Fibbe (EHA
President Elect) Prof. Dr. H. Döhner (Chair Scientific Program
Committee of the 11th EHA Congress) and Prof.Dr. P.C. Huijgens
(co-organizer 11th EHA Congress)

Program

1.15-1.30pm - Arrival

1.30-1.35pm - Welcome remarks and a brief introduction to the EHA

Prof. Dr. A. Hagenbeek, Congress President, Academic Medical
Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1.35-1.55pm - New developments to make stem-cell transplants safer

- Donor stem-cell transplantation in leukemia: a donor for every
patient / More rapid recovery of defense against life-threatening
infections

- The role of environment-specific cells in stem-cell transplants

Introduction stem-cell transplantation by Prof. Dr. A. Hagenbeek
followed by short presentations by:

- Dr. F. Ciceri, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy;

- Prof. Dr. W. E. Fibbe, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden,
the Netherlands

Prof. Dr. E. Gluckman from the Hôpital Saint Louis in Paris,
France, will be on hand to provide additional information. She is the
winner of the 2006 José Carreras Award, which is presented annually
at the EHA congress to a hematologist who has made a most important
contribution to the field. Her expertise is in the application of
umbilical cord stem-cell transplantation.

1.55-2.20pm - Questions

2.20-2.35pm - New insights into the causes of thrombosis

- A discovery which can reduce the adhesion of blood platelets to
vascular walls affected by arteriosclerosis

Introduction to thrombosis by Prof. Dr. P.C. Huijgens of the VU
University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, followed by a
short presentation by:

- Prof.Dr. P.G. de Groot, Utrecht University Medical Centre,
Utrecht, the Netherlands

Dr. R.W. Farndale, co-investigator of Cambridge University in the
UK will be on hand to provide additional comments

2.35-2.55pm - Questions

2.55pm - Close followed by opportunity to interview the speakers

EHA

Founded in June 1992, the European Hematology Association (EHA) is
a scientific organization dedicated to supporting research, education
and clinical practice in the field of hematology. The aim of its
annual congress is to disseminate knowledge amongst scientific
researchers and clinical hematologists. The EHA currently has more
than 2000 active members from 95 countries.

ots Originaltext: European Hematlogy Association
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
If you have any questions regarding this invitation, please contact
Petra Stork at the Executive Office of the EHA: p.stork@ehaweb.org.