Segovia will host the annual meeting of the Spanish programme of treatments in hematology (PETHEMA)

near 700 Hematologists of more than 100 hospitals in our country will meet in La Granja on 18 and 19 may

-PETHEMA is the cooperative group of most important research available to the Spanish society of Hematology and haemotherapy (AEHH)

– has as main objectives the homogenization of the practice of the specialty and the promotion of clinical research on diseases of the blood, and especially the malignant.

-It is a pooling of all projects which has launched this cooperative group, more than 100 clinical trials, registries and healthcare protocols of various kinds.

-PETHEMA has launched several projects of personalized medicine, one of them in collaboration with the Board of Castilla y León and Vivia Biotech

-PETHEMA enjoys great recognition at the international level thanks to, among other things, the high number of medical journals of impact generated by

Madrid, may 2012.- on 18 and 19 May will take place in La Granja in Segovia the annual meeting of PETHEMA (Spanish programme in haematology treatments), the cooperative group of most important research available to the Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia (AEHH). Created in 1973, has as main objectives the homogenization of the practice of the specialty and the promotion of clinical research on diseases of the blood (leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma fundamentally), although it is opening up to other fields of interest, such as cellular therapy. Today nearly 700 Hematologists of virtually all hospitals in our country have service of Haematology and haemotherapy are part of this group (more than 100).

The annual meeting of PETHEMA aims to be a forum for encounter between the Spanish specialists in haematology and haemotherapy. According to doctor Alfonso Santiago, executive director of the Foundation PETHEMA, is a pooling of all projects which has launched this cooperative group, more than 100 clinical trials, registries and healthcare protocols of various kinds ”. In this context, the different paths to follow for each will be discussed. Also, new research proposals will be submitted in multiple myeloma, leukemia acute lymphoblastic and acute leukaemia mieloblástica, three of the pathologies that have increased scientific activity within PETHEMA.

Is the bet of PETHEMA for personalized medicine ”, says the expert. although this concept is at a very early stage in all specialties, the de Hematología y Hemoterapia could not be alien to him ”, adds. That is why PETHEMA has launched several projects in this regard, one of them in collaboration with the Board of Castilla y León and Vivia Biotech. More specifically, research is validating a laboratory test that could allow to choose more specifically effective therapy for each patient with leukemia or myeloma, thus the first personalized medicine in the world against this disease ”.

With this meeting, PETHEMA becomes one of the first promoters groups non-commercial clinical trials in our country, thus responding to the need of a greater protocolización of clinical practice in the field of Haematology and haemotherapy. Also, in line with its vocation to harmonize with haematological global assistance and develop a medicine of excellence, PETHEMA enjoys great recognition at the international level thanks to, among other things, the high number of medical journals of impact generated. Thus, for example, only the group Spanish myeloma (GEM), one of the most important that has PETHEMA, has presented 12 communications in the last Congress American Hematology (ASH 2011), held in San Diego.

The structure of the meeting will be similar to the last year’s ”, explains Dr. José María Hernández, head of the Haematology service of the General Hospital in Segovia and President of the Organizing Committee. on Friday morning will be held in parallel all monographic of the various working groups sessions, and the same day in the afternoon and on Saturday morning will be a plenary session in which representatives of various cooperative groups comprising PETHEMA will present the broad lines of its activity ”, adds.

About PETHEMA

PETHEMA (Spanish programme in haematology treatments) is a coalition of the main clinical Hematologists of the country conducting medical research in the environment of the speciality of Haematology and haemotherapy. Account with a private foundation for the promotion of clinical trials: the PETHEMA Foundation for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. For its part, the Group PETHEMA is a cooperative group of the Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia (AEHH) that aims to advance in the knowledge of the correct approach to the hemopathies, especially the malignant.

On the Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia (AEHH)

The AEHH is a scientific society whose purpose is the promotion, development and dissemination of integrity and content of the speciality of Haematology and haemotherapy in its aspects medical, scientific, organizational, health care, teaching and research. Fundamental is that society in general is aware of the hematologist participates in all the steps that lead to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood, and receives and understands the value of the professional role of the hematologist in all aspects of the exercise of the specialty.

With 53 years of life, the AEHH is today a powerful organization with a considerable scientific impact, because many of the more than 2,000 professionals who form part of it are internationally recognized figures for many years, helping to make it one of the most outstanding overseas Spanish medicine parts. An issue that is of particular concern within the AEHH is the obstruction of the progress of science and for excellence in health care that has been taking place in recent years, through the implementation of measures of economic court dealing disaggregating the specialty and break the functional unit that requires el paciente hematológico. It is therefore essential to better assist patients to have access to medical advances, promoting research and have specialists well trained and experienced in these diseases.