ARC at ASH: Part 1

Every December thousands of physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals gather for the biggest hematology event of the year: the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting. ASH is the world’s largest professional society serving clinicians and scientists around the world working in blood diseases. While at the conference, ARC’s objectives were to (1) promote amyloidosis awareness and the work of ARC, (2) learn about the latest advances in AL amyloidosis treatment and (3) to collaborate with key stakeholders in the field.

Interest in amyloidosis has significantly grown over the past few years. For the first time, ASH championed amyloidosis, inviting Dr. Giampaolo Merlini, co-chair of ARC’s Board, to give the Ham-Wasserman Plenary lecture on AL amyloidosis to a large number of the 26,000 delegates—a hugely significant and exciting moment for everyone in the amyloidosis community. Over the course of the three-day exhibition there was great engagement with doctors, nurses and researchers at the ARC booth. ARC shared updates on our current programs, highlighted our educational and awareness resources, and discussed work going on in amyloidosis research across the world. There was also considerable interest in the latest results from clinical trials of monoclonal antibody therapy in amyloidosis, which you can read about in our scientific round up here.

As well as exhibiting at ASH, the ARC team arrived in Atlanta a day early to hold a series of meetings with key opinion leaders in amyloidosis. Such meetings are the cornerstone of ARC’s collaborative model and crucial in developing the infrastructure needed to accelerate progress in amyloidosis treatment and help patients access and benefit from future treatments as quickly as possible.

The team returned from Atlanta and the excitement of the ASH meeting with new connections made, renewed enthusiasm and invigorated for the growth of ARC programs in 2018!

You can find more information and pictures from the ASH meeting on ARC’s Twitter @Amyloidosis_ARC and with hashtag #ASH2017.