I graduated in Medicine in 1978 and qualified as a specialist in Haematology in 1981 from the University of Rome “ La Sapienza ” in Italy. Since then I have been working at the Haematology Department of the University “ La Sapienza ” running the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma working team and the cellular immunology laboratory.

I have been involved in Clinical Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation since 1996 and have recently moved to the new Haematology Unit of the II Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rome “ La Sapienza ” where I am going to establish a haemopoietic stem cell transplant unit.

I have been attending CLWP meetings since 1997 and have also been involved in other EBMT activities, including the development of data management guidelines on Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) and preparation of the CML and Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (DLI) data collection forms.

I was appointed chairman of the CML Relapse subcommittee of the CLWP in 1999. Our studies on prognostic index for survival after relapse and on the prognostic relevance of initial cell dose when DLI is administered in these patients were published in Blood. Several new studies on DLI treated patients and one study on molecular relapse were started on behalf of the CML Relapse subcommittee in 2005. Three of these studies were presented at the 2005 ASH meeting and the others are ongoing. Last but not least, in 2005 the sub-committee launched an EBMT sponsored prospective clinical trial comparing DLI vs Imatinib followed by DLI for CML relapse after allogeneic SCT.

My future plans for the Chronic Leukaemias Working Party are the following:

1. To continue with the current structure of the WP, with its subcommittees for MDS, Myeloma, CML, CLL and Complications.
2. To maintain and improve relations between national and international cooperative research groups, national registries and societies, and working parties.
3. To improve the quality of clinical data and to promote the use and development of the ProMISE system.
4. To strengthen relationships with the pharmaceutical industry so as to acquire increased funding for CLWP projects.
5. To support the CLWP data office in Leiden.
6. To motivate young physicians to participate in CLWP studies

It will not be easy to continue the excellent work carried out by Dietger Niederwieser over the last 6 years, but with your help I am optimistic about facing the challenges and working to strengthen the CLWP.

Cesare Guglielmi
guglielmi@bce.uniroma1.it

I have been professor in Haematology and head of the Haematology department at Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen (UMCN) since 1990. I am also chairman of the scientific Main Programme Oncology of UMCN.

I have been active on a number of International and national scientific boards:

• Secretary/treasurer of the board of the Leukaemia Group of EORTC (1987-1997)
• Chairman of the board of the Leukaemia Group of EORTC (2000-2004 and 2006-2008)
• Treasurer of the EBMT (1996-2002)
• President of the Dutch Society for Haematology (1994-2000)
• Chairman of the board of EuroCord Netherlands (2003-)
• Chairman of the board of the Stem cell Donor Bank Nijmegen (2003-)
• Member of the board of Europdonor Netherlands (1999-).

I have served as an editor and reviewer on many international scientific journals: co-editor of Leukaemia (1995-); co-editor Annals of Haematology (1999-); co-editor European Journal of Haematology (1998-) and member editorial review board of: Bone Marrow Transplantation (1986- ); Haematologica (2005-), and Leukaemia and Lymphoma (1988-2006).

I have been study coordinator of several international studies and projects in MDS within the EBMT and EORTC study groups, including the EU Biomed-2 project on molecular studies in MDS (Criant). I am co-ordinator of the MDS Work Package of the European LeukemiaNET funded by the EU 6th Framework Programme (2003-).

I was one of the founders and chairman of the MDS Subcommittee of the EBMT Chronic Leukaemias Working Party (CLWP) (1996-). In both the MDS subcommittee and the CLWP I promote clinical and translational activities, especially by encouraging and supporting junior colleagues to develop and complete these projects. For the near future I see a challenge to integrate the activities of the CLWP office in Leiden, the Netherlands with the central EBMT office in London. In addition, I would promote interaction between the various subcommittees of the CLWP, the WPs of the EBMT and with other cooperative groups such as LeukemiaNet, EORTC, etc.

Theo J.M. de Witte
L.Brinkman@hemat.umcn.nl