JACIE offered complimentary registrations (both virtual and in-person) to members of the JACIE Inspector Community—not only as a token of appreciation for their valuable contributions, but also to encourage and support their participation in the EBMT Annual Meeting.
This year, 77 free registrations were awarded to inspectors from 19 countries and across all specialties. Many of these individuals not only conduct multiple inspections but also dedicate significant time and effort to committee work.
Several recipients shared their experiences attending the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Florence. Read their reflections below:
Anna Chierichini
Retired Director of «Programma Trapianto Cellule Staminali Emopoietiche» UOC Ematologia- Ospedale S. Giovanni Addolorata, Rome, Italy
Currently I am a freelance professional Haematology consultant, a JACIE Clinical Inspector since June 2018 and a JAC member since March 2025. The JACIE gave me the opportunity, once more, to attend the Annual Meeting of the EBMT with the Inspector’s grant.
I took part on site to the session just two days (Monday and Tuesday), selecting the topics in which I am more interested:
- Therapy and transplant procedures in acute haematological malignancies at onset and relapse
- Infections, side effects and supportive therapy
- Results, new indications and side effects in CAR-T cell therapy
- JACIE new standards
- Prospects and future projects in artificial intelligence
The poster sessions reported experiences from all over the world.
The JACIE stand is a meeting point for Inspectors or anybody else interested in the activity.
As the congress offers many parallel sessions, sometimes the selection can be difficult, but everyone can access the virtual platform until the 2nd of June; this is a great opportunity to attend the missed sessions.
The onsite attendance makes it possible to meet colleagues and share live with them comments or remarks, but I also recommend the virtual one to discuss later about the topics of interest for each institution.
Finally, the attendance at the EBMT Annual Meeting is a great experience to know the present and the future in haematology for all the people involved.
Thank you to the JACIE for giving me the opportunity to attend.
Gabriella Peluso Cassese
Processing Facility Director, Medicina Trasfusionale ed Immunoematologia, AO San Giovanni-Addolorata, Rome, Italy
It was an incredible experience to take part in such a prestigious international event dedicated to hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy. The scientific sessions were of outstanding quality, and I found the discussions around quality management, accreditation, and data-driven approaches especially relevant and inspiring for my work. The congress was four intense and enriching days, filled with high-level scientific meetings and meaningful professional relationships. It was also a unique opportunity to be welcomed by the beauty, culture, and warmth of a truly wonderful city like Florence. Hosting such an important event in Italy was a great honour, and made the experience even more special on both a personal and professional level. Beyond the academic value, the congress gave me the chance to reconnect with long-standing colleagues and friends, and to meet new peers who, like me, are deeply passionate about their work. Being surrounded by such dedication and shared commitment to excellence was both energising and motivating. Despite the schedule there were also moments of lightness, leisure and joy that allowed us to relax, share stories and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the city. These informal exchanges made the experience even more memorable and reinforced the sense of community within our field. Because in the end, it's not just about what we do, it's about how we do it. Thank you once again for your support and for making this valuable experience possible.
Sinju Thomas
Lead Apheresis Nurse Practitioner and Collection Facility Director for Apheresis, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for awarding me the grant to attend EBMT 2025. This support will enable me to further my education, enhance my skills, and contribute meaningfully to my professional growth.
The opportunity to participate in this conference is invaluable and also able to present my poster. I am eager to learn from experts in the field, network with peers, and bring back knowledge that will benefit my institution, my area of practice, and my inspector skills. Your belief in the importance of educational development is truly inspiring, and I deeply appreciate your commitment to helping junior inspectors like me reach their goals.
Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to sharing my experiences and the knowledge I gain with my colleagues.
Roberto Crocchiolo
Apheresis Inspector, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
I already attended EBMT Annual Meetings in the past but I found this year’s one as outstanding, from many points of view:
- The location was wonderful: Florence, the city symbol of the italian “Rinascimento”, hosts among the most beautiful masterpieces in the world and its city center witnesses the excellence in Art and Gastronomy.
- The scientific programme was rich and diversified, covering all the most relevant topics among the different fields of transplantation and cellular therapy, and including all the healthcare professionals. The presentations allowed the attendees to have an update on both the state-of-art of daily practice and on what is coming up in research for the next few years.
- The speakers and moderators, coming from European and non-European countries, gave their contribution and extended the point of view beyond Europe.
- The congress venue was very suitable and comfortable, being at the same time large and near the train station, airport and city center.
- And, last but not least, the JACIE desk is always here for helping, updating about the latest news and giving a smile to everybody passing by! That’s also for this reason that I am glad to be a JACIE inspector and an attendee at the Florence Annual Meeting.
Aleksandra Pivkova Veljanovska
JACIE Clinical inspector, Head of Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, University Clinic of Hematology, Skopje, North Macedonia
Thanks to the grant I received from JACIE to participate in the EBMT Annual Meeting in Florence this year, I had the extraordinary opportunity to hear the latest results and lectures of eminent experts in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation. I am honoured and privileged to be part of the family of JACIE inspectors who are part of the process of enabling excellence in haematological transplantology. I attended almost all the days of the congress, which was extremely educational for me. At the same time, the sessions that I did not get to listen to live, I followed online on the application, which proved to be an extraordinary tool in the education process during the congress. At the same time, I met with several colleagues from neighbouring transplant centres and we exchanged experiences about the current activities, each in their own country and transplant centre. A wonderful international environment of professionals from the same field and interest.
The city of Florence was an excellent location for organising an event of this nature. There was also the opportunity to take a short walk through the beauties of the city and taste the scents and gastronomic masterpieces of that region. It can be said that Florence will be remembered as one of the most charming locations for holding the EBMT Annual Meeting.
Thank you JACIE for this opportunity. We will see you again next year in Madrid.
Goda Choi
Clinical Program Director, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
What a privilege! Florence in beautiful sunny spring days. Splendid meeting location with arguably the best coffee in the world, and of course every child's dream including pizza's, pasta's, and gelato. Mix in science, friends and colleagues from all over the world, and EBMT25 was set up for a major success!
This was my first meeting as a certified JACIE inspector, and it was a special experience! After a warm welcome by the JACIE office colleagues, I went for talks with friends from all over the world, from Seattle to Hamburg to Zagreb and beyond! Needless to say, hugs were followed up by food and drinks.
As usual, the meeting included every aspect of our daily practice, including novel mechanisms of disease, education about therapeutic advancements, and quality management issues. Luckily, all sessions were taped and to be rewatched if I were to be at another session or caught up in a meeting with old friends. The EBMT Annual Meeting thereby has an ideal "pace" in which personal active learning is facilitated, without losing touch of social aspects, inspiring "group learning". JACIE, now an EBMT Working Party, exemplifies this stage for group learning, where peer review has become the standard for quality management at transplant centres. Last year, our centre was inspected, and I was part of the inspection team for two centers; at all inspections, I felt not only proud of our own centre but also inspired by others for innovative and creative interventions to improve quality of care. I'm certain that JACIE activities will improve care in all accredited centres.
Back to Florence! On the last day, I went for a cultural and emotional ride at the Uffizi galleries. Italian grandmasters are to be admired, including Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Bernini. Their works of art remain a huge inspiration for people around the world. Similarly, I hope that the EBMT keeps bringing people together, inspiring each other, collaborating, and advancing the field of transplant medicine.
Massimino Jan Miele
GMP Facility Manager. Sidra Medicine – Qatar Foundation, Doha, State of Qatar
First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude for the superb organisation of the event. It was a tremendous pleasure to attend and participate in such a well-orchestrated meeting. The EBMT truly represents a remarkable venue where one can meet both new colleagues and old friends. It's a melting pot that brings together JACIE, big pharma, the industry, and professionals in the fields of cellular and gene therapies.
One of the unique aspects of the event is the sheer variety of sessions, exhibits, and interactions. There's so much to attend, see, share, and learn, which makes the EBMT Meeting an unparalleled experience. The availability of the JACIE and the EBMT stands provided excellent opportunities to ask questions and share opinions, further enriching the experience.
I would strongly recommend JACIE inspectors to participate in person. The face-to-face interactions and the firsthand experience of the event are invaluable and add a significant layer of depth to the overall experience.
Nadežda Basara
Clinical Adult Inspector, Retired Director of Internal Medicine at the Malteser St. Franziskus Hospital, Flensburg, Germany
Participating in the Annual Meetings of the EBMT has been a part of my education since 1998. I have been actively working in the Acute Leukemia Working Party, and have usually given oral or poster presentations on behalf of three different hospitals, where I have been in charge of the HCT program as an investigator and in the last 12 years as a principal investigator. In addition, knowing how important the JACIE accreditation is, I have been also active as a JACIE Inspector 1-3 times a year, mostly as a team leader, except in corona pandemic phase.
One and half years ago I retired, however I am still seeing the patients post-transplant. I have decided to participate in the 51st Annual Meeting in Florence, hoping that the registration fee for the retired members of EBMT is lower, which was not the case. It was a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to apply and to get the free registration for the Annual Meeting from the JACIE office due to my inspector activities in 2024.
The Annual Meeting in Florence was really great, I met a lot of people and also the members of the teams that I have inspected (Photo: RBK team from Stuttgart Germany and me). EBMT society inspires clinical work, research and offers the possibility to participate in clinical studies. I recommend it for all members of the teams, especially medical doctors, nurses and of course data managers.
Take home message:
- Become a JACIE Inspector! Don’t be afraid of the work you have to do within two weeks after inspection. You are going to meet a very motivated team taking care of transplant patients.
- Do not hesitate to contact the JACIE team if you have questions.
- Try to participate in the EBMT Annual Meeting every year, it is important to be a part of the transplant society.
Bachra Choufi
JACIE Clinical Inspector, CH Toulon, Toulon, France
JACIE aims to promote high-quality patient care and optimal laboratory performance in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) collection, processing, and transplantation centres.
At EBMT 2025, discussions highlighted the challenges related to the application of JACIE standards, especially in complex areas such as the inspection of apheresis installations or the adoption of IEC standards. The main talking points I want to highlight are:
Training and capacity building of educational resources:
Development of e-learning enriched by technology
- Availability of free online courses for centres, to help them prepare for the JACIE certification including interactive educational modules covering the main items of the JACIE integrating advanced digital tools such as virtual simulations and explanatory videos to facilitate distance learning.
These resources will be regularly updated to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in the continuing education of professionals.
- Availability of hands-on workshops, with a focus on inspection techniques, report preparation and FACT-JACIE standards. A new training session for inspectors is planned for 26 May 2025, in order to continue to build the capacity of professionals involved in the inspection process.
- Webinars, which have been regularly organised for inspectors, accompanied by
comprehensive documentation to guide centres and inspectors through the accreditation process.
- Procedure sharing platform, where centres can exchange tools and procedures related to CAR T-cells, allografts and autografts of hematopoietic stem cells. This aims to harmonise practices and promote excellence.
- Support for JACIE inspectors through a grant programme to support JACIE inspectors participating in the congress, in order to strengthen their continuous education and involvement in the accreditation process.
- Recruitment of French-speaking inspectors: Increased efforts to recruit more French-speaking inspectors, which are essential to the certification process.
- Strengthening of audits and quality management tools: Particular emphasis was placed on improving internal audits, which were identified as a weak point in many centres. New practical guides and standardised tools have been proposed to help teams better structure their audit processes.
- Improvement of quality indicators: Development and sustainability of quality indicators to better assess the performance of the centres and identify areas for improvement.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): JACIE continues to play a key role in improving the standards and anticipate future integration of AI to customise training paths according to the specific needs of centres and professionals. AI could also be used to analyse performance and propose areas for improvement.
- Virtual simulations: Using immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, to simulate inspections in digital environments. This will allow inspectors to practice identifying non-conformances and applying JACIE standards in a variety of contexts.
In conclusion, EBMT 2025 highlighted the central role of the JACIE programme in the continuous improvement of quality standards in HSC transplantation, while offering practical tools to support centres and inspectors in their efforts.
Catherine Blackwell
Senior Medical Scientist in Cryobiology Laboratory Stem Cell Facility in St James’s Hospital Dublin, Ireland
I completed my first JACIE Inspection as an observer (Processing) in 2024 and it was a great opportunity to attend the Annual Meeting in Florence virtually with the JACIE Inspectors grant.
The programme content was diverse and very interesting, and I attended sessions in relation to processing, and others, at the time of the conference. It is fantastic that I can view more of the recorded sessions on the virtual platform too.
There was a lot of choice, and it was sometimes very difficult to choose what to view! I particularly found the talks on the microbiome fascinating, and the developments in ATMPs are encouraging for the sector.
For anyone who has prior engagements for the 52nd Annual meeting in Madrid (22—25 March) next year, I would highly recommend attending virtually. It is an opportunity not to be missed. I hope to attend in person in Madrid, meet fellow colleagues and enjoy what I expect will be another great Annual meeting.
Vesna Galvani
Quality Manager, Slovenian Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Slovenia
“A fruitful experience”. This year EBMT’s Congress was held in Florence, Italy, which I attended virtually. I had received a grant as an active inspector from JACIE to take part at the congress, an organisation at the heart of the EBMT itself, which I profoundly respect and had come to appreciate more and more for its importance.
The programme was incredibly versatile and contained something for absolutely everyone, from beginners to experts, including patients and donors with their families to every aspect of all subjects, both for professionals and for the industry. A multitude of diverse parallel sessions covering a range of typical EBMT topics made it impossible to describe everything in a brief summary. For my own part I prioritised subjects like CARs, cell- and immune therapies, ATMPs, technology developments, quality sessions, and a number of joint sessions. Luckily almost all sessions were available virtually so I was able to attend.
It is clear that legislation in Europe and in many countries worldwide is going to put stringent demands on quality and safety areas. The right kind of quality management system provides a real booster to the safety of our practices both for the patients and for us, and this goes hand in hand with the progression of cell therapy science and services.
JACIE is preparing a new version (no. 9) of FACT/JACIE Standard, therefore I attended QM sessions. All the lecturers presented new standards and gave us some tips on how to inspect.
I would encourage everyone to join the EBMT and visit the FACT/JACIE stand at every future congresses. Hard-copies of the EBMT Handbook were distributed. The Handbook is available on-line too.
I am profoundly grateful for the JACIE grant, and I’m looking forward to future years and cooperation with this great organisation.
Antonio Bruno
PhD in Haematology (Univ. Tor Vergata of Rome, Italy), Second Level Master Degree in “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine” (Univ. of Parma, Italy), Inter University Diploma in Cell Therapy - Adults and Pediatrics (Univ. of Mulhouse, France), Quality Manager of the Transplantation Programme of the Policlinco Tor Vergata of Rome. Processing Inspector JACIE.
I would like to thank the Board of JACIE for giving me the great opportunity to attend the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT, which took place this year in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy, from 30 March to 2 April 2025. This meeting allows different healthcare professionals (physicians, paediatricians, pharmacists, scientists, nurses...) and patients and their families to meet and learn about the latest therapeutic, collection or processing innovations in HSC transplantation and cellular therapy.
Many sessions were interesting, such as those on preclinical and clinical data or the EBMT-WMDA Transplant and Search Coordinator. Of course, the sessions on quality management were instructive, especially on the European regulation on SoHO, on the 9th edition of the standards and on the importance of the written agreement, internal audit or outcome analysis in quality management in the different facilities.
I would like to thank JACIE for the kind words written on a pillar near the JACIE stand at the meeting “Inspectors are the backbone of JACIE, without them the certification process would not be possible”. I would add that the work of the JACIE office staff, who support the inspectors from start to finish, is fundamental to the success of the inspection.
Finally, I was fascinated by the presentation of Prof. Eliane Gluckman, who had the courage to perform the first cord blood transplant in 1988 on a child with Fanconi anaemia. It is a beautiful example of international collaboration between the Rockefeller University in New York (USA), Indiana University in Indianapolis (USA) and the Saint Louis Hospital in Paris (France).
María Azucena Losa Maroto
JACIE Clinical Inspector, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Thanks to the generous support of a grant received from JACIE, I had the privilege of attending the EBMT 2025 Annual Meeting in the beautiful city of Florence. The congress was a truly enriching experience, both academically and personally.
Among the many high-quality sessions, the presentations and discussions surrounding Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD) stood out as particular highlights for me. The quality of the scientific content was exceptional, offering valuable insights that will undoubtedly influence my clinical practice and deepen my understanding of this complex area.
Beyond the educational opportunities, the meeting also provided a wonderful chance to reconnect with former colleagues and peers from across the transplant community. The atmosphere was vibrant, making the entire experience both professionally inspiring and personally rewarding.
I am sincerely grateful to JACIE for making this experience possible. Looking forward to Madrid 2026!
Gillian McGaffin
Processing Facility Directory, Haemopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland
I was delighted to be awarded a JACIE Inspector Grant which enabled me to attend the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT 2025 in person. As one of the 6,221 recorded attendees I was able to take full advantage of the packed four day programme in the impressive Fortezza Da Basso Congress. The EBMT programme was carefully choreographed along specialist tracks, to manage availability of content, bringing together a diverse group of professionals within the transplant community to learn from each other, sharing information and advances being made at the forefront of the field.
The EBMT app provided an invaluable tool to manage and plan attendance at sessions. As a Processing Facility Director and JACIE inspector I was keen to engage in cell therapy sessions and the Quality Management programme, extending understanding within my areas of current practice. However, the breadth and depth of content on offer provided an incredible opportunity to cross-sect themes and update my knowledge across the rapidly evolving landscape of scientific research and clinical practice in transplant. A session and discussion between the speakers offered insight to opportunities and challenges, and exploration of emerging trends/evidence within different areas of practice. The networking events were an ideal setting to meet and connect with individuals working in this field, and the poster sessions covered a wide range of topics from diverse groups.
Whilst the scope and scale of the conference programme could be intimidating, the use of social media, the EBMT app, EBMT TV and daily newsletters made keeping up to date and prioritising daily planning a pleasure! I gained a tremendous amount from the face-to-face meeting, making best use of the four full days in Florence and am now able to extend the opportunity for learning through access to the session recordings until 2 June 2025. I will use this post-conference period to dip into new sessions or refresh those thought-provoking talks already attended to consolidate my learning for sharing with my team.
It was a real privilege to be able to attend the EBMT 2025 in person and benefit from the guidance, knowledge and experience of so many inspirational individuals, teams, patients and their families. I now look forward to embracing this knowledge and applying it to my daily practice and sharing this learning with my team and others in my centre as we continue to strive to improve patient safety and quality of service.
Evi Sprangers
Quality Manager, UZ Gent, Gent, Belgium
The recent EBMT Congress held in the beautiful city of Florence was a resounding success. The event was marked by excellent organisation, ensuring that everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The programme was well-curated, offering a diverse range of sessions that catered to the interests and needs of all attendees.
One of the highlights of the congress was the “Meet the Expert” sessions. These provided invaluable opportunities for attendees to engage with leading experts in the field, ask questions, and gain deeper insights into various topics.
A standout day for many, including myself, was Tuesday’s JACIE Quality Management Day. This day was the highlight of the congress for me. The programme was incredibly interesting, and the speakers were exceptionally enthusiastic, making the sessions both informative and engaging.
Networking with people from various countries and exchanging experiences was truly remarkable. The face-to-face meetings with the JACIE office and colleagues were also a significant aspect of the event, fostering collaboration and networking in a way that virtual meetings simply cannot match. I would encourage everyone, in future meetings, to pass by the EBMT and JACIE booth to share a cup of coffee and have a nice chat with all the enthusiastic EBMT/JACIE employees! It’s always a pleasure to have a talk with them!
Overall, the EBMT Congress in Florence was a memorable and enriching experience, thanks to its outstanding organisation, comprehensive programme, and the invaluable personal interactions it facilitated. It was an unforgettable experience. I’m deeply grateful for the grant I received from JACIE and I’m looking forward to the Annual Meeting next year in Madrid!
Cristina Tassi
JACIE Inspector for Cell Collection, Consultant at the Ca'Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy
I attended online EBMT sessions as at the time of the congress, I was working in a LIMC involved in a Bone Marrow Transplantation project in SCD patients. I found extremely stimulating all sessions focused on Haemoglobinopathies, donors' selection and registries, and after BMT complications.
As Collection Inspector, I attended sessions on QM as well as harmonisation issues among international societies and organisations involved in Cellular Therapies regulation.
I am always grateful to JACIE for offering us, inspectors, the opportunity to attend EBMT Annual Meeting: it is a unique high level chance to update our knowledge and share with international colleagues. Of course, all related educational events are absolutely recommended.
Claudia Ootjers
Hematologist, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Attending the EBMT 2025 Annual Meeting in the stunning city of Florence as a JACIE Inspector Grant recipient was a truly enriching experience. The event brought together professionals from around the globe, all committed to advancing care in hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy.
As a JACIE Inspector, I found the congress particularly valuable for exchanging insights on accreditation processes and quality standards. The sessions on continuous quality improvement, innovations in CAR-T therapy, and international harmonisation of JACIE standards were particularly relevant and inspiring.
Beyond the scientific content, the atmosphere in Florence was vibrant and collegial. Whether during poster walks, impromptu discussions over coffee, or networking receptions amidst the historic architecture, every moment offered a chance to learn, connect, and grow professionally.
I’m grateful to the EBMT and JACIE for the opportunity to attend. The grant made it possible for me to engage more deeply with the community, and I return home with new ideas, renewed motivation, and stronger collaborations.
