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Posts from Alessandro Di Gangi

Read on for posts from Alessandro Di Gangi, one of our EBMT2019 Young Ambassadors. Along with the other candidates selected, he will be sending in posts before, during, and after the Annual Meeting to share his perspectives on the event. To go back to the Young Ambassadors page and learn more about the rest of the honorees, click the button below.

Day#4

Wednesday March 27, 2019

This is the last day of the meeting, and I've not decided my daily schedule yet. When I got to the messe, I had no hesitation and I joined the session on the role of HSCT in the era of CAR-T therapy. What a cutting-edge session and what an amazing debate! After that, there was still time for the last session. How can I miss all this news about GVHD? There I've learnt about specific treatments for almost all type of GVHD including ocular GVHD. Midday, time for conclusions, but before a brief review of the best of the Congress. This reminded me how many things I've discovered in these days! Lastly, just a little thought. You know, dear reader, you'll never be ready to say goodbye to a new friend. But there's no choice, it's time for that. I hope I will see everyone next year! While I'm taking the public transport to the airport, I think about my new friends and all the fantastic things that I've learnt. Being an EBMT YA was such a privilege!

Day#3

Tuesday March 26, 2019

Today is the day: the paediatric day! But first I joined a session on JACIE accreditation, very useful if you're in reaccreditation mood or if you're looking for some tricks! After this brief digression, the paediatric day was starting and I couldn't wait more. The session started with an update of the PDWP on protocols on ALL and AML, they discussed the role of Haplo HSCT, they presented incredible projects like cure two children and other international cooperations and they elucidated the role of cellular and gene therapy in the pediatric population. After that, there was a session dedicated to the inborn errors of metabolism in which a number of innovative ideas and projects were presented. The afternoon was dedicated to social media (an incredible session full of important messages directly derived from the speaker's experience) and to YAs meeting and posters! How an eventful day!

Day#2

Monday March 25,2019

The second day of the EBMT Annual Meeting is going to start. While I was having breakfast a doubt came to mind: “have I understood the proper indications for allo-HSCT in pediatric patients affected by ALL? I am not sure about that… so let’s join the educational session on ALL! Leading experts provided a unique explanation on the role of HSCT in ALL both in adult and paediatric patients, amazing! It’s almost time for meeting the other YAs outside Panorama 1 for the EBMT TV interview. While anxiety was growing, I tried to not think about the interview thanks to a short speech on ATIR101 at the industry theatre. But time was running out, I had to leave the session to go and meet the other YAs: they are amazing, I am honoured to be one of them! The day continued and after the meeting on treatment strategies for SCD (haploidentical HSCT or gene therapy?) I decided to go to the joint statistics- CMWP workshop. There, I learnt about the dynamic predictions of time-dependent variables, an aspect that I could certainly submit to our statistician. After that, I attended a crowded “How Do I…” session on the paediatric collection of stem cells, where I’ve learnt about the correct use of stem-cell mobilizing agents and the issues of poor mobilizer patients. Another intriguing “How Do I…” session had captured my attention thus, I went to Conclusio 1+2 to learn about differentiating severe VOD. Last but not least, the poster session. I’ve met great people around there and shared many intriguing ideas, thank you all!! It’s time for dinner but I am in good company: YAs self-organized dinner on the way!

Day#1

Sunday March 24, 2019

What an amazing way to start the first day of EBMT 2019: is haplo the new black? A cutting edge perspective on innovative approaches to haploidentical transplantation presented as an immunomodulation platform for T cell add-back. After that, why not to learn something about gene therapy? So let’s run to Panorama 1 for discovering new frontiers in patients care: the intersection of inherited disease, gene therapy and HSCT. I was astonished by the incredible progress of this field and by all the possibilities of a similar approach. But there’s not enough time to “metabolize” all, so let’s start again with cellular therapies and CAR-T. Obviously, during my own “cellular therapy day” I can’t miss a last “hint” on T cell depletion and other advanced therapies in haplo SCT. But the day still reserve a surprise: the Opening Ceremony with the inspiring lecture on the loss of biodiversity, how many time do you think about the risks for the environment in your daily clinical practice? Finally, it’s time to enjoy the dinner supported by the Frankfurt Convention Bureau; delicious!

How am I getting ready for the EBMT Annual Meeting?

March 11, 2019

The EBMT annual meeting is less than one month away and I am very excited about that. While I am reading the new astonishing EBMT handbook in my free time, I am also planning my own “To Do List” for the EBMT annual meeting. Obviously, there are a number of paediatric sessions that I can’t miss and cutting-edge events on CAR-T cells and immune therapy that I would like to attend. I am also looking with interest to all the sessions dedicated to non-malignant diseases like Sickle cell disease. Beyond all these interesting seminars, I am aware that the “power” of the EBMT annual meeting lies in the opportunity to know people coming from many countries and facing with different ways of living, working, studying. Probably, the most important treasures that I will find in Frankfurt will be hidden within the words of a new friend, either he will be a peer or a professor, and I am determined not to miss them. Oh, and I must not forget to constantly update my twitter account because mastering social media may be the key to reach an impressive number of people with simple and direct messages. Last but not least, I am also curious to discover Frankfurt, the hometown of Goethe, a place full of history and intriguing amenities.