Editor’s Note: From April 14th to 17th, 2024, the 50th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) was held in the renowned city of Glasgow, United Kingdom. This year marks the 50th anniversary of EBMT’s establishment, and the conference brought together leading figures in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, along with over 6,000 hematologists and experts from around the globe. Together, they reviewed the remarkable achievements made in the field of blood and marrow transplantation over the past 50 years and explored future prospects for patient management.
At 6:15 PM local time, a grand opening ceremony was held. Local dignitaries and representatives from government agencies extended warm welcomes and congratulations to the attendees, pledging active support for and contribution to the continuous advancement of human medicine. The conference chairs, Professors Anna Sureda, Grant McQuaker, and Charlie Craddock, expressed their wishes to enter the golden age of hematology and bone marrow transplantation by joining hands with hematologists worldwide through this conference.
Professor Marcel Van Den Brink, President and Chief Medical Officer of the National Medical Center of Hope City, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the role of the gut microbiome in cancer immunotherapy. Professor Brink emphasized the dynamic changes in the microbiome’s impact on cancer treatment outcomes, including significant effects on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR-T cell therapy. He focused on the potential of microbiome research to improve transplant efficacy.
Professor Eliane Gluckman, founding member and former chair of EBMT, delivered a special lecture on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of EBMT’s establishment at Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris Diderot University. Professor Gluckman provided a comprehensive overview of EBMT’s profound development and evolution. She led attendees through important milestones in the field of bone marrow transplantation, highlighting past innovations and challenges, while also indicating the future directions of bone marrow transplantation and cell therapy.
Professor Natacha Bolaños, Chair of the EBMT Patient Advocacy Committee, emphasized the core principle of patient-centered care as the mission of EBMT in her speech. Professor Bolaños stated, “Incorporating the patient’s experience not only enriches our understanding of life but also guides our relentless pursuit of science. It will play a crucial role in shaping health policies and clinical research.”
Professor Michelle Kenyon, Chair of the EBMT Nursing Committee, discussed the indispensable role of nurses in the field of transplantation. She detailed the progress made in nurse education in recent years and the challenges faced, emphasizing the inseparable link between patient care and clinical outcomes, and highlighting the indispensable role of nursing in the medical field. Professor Kenyon stated, “Nurses are the secret weapon in transplantation; their dedication and compassion are the sources of our success in patient management.”
In her concluding remarks, Professor Anna Sureda, the conference chair, stated, “Looking to the future, as EBMT enters the next fifty years, our commitment to academic innovation, patient care, and collaborative exchange is stronger than ever. This conference is not only a celebration of past achievements but also a boundless vision for the future. It will lay the foundation for the next steps in hematology and transplantation medicine.”
