XXXI IACRLRD SYMPOSIUM 2023

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are pleased and proud to invite you to the XXXI Symposium of the International Association for Comparative Research on Leukemia and Related Diseases IACRLRD on August 31 and September 1 and 2, 2023. The Symposium will be held in Bologna, Italy, and one more time assembles many leaders in the field of hematological malignancies. Furthermore, it promises to become another outstanding event in the history of our association.

The symposia takes place at various sites worldwide every two years, and this time it will be at the great site of Bologna City, in Italy. The comparative aspect combines physicians, veterinarians, and scientists in basic research to promote research and improve outcome in leukemia and related diseases worldwide.

The recent Covid-19 worldwide pandemic highlights the importance of networking between researchers in all fields of medicine. In the meantime, it promotes the integration of knowledge on the virus, inflammation, and hematological malignancies. The availability of genome sequences in humans and animal species opens up new avenues for comparative research and novel therapeutic approaches.

Besides using conventional treatment strategies, such as chemotherapeutic drugs and radiotherapy, that have now totally become personalized, immunotherapy is now one of the more efficient strategies to treat cancer. Virus transformation of Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells could eliminate the population of cancer cells by reinforcing the host’s immune system potential against cancer cells or selectively targeting various types of tumors.
Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) is a new cancer treatment modality using competent or genetically engineered viruses to replicate in tumor cells selectively.

The Symposium will provide overview sessions on the pathogenesis of leukemias and lymphomas with particular attention to its translation into clinical practice. Partnership with industry is integrated, as documented by the satellite symposia.

Several Memorial Lectures will highlight some of the most significant recent developments in leukemia and biomedicine. After each lecture, interactive discussion rounds with the memorial lecturers provided an opportunity for young scientists.

Recent developments in vaccination against tumors or chronic viral diseases such as HPV or HZV infection will complete the program.

We hope that symposium participants will leave with a comprehensive overview of some significant recent developments in leukemia and related diseases concerning pathogenesis and novel therapeutic approaches. The organizing team will try hard to provide a supportive atmosphere. We wish every participant a fruitful and stimulating attendance.

Giovanni Martinelli
President of IACRLRD Symposium 2023