Congress of European Hematologists: International Fellowships send two exceptional European scientists to the US

Copenhagen, 13 June 2008 – This year's EHA-ASH international fellowships have been awarded to Dr Serena Kimi Perna and Dr Lapo Alinari, both of Italy. Each recipient is granted $75,000 to fund their research at an institution of their choice. The fellowships are endowed to strengthen international collaboration among scientists. The award is open to residents of North America and Europe. Additional funding is available for recipients to attend the annual meetings of the EHA and the ASH.

Gene expression and tumor suppression

Dr Lapo Alinari, a graduate of the University of Florence, will use his fellowship to work in Dr John Byrd’s laboratory at Ohio State University, Ohio. His research will focus on the role of the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) in B cell transformation. Recent findings suggest PRMT5 may be significant in controlling expression of genes involved in tumor suppression.
Dr Alinari says that he is looking forward to enhancing his team skills as well as advancing his research during his tenure as EHA-ASH fellow at Ohio State. "This experience will enhance my ability to share and discuss my research with colleagues, which will strengthen my communication skills, challenge my original research ideas, and spark new insight into potential treatment approaches."

Artificial T cells: a new approach

Dr Serena Kimi Perna has already distinguished herself in her early work on gene therapy and lymphoproliferative disorders. Her international fellowship takes her to Baylor College of Medicine in Texas in the US. The focus of her research, alongside Dr Malcolm Brenner in Houston, is the role of chimeric T cells for therapy of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dr Perna, commenting on the importance she attaches to being selected for an EHA-ASH international fellowship, says, "I am convinced this award will be of tremendous help in supporting the early stage of my career as a physician-scientist."
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, named after the physician Thomas Hodgkin who first described it in 1832, is a malignancy mainly affecting the lymph nodes. Among all cancers, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma has one of the highest survival rates, at 93%, and was one of the first cancers to be cured by radiation. It occurs most frequently in young adults and in those over 55 years of age. Dr Perna's work will look at the therapeutic role of chimeric T cells, ie. artificial T cells constructed from molecules specifically designed to interfere with the growth of malignant cells.

Contact

B&K Medien- und Kommunikationsberatung GmbH
Dr. Birgit Kofler; Daniela Pedross, MA.
Porzellangasse 35/Top 3, A-1090 Vienna
Press Office Phone during the Congress: 0045-32 47 21 03
Phone after the Congress: 0043-1-319 43 78-11
E-Mail: kofler@bkkommunikation.at; pedross@bkkommunikation.at

About EHA

The European Hematology Association (EHA) aims to promote excellence in clinical practice, research and education in European hematology.
Today, EHA – with over 2700 active members from 95 countries – directs a large and growing number of projects and programs. An Executive Board and Councilors elected by the membership form the governmental body responsible for the strategy and organization of the Association.

About the EHA Annual Congress

The EHA annual congress is held every June in a major European city. Over the years the congress has become the meeting place for hematologists in all fields of the specialty. The congress program has sessions on clinical and laboratory hematology and covers all the major hematological subspecialties, including hemato-oncology, red cell disorders, hemostasis, thrombosis, pediatric hematology and transfusion medicine.