Australia once again became the host for an international forum on bleeding disorders when ISTH 2019, the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, was held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre in July 2019. Thousands of the world’s leading experts on haematology, thrombosis and related areas came together to present the most recent advances, exchange the latest science and discuss the newest clinical applications designed to improve patient care.
Presentations, scientific posters and exhibition stands covered an exciting range of new developments. New treatments for haemophilia and von Willebrand disease were well-represented. With several gene therapy clinical trials now reaching an advanced stage, ISTH has developed their own gene therapy education website portal and had an exhibition booth to demonstrate the portal with its webinars and links to research literature. The Congress also had a focus on haematology issues in obstetrics and women’s health and discussed the ISTH work towards developing consistent approaches to classifications and best practice internationally.
ISTH includes sessions targeted at nurses and in this issue of National Haemophilia you will find a report from three of the haemophilia nurses who attended ISTH on nursing forum and other sessions they found to be especially relevant or inspiring.
L-R Sharon Caris and Suzanne O'Callaghan at the HFA exhibition stand
HFA was offered a stand in the trade exhibition to showcase our activities and education resources to haematologists and other health professionals from around the world. Delegates were interested in our approach to addressing the questions and concerns of people with bleeding disorders in our education materials, particularly our The Female Factors resources and our haemophilia guide for parents of a newly diagnosed child. We also took the opportunity to catch up with our colleagues from other international organisations who were represented at the Congress, such as the World Federation of Hemophilia, the European Haemophilia Consortium and the PROBE team.
HFA attendance at ISTH was funded by HFA. We thank ISTH for providing HFA with a complimentary trade exhibition stand.
Haemophilia Foundation Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia, the land, waters and community where we walk, live, meet and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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