Heme Oxygenase in Biology and Medicine

The convergence of research in stem cell biology, leukaemic cell genetics and drug discovery has provided insight into pathogenesis and treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma. These insights have led to alternative therapeutic approaches involving the manipulation of molecular and/or biochemical pathways in leukaemia cells. Nonetheless, effective treatment and cures for these blood-related diseases remains, in many cases elusive. This symposium was designed to integrate knowledge regarding the basic cellular and molecular biology of leukaemia and lymphoma with alternative approaches to diagnosis and therapy. To this end, a translation research (laboratory to bedside) approach was encouraged throughout the meeting, with discussions covering new mechanisms regulating hematopeoietic cell development, data from clinical trails of new molecular therapeutics, and emerging directions in diagnosis. The symposium brings together basic, translational and clinical investigators in a meeting aimed at developing potential collaborative interaction. The intension is to provide new insights into the molecular targets for the treatment of blood-related cancers.