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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic stem cell-derived myeloid malignancy characterized by manifold genetic aberrations and poor overall survival. Standard treatment for newly diagnosed fit AML patients is intensive chemotherapy. Relapse is, however, a challenge in more than 40% of AML patients. AML is also a disease with a large degree of individual heterogeneity, which creates challenges both for diagnostics and for developing targeted treatment options. 

Our guest is Björn Gjertsen, professor of hematology at the University of Bergen, Norway. Björn is also part of Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, CCBIO, and founding member and chair of the Nordic AML group and member of HOVON AML International Steering Group. He has extensive experience in treating AML, in clinical and translational research of AML, including very exciting newly published data on how single cell signalling profiling may help to detect responders and non-responders early in the treatment. 

MAT-BE-2400183 (ver. 1) Feb 2024

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Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an intermediate condition that lies between Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and active multiple myeloma along the spectrum of clonal plasma cell proliferative disorders. Smoldering multiple myeloma may take years to become active multiple myeloma. In some cases, people who have this condition never develop active multiple myeloma. 

In this episode we have the pleasure of having the Norwegian haematologist Fredrik Schjesvold with us. Fredrik is the founder and leader of Oslo Myeloma Center at Oslo University Hospital. Fredrik is an international expert on Multiple Myeloma in charge of one of Europe’s largest centres for clinical research in this disease. He is also chairman of the Nordic Myeloma Study Group and leads the Norwegian Myeloma Group. Besides he is member of the International Myeloma Working Group, and board member of the European Myeloma network (EMN).

 MAT-BE-2400119  (ver. 1)  02.2024

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Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder, in which the synthesis of hemoglobin chains is impaired.  Consequently, people with thalassemia minor may have slight to severe anemia which usually does not cause any problems. Thalassemia major in contrast is a severe disorder with need of transfusion and complications with iron overload. In this episode we will mainly discuss thalassemia minor and intermedia. 

Our guest today Professor Bart Biemond is a hematologist at the Amsterdam UMC in The Netherlands. Bart is head of the Hemoglobinopathy Expert Center and an active member of the medical advisory boards of the national patient associations. Today, Bart will tell us more about thalassemia, its clinical implications and developments in research which implicate patients today and in the future.

MAT-BE-2400104 (v.1.0)) February 2024

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Today we will discuss a rare, inherited metabolic disorder known as ASMD, acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (or historically known as Niemann-Pick types A, A/B, and B). This genetic condition is very rare. It can be diagnosed, after suspicion, by different screening test. But symptoms may vary greatly, and has overlap with several other disorders, and the road to an accurate diagnosis can therefore be challenging. 

In today’s episode we have the pleasure of welcoming Professor David Cassiman in the studio. He is a specialist in hepatology with profound knowledge of metabolic diseases. He currently works at the University Hospital of Leuven (Belgium) where he is the head of the Center for Heridatary Metabolic Diseases. He has spent several years of research, diagnosing, and treating patients with different rare metabolic disorders.

MAT-BE-2301084 (ver.1) 3 Nov 2023

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Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) is a hemato-nephrological term referring to a heterogeneous group of kidney disorders characterized by direct or indirect kidney injury caused by a monoclonal immunoglobulin (MIg) produced by a B cell or plasma cell clone that does not meet current hematologic criteria for therapy. MGRS-associated kidney diseases are diverse and can result in the development of end stage kidney disease (ESKD).

In this episode we have the pleasure of having the Belgian Assistant professor Dr Amaryllis Van Craenenbroeck with us in the studio.  She is Assistant professor at UZ Leuven and specialises in kidney transplantation and kidney diseases.



MAT-BE-2301080 (ver.1) Oct 2023

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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder, where red blood cells have the shape of a C or sickle - hence the name. Sickle cells have a shorter lifespan than normal red blood cells, which causes anemia. Additionally, sickle cells may block blood vessels, especially during infections, dehydration, stress or fatigue, causing complications for the patients.
 
Our guest today Professor Bart Biemond is a haematologist at the Amsterdam UMC in The Netherlands. Bart is head of the Hemoglobinopathy Expert Center and an active member of the medical advisory boards of the national patient associations. His efforts in research have led among others to greater understanding of biomarkers in SCD and complications associated with this disease. In this episode of our Haematology Podcast, Bart will tell us more about SCD, its clinical implications and developments in research which implicate patients today and in the future. 



MAT-BE-2300066 (ver.1) July 2023

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Extramedullary disease (EMD) represents an aggressive form of multiple myeloma, characterized by the ability of myeloma cells to form tumors outside the bone marrow independently.  Scientific research is continuously evolving, leading to discoveries of new treatments and improvements to current options. However, EMD in myeloma remains challenging from a therapeutic and biological perspective, and today the prognosis for patients with the disease is generally poor. Experts call for a better understanding of how myeloma cells grow and thrive and the biology of extramedullary tumors in order to develop better treatment strategies for the future.

Guest in this episode is Dr. Elena Zamagni,  an associate professor at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna and has been a principal investigator in several national and international clinical trials in Multiple Myeloma.


MAT-BE-2300720  (ver.1) Jul 2023

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Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, called MGUS, is a blood condition which indicates occurrence of clonal cells that secrete monoclonal immunoglobulins. MGUS as such, is not a harmful disease, and usually doesn’t require treatment. However, every year 1 percent of MGUS patients go on to develop myeloma or lymphoma. 

In this episode we have the pleasure of having the Icelandic Professor Sigurdur Kristinsson with us. He specialises in internal medicine and hematology. He has led several large population-based myeloma studies in collaboration with major research centers and is a frequent speaker at international hematology conferences. Professor Kristinsson will bring us up to date on recent understandings of the MGUS condition, what symptoms we as health care professionals should be aware of and how to diagnose today – and what could be possible in the future.


MAT-BE-2300364 (Ver. 1.0) 04 2023

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Waldenström Macroglobulinemia is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting B-cells. Waldenström Macroglobulinemia is characterised by high levels of circulating antibodies, immunoglobulin M, which is made and secreted by the cells involved in the disease. It is usually an indolent disease with no or limited symptoms. Therefore, patients with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia are often follow closely in “Watchful Waiting” until the disease and symptoms require onset of treatment. 

Our guest Ida Bruun Kristensen, haematologist at Odense University Hospital. Ida is an active member in both the Danish Lymphoma Group and Danish Myeloma Study Group as the active in the Nordic clinical societies and is responsible for several ongoing clinical studies. In this episode of our Haematology Podcast Ida enlighten us on Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, its clinical implications and treatment options for the patients today and in the future.

MAT-BE-2300296 04 2023

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Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. A physical illness can have a severe impact on mental health. As health care professionals we often focus primarily on treatment and how to handle side effects and complications. The mental aspect of a disease is taking the back seat. How is mental health affected by a cancer diagnosis and treatment. And what does mental health mean for the patient's ability to cope with treatment and for the final outcome of treatment? And how is mental health affected after treatment is completed? 
In this episode we have the pleasure of having  Professor Christoffer Johansen with us. He currently works at the Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet in Denmark. Besides doing research in Oncology, Epidemiology and Clinical Trials, he has scientific focus on mental health for many years.
 

MAT-BE-2200987 (ver. 1.0) 12 2022