This first ever Fusion Conference focused on the biology and therapy of Myeloid malignancies aims to bring together leading experts to discuss the latest advancements and current challenges in this rapidly evolving field. This conference will provide a comprehensive overview of basic, translational, and clinical research, highlighting the collaborative efforts to improve our understanding and treatment of myeloid malignancies. This is a fast-evolving area, where significant strides have been made in uncovering the molecular and genetic foundations of the large variety of myeloid neoplasms and also pre-neoplastic conditions. Also, it is an area that has been marked by a number of technologic advances, including in computational analysis, single cell sequencing and spatial omics mapping in different tissues and microenvironments. The meeting will also highlight efforts to translate basic research findings into clinical applications.

Sessions will showcase novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring, including the use of minimal residual disease (MRD) markers. Innovative preclinical models, such as patient-derived xenografts and organoids, will be discussed, illustrating their utility in testing new therapeutic agents. The development of targeted therapies, including FLT3, IDH1/2, Menin inhibitors and BH3 mimetics, will be discussed and mechanisms of response and resistance will be analyzed. Moreover, the Conference welcomes clinical presentations that provide updates on recent clinical trials and emerging therapeutic strategies. The meeting will explore combination therapies that integrate targeted agents with traditional chemotherapies or immunotherapies, aiming to enhance efficacy and overcome resistance. Managing treatment-related toxicities and the importance of supportive care in improving patient outcomes will also be addressed. A highlight will be the exploration of immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, bispecific antibody treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Such treatments have shown promise in other blood cancer and are now being actively investigated for myeloid malignancies. The challenges of immune evasion mechanisms in these cancers will be examined, emphasizing the need for combinatorial approaches to optimize the effectiveness of such immune-focused treatments. The meeting will also focus on future research directions in our field. The need for multidisciplinary collaborations to integrate insights from basic, computational, translational, and clinical research will be emphasized. Emerging technologies, such as spatial sequencing, advanced imaging techniques or CRISPR/Cas9 editing approaches, to mention a few, will be discussed. Additionally, the importance of patient-centric research, incorporating patient-reported outcomes and quality of life measures, will be highlighted.

In summary, this meeting aims to provide a comprehensive update on the current status of the area of myeloid malignancy. By showcasing the dynamic interplay between basic discoveries and clinical applications, the conference will underscore the progress made in understanding and treating these complex diseases while also identifying ongoing challenges and future research needs. The event will serve as a platform for fostering collaboration and advancing the field.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Ido Amit (Weizmann Institute of Science)
LEVERAGING SINGLE-CELL TECHNOLOGIES TO ENGINEER THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
John Dick (University of Toronto)
WHAT MAKES A STEM CELL A STEM CELL AND HOW DOES IT GO BAD

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Scott Armstrong (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF CHROMATIN COMPLEXES IN LEUKEMIA
David Beck (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)
HUMAN AUTO-INFLAMMATORY SYNDROMES
Tanya Bondar (Blood Cancer Discovery)
John Crispino (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital)
COHESIN MUTATIONS DRIVE LEUKEMIA PROGRESSION IN DOWN SYNDROME THROUGH DOWNREGULATION OF HLA CLASS II GENE EXPRESSION
Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld (The Ohio State University)
AML GENOMICS: OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Saar Gill (University of Pennsylvania)
CELL THERAPY OF MYELOID MALIGNANCIES
Tanja Gruber (Stanford University)
EPIGENETIC PRIMING IN PEDIATRIC AML
Catriona Jamieson (UC San Diego)
STEM CELL PATHWAYS AGING AND CANCER EVOLUTION (SPACE)
Priscilla Kelly (Science)
Dan Landau (Weill Cornell Medicine)
MAPPING COMPLEX PHENOTYPES TO GENOTYPES WITH SINGLE-CELL MULTI-OMICS IN HEMATOPOIETIC CLONAL OUTGROWTHS
Sanam Loghavi (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
CONTEMPORARY DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, RISK STRATIFICATION AND DISEASE MONITORING OF MYELOID NEOPLASMS
Linde Miles (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)
INTERROGATING CLONAL EVOLUTION IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA
Johanna Olweus (Oslo University Hospital)
EXPANDING THE REPERTOIRE OF THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES WITH T-CELL RECEPTORS
Elli Papaemmanouil (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Eirini Papapetrou (Mount Sinai - New York)
HOW DO TET2-MUTANT HSPCS GAIN THEIR CLONAL ADVANTAGE?
Bethan Psaila (University of Oxford)
HuMONICs: USING HUMAN BONE MARROW ORGANOIDS TO INTERROGATE NICHE INFLUENCES ON ANTI-CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPIES
Rebekka Schneider-Kramann (University Hospital RWTH Aachen)
DECODING THE IMMUNE-STROMA INTERACTIONS IN MPN: IDENTIFYING DRIVERS OF FIBROSIS AND UNVEILING NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
Eytan Stein (Memorial Sloan Kettering)
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF MENIN INHIBITORS IN ACUTE LEUKEMIA
Jennifer Trowbridge (The Jackson Laboratory)
THE BONE MARROW MICROENVIRONMENT IN CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS AND MYELOID MALIGNANCY
Andreas Trumpp (Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology)
THERAPY-SPECIFIC RESPONSE AND RESISTANCE OF LEUKEMIC STEM CELL SUBTYPES
George Vassiliou (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute)
CLONAL HAEMATOPOIESIS AND PREVENTION OF MYELOID MALIGNANCIES
Paresh Vyas (University of Oxford)
TCR BASED THERAPY FOR AML
Alexia-Ileana Zaromytidou (Nature Cancer)

Target Audience

• Haematologists and Oncologists
• Researchers and Scientists in the areas of Haematopoiesis and Leukaemia
• Haemato-Pathologists and Molecular Pathologists
• Immunologists with a focus in hematologic malignancies
• Technology developers with an emphasis on imaging and sequencing-based approaches

Educational Need

There are few meetings that focus on hematologic malignancies and even fewer focusing on the study of acute leukaemia. The field is quite large, with a large number of basic, translational and clinical researchers around the country and the world. There are even fewer meetings outside of the US, suggesting that there will be a large number of applicants outside of the US, mainly from Europe and the middle east.

There are two main airports in Crete:

Chania International Airport is located 39km from the Avra Imperial Chania, approximately 40 minutes journey time.
Heraklion International Airport is located 162.5 km from the hotel and the journey time is approximately 2hrs 15min.

There are frequent daily flights to and from the UK and Europe to both airports. If travelling from the USA, most flights are scheduled via Athens with an inter-connecting flight on to Chania International / Heraklion international.

The taxi rank is located outside the terminal building, however, during busy periods, it is recommended you pre-book your airport transfer to avoid long waiting times.

Pre-booked Airport Transfers

There are various suppliers that offer pre-booked airport transfer to and from both Chania and Heraklion airports. Please find details of a few that we are aware of below. However, should you require further information, or would like to make a booking, please contact the company directly. Pre-booked transportation prices vary from €57 (up to 4 people) from Chania International Airport to the Avra Imperial Hotel and €180 (up to 4 people) from Heraklion Airport to the Avra Imperial Hotel. Rates are based on a single journey; discounts may be available for a pre-booked return trip:

Crete Lux Travel
Contact Email: info@creteluxtravel.com
Website: https://creteluxtravel.com/ 

Taxi Limo Chania
Contact Email: info@taxilimochania.gr 
Website: https://taxilimochania.gr

Chania Taxi & Van
Contact Email: info@taxivan-chania.gr 
Website: http://www.taxivan-chania.gr/ 

Edem Travel
Contact Email: info@edemtravel.gr 
Website: https://www.edemtravel.gr/ 

Crete Taxi Van
Contact Email: info@cretetaxivan.gr 
Website: https://www.cretetaxivan.gr 

**Any bookings and transactions made with the above suppliers are the sole responsibility of the individual.

Chania is one of the prettiest towns on the island of Crete, with its cobbled streets filled with shops selling clothes, ceramics, and local artworks, and restaurants and cafes overlooking the Venetian harbour, but if you fancy venturing further afield, we have listed a few suggestions below.

The Old Port
Dating from the 14th century, the old harbour is ringed by a promenade lined with seafood eateries and cafés. As you wander to the east of the old harbour, you'll pass by the small mosque, erected by the Ottoman Turks after they took Chania in 1645. Today it serves as a small art gallery. Beyond the mosque stand the arsenals, where the Venetians repaired their galleys. There is also a yachting marina. 

Walk the Seawall to the Lighthouse 
One of the best views of the old port and Chania's old town can be found by taking a stroll along the Venetian seawall to the 19th-century lighthouse. The walk takes about 15 minutes one way, at a leisurely pace. This walk will also take you by some of the main sights in the old port, including the Yiali Tzami mosque and the Venetian arsenals. Although the lighthouse is not open to visitors, you can still climb the set of stairs to the first level.

Maritime Museum of Crete
The museum traces Crete's centuries-old relationship with the sea, from the Minoans, through the Byzantine, Venetian, and Turkish periods, to arrive at the German invasion of the island during WWII. Spread over two floors, the collection includes video presentations, amazing models of ships, paintings, photos, and nautical equipment

Archaeological Museum of Chania
Chania's history dates back millennia to somewhere around 2200 BC, when the Minoans founded the ancient city-state of Kydonia on this same spot. You will be able to view archeological finds from western Crete dating from Neolithic times through to the Roman era, with a vast array of ceramics, painted burial urns, gold jewellery, and clay tablets with inscriptions to name a few.

Botanic Park & Gardens of Crete
Crete is well known for growing olives and grapes, but also farms tropical fruits, such as avocados and bananas. In this carefully tended park, at the foot of the White Mountains, you can follow a two-kilometer path that will take you through a garden planted with exotic flowers and fruit trees from all over the world. Sit in a shady spot to take in the wonderful aroma of the fragrant herbs or visit the café-restaurant where they serve Cretan dishes prepared with the park’s own seasonal produce.

The Monasteries of Akrotiri Peninsula
The rocky peninsula of Akrotiri, 10 kilometres east of Chania, is home to three monasteries; Agia Triada, Gouverneto and Katholiko, each one set in beautiful surroundings with unique characteristics. 

Day Trip to Hike the Samaria Gorge
For the adventurers among you, take a day trip to hike the Samaria Gorge, the longest of Crete’s deep cut gorges at 18 kilometres. You can do the hike independently or as part of an organised trip, which is highly recommended as the hike is quite complex and challenging. This is a one-way hike, so you need to consider transport back to your starting point before embarking on this activity. Entrance to the gorge is at the village of Omalós, 42 kilometres south of Chania. The hike is almost all downhill, with the gorge opening out to the sea at the village of Ayía Rouméli, with a black-sand beach where you can swim at the end of your hike to cool you down.

Wine Tour & Tasting Experience – Friday 16^th May

The Manousakis Winery was established in 1984, situated in the picturesque village of Vatolakkos. They produce a range of organic wines, including red, white, and rosé, and are known for their unique blends of local and international grape varieties.

Price:
The total price of this trip is €75. 
Payment will be made on the day- cash or card (AMEX not accepted).

Tour Includes:
- Round-trip transportation
- Guided tour
- Tasting of up to 5 wines & local snacks

To sign up, please email Jack, noting the names of any accompanying guests joining you.

Please note, sign-ups are required by Wednesday 16^th April. Spaces for the trip are limited and you will not be able to sign-up after the listed deadline!

Once you have confirmed your participation you are financially committed. After signing up, should you decide to no longer participate or not show up at the time of the trip, you will still be charged.