SWG Educational Activities

Social and public activities

Since 2020, Prof Hermann Einsele has been a Councilor to the EHA Board.

Scientific activities

Fifth European CAR T-cell meeting

Date

February 9–11, 2023.

Location

Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Chairs

Michael Hudecek
Anna Sureda

Clinical Indications I—Lymphomas

Chairs

Catherine Thieblemont (France)
Marie José Kersten (Netherlands)

Presenters and topics

‘Large B Cell Lymphoma (LBCL)’—Anna Sureda (Spain)
‘Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) / Follicular Lymphoma (FL)’—Ulrich Jaeger (Austria)
‘Resistance’—Marco Ruella(United States)
‘The role of the intestinal microbiome in cancer immunotherapy’—Marcel Van den Brink (United States)

Clinical Indications II—Acute and Chronic Leukaemias

Chairs

Annalisa Ruggeri (Italy)
John Gribben (United Kingdom)
Stephan Mielke (Sweden)

Presenters and topics

‘Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)’—André Baruchel (France)
‘Novel targets and technologies for CAR-T cells in AML’—Michael Hudecek (Germany)
‘Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)’—John Gribben (United Kingdom)
‘T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)/Treating T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (T-NHL)’—Maksim Mamonkin (United States)

Best abstract session and awards

Chairs

Anna Sureda (Spain)
Michael Hudecek (Germany)

Presenters and topics

‘CAR T Cells Targeting Tumor and Stroma in PDAC’—Marc Wehrli (United States)
‘Single-cell Dissection of Anti-BCMA CARs in MM’—Vladan Vucinic (Germany)
‘IF-BETTER-gated CAR T Cells to Safely Target AML with Minimal Escape’—Sascha Haubner (United States)

Keynote lecture

Presenter and topic

‘Novel CAR-T Therapy of Relapse or Refractory Hematological Malignancies’—He Huang (China)

Keynote lecture

Chairs

Michelle Kenyon (United Kingdom)
Michael Hudecek (Germany)
Anna Sureda (Spain)
Carl June (United States)

Presenter and topic

‘Journey to CAR-T Cell Therapy & Beyond, Emily Whitehead's Story’—Tom Whitehead (United States)

Clinical Indications III—Multiple Myeloma

Chairs

Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha (France)
Paula Rodriguez Otero (Spain)

Presenters and topics

Overview—Hermann Einsele (Germany)
‘CAR T myeloma ; biomarkers, PK, risk factors’—Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha (France)
‘ARIcel in MM/Amyloidosis’—Carlos Fernandez de Larrea (Spain)

Clinical Indications IV—Solid Tumors and keynote lecture

Chairs

Fabio Ciceri (Italy)
Annette Künkele (Germany)

Presenters and topics

Keynote lecture on PSMA/Other solid tumors—Carl June (United States)
‘Solid tumor pipeline’—Sonia Guedan (Spain)
‘Advancing CAR T Cell Therapy for Glioblastoma’—Christine Brown (United States)
‘Paediatrics CAR-Ts’—Concetta Quintarelli (Italy)

Best abstract session

Chairs

Ulrich Jaeger (Austria)
Sonia Guedan (Spain)

Presenters and topics

‘Association of MTV and Clinical Outcomes in R/R LBCL (ZUMA-7)’—Marie José Kersten (Netherlands)
‘CD19-directed 1xx CAR T Cells in Patients with Rel/Ref DLBCL’—M. Lia Palomba (United States)
‘ZUMA-5 3-year Follow-up: Axi-cel in Patients with R/R iNHL’—Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha (France)
‘ELARA Clinical Update + Biomarkers and PK’—Catherine Thieblemont (France)
‘EpCAM-directed CAR T-cells against Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer’—Tao Xu (Germany)
‘Psychosocial Experiences in Patients Receiving CAR-T Compared to Other Therapies’—Natacha Bolaños (Spain)
‘Ide-cel versus Standard Regimens in Triple-class-Exposed RRMM: Phase 3 KarMMa-3’—Paula Rodriguez Otero (Spain)

New Academic Initiatives and CAR-T Therapy Networks

Chairs

Chiara Bonini (Italy)
Natacha Bolaños (Spain)

Presenters and topics

‘GoCART Initiative’—Jürgen Kuball (Netherlands)
‘The EBMT Registry: monitoring CAR-T Cells and IECs activities in Europe’—Christian Chabannon (France)
‘IMI EU T2EVOLVE’—Carmen Sanges (Germany)
‘Advanced Therapies Network Spain’—Jose M. Moraleda (Spain)
‘CAR-T Switzerland’—Caroline Arber (Switzerland)

CAR-T Cell Therapy expends the horizon for patients with Multiple Myeloma—a satellite symposium by Janssen

Chair

Mohamad Mohty (France)

Introduction

Presenters and topics

Welcome and introduction—Mohamad Mohty (France)
‘Where are we now with CAR-T cell therapy in MM?’—Paula Rodriguez Otero (Spain)
‘Where are we going with CAR-T cell therapy in MM?’— Pieter Sonneveld (Netherlands)

Advanced concepts for CAR-T manufacturing

Chairs

Halvard Bönig (Germany)
Concetta Quintarelli (Italy)

Presenters and topics

Overview—Ulrike Köhl (Germany)
‘Point-of-care CAR-T manufacture’—Alvaro Urbano Ispizua (Spain)
‘Rapid CAR-T manufacture’—Nina Worel (Austria)
‘Point-of-care ATMP manufacture’—Harry Dolstra (Netherlands)

International Session—Access to CAR-T on a Global Scale

Chairs

Christian Chabannon (France)
Ulrike Köhl (Germany)

Presenters and topics

‘South America’—Vanderson Rocha (Brazil)
‘Central and Eastern Europe’—Roman Hajek (Czech Republic)
‘South Africa’—Candice Hendricks (South Africa)
‘Canada’—Kevin Hay (Canada)
‘India’—Gaurav Narula (India)

Best abstract session

Chairs

Anna Sureda (Spain)
Michael Hudecek (Germany)

Presenters and topics

‘Third-generation TLR2 Co-stimulated CAR T-cells for B-cell Malignancies’—Yasmin Nouri (New Zealand)
‘Impact of Gut Microbiota in the Efficacy of CART-cell Therapy’—Mireia Uribe-Herranz (Spain)
‘Dual CD30/PDL1 CAR-T Cell Strategy in Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma’—Vincenzo Maria Perriello (Italy)

Keynote lecture

Chairs

Anna Sureda (Spain)
Michael Hudecek (Germany)

Presenter and topic

‘Antigen sensitivity, persistence and gated control of CAR T cells’—Michel Sadelain (United States).

Fourth How to Diagnose and Treat Multiple Myeloma Congress—European School of Haematology

Date

April 14–16, 2023.

Location

Berlin, Germany.

Chairs

Hermann Einsele
Irene Ghobrial
Maria Victoria Mateos

Scientific topics of the congress

‘How I treat smoldering myeloma.’
‘How I treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.’
‘From risk stratification to risk-based therapy?’
‘Should we use MRD testing to determine therapy in multiple myeloma?’
‘Is there a future role of autologous stem cell transplantation?’
‘How I treat relapsed multiple myeloma.’
‘The FDA/EMEA and Foundations perspective on multiple myeloma.’
‘Should every patient receive daratumumab in first line?’
‘You can’t be immune for immune therapy anymore.’
‘Other plasma cell dyscrasias.’
‘The future of multiple myeloma.’

Presenters and topics

‘Interactive case: How to use novel immunotherapies’—H. Einsele
‘Case-based lecture: Bi- and trispecific antibodies’—H. Einsele

Further information

You can find additional details on ESH's event page.

Fourth European Myeloma Network meeting

Dates

April 20–22, 2023.

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Presenters and topics

‘How to harness new immunotherapies with combination strategies?’—H. Einsele
‘Selecting T-cell redirecting therapies for patinets with MM’—H. Einsele
‘New advances in anti-BCMA treatment in RRMM’—H. Einsele

Further information

You can find additional details on the EMN website.

EHA Congress 2023

Dates

June 8–16, 2023.

Location

Frankfurt, Germany.

Best abstract session

‘First Phase 3 results from Cartitude-4’—H. Einsele.

T-cell and NK-cell-based Immunotherapies for Lymphoid Malignancies—Società Italiana di Ematologia event

Date

September 15–16, 2023.

Location

Milan, Italy.

Presenters and topics

‘Bispecific T-cell engagers in lymphoma and myeloma – Cevostamab’—H. Einsele
‘T-cell immunotherapy for multiple myeloma - Cilta-cel’—H. Einsele
‘T-cell immunotherapy for multiple myeloma – Resistance’—H. Einsele
‘Round Table: What about an appropriate use of commercial CAR-T’—H. Einsele

Further information

You can find additional details on Società Italiana di Ematologia's event page.

Unmet Challenges in High-Risk Hematological Malignancies: From Benchside to Clinical Practice—Società Italiana di Ematologia event

Dates

September 20–22, 2023.

Location

Turin, Italy.

Presenter and topic

‘CAR-T in multiple myeloma: therapeutic and timing’—H. Einsele

Further information

You can find additional details on Società Italiana di Ematologia's event page.

Sixth Swiss Oncology and Hematology Congress

Dates

November 22–24, 2023.

Location

Basel, Switzerland.

EHA/Swiss Oncology and Hematology Society session

Presenter and topic

‘Immunotherapy for multiple myeloma’—H. Einsele.

Educational Meeting on Immunology and Cellular Therapy in Plasma Cell Disorders—EBMT event

Date

November 24–26, 2023.

Location

Hamburg, Germany.

Presenters and topics

‘Novel immune and cellular therapies’—H. Einsele
‘Monitoring and treating resistance: Bispecifics’—H. Einsele

Further information

You can find additional details on EBMT's event page.

Research activities

SWG members cooperated on and participated in the following European Commission-funded projects.

EU-Horizon 2020 EURECART (European Endeavour for Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapies)

Project description

The project’s main objective is to conduct a multi-center, ‘first-in-human’ Phase I/IIa clinical trial.

The trial's purpose will be to demonstrate the safety and the efficacy of CD44v6 CAR-T cell immunotherapy in:

Acute myeloid leukaemia
Multiple myeloma

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS EURECART pages.

Coordinator

Prof Dr Attilio Bondanza, Ospedale San Raffaele S.r.l. (Italy)

Other scientific partners

Claudio Bordignon and Dr Catia Traversari, Firma MolMed S.p.A. (Italy)
Prof Dr Hermann Einsele and Prof. Michael Hudecek, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg (Germany)
Prof Dr Franco Locatelli, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù (Italy)
Prof Dr Jorge Sierra, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Spain)
Prof Dr Roman Hájek, University Hospital Ostrava, Tschechien (Czechia)
Dr Maria Cristina Galli, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy)

EU-Horizon 2020 CARAMBA

Project description

CARAMBA is a phase I/IIa clinical trial to assess feasibility, safety and the antitumor activity of autologous SLAMF7 CAR T cells in multiple myeloma.

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS CARAMBA pages.

Coordinator

Prof Michael Hudecek, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg (Germany)

Scientific participants

Prof Dr Hermann Einsele, Dr Sophia Danhof, Würzburg, UKW, Würzburg (Germany)
Prof Dr Attilio Bondanza, Prof Dr. Chiara Bonini, Prof. Dr. Fabio Ciceri, Ospedale San Raffaele, OSR, Milano (Italy)
Prof Jesus San Miguel, Dr. Juan Jose Lasarte, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, CUN, Pamplona (Spain)
Prof Dr Thierry Facon, Prof Dr Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha, Lille University Hospital (France)
Dr Zoltán Ivics, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, PEI (Germany)
Prof Halvard Bönig, DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, DRK-BSD, Mannheim (Germany)

EU-Horizon AIDPATH (Artificial Intelligence-driven, Decentralized Production of Advanced Therapies in the Hospital)

Project description

The AIDPATH project aims to facilitate patient access to CAR T-cell therapy in hospitals.

This will be done by creating a fully automated CAR T-cell manufacturing pipeline that can be placed in the hospital itself.

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS AIDPATH pages.

Principal investigator

Prof Hudecek

EU-Horizon imSAVAR (Immune Safety Avatar)

Project description

The EU-funded imSAVAR project aims develop a platform for testing the safety and efficacy of immunomodulators.

Researchers will work on novel assays, reliable models and predictive biomarkers to improve the safety of immunotherapy.

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS imSAVAR pages.

Co-principal investigator

Prof Hudecek

EU-Horizon T2EVOLVE: Accelerating Development and Improving Access to CAR and TCR engineered T-cell therapy

Project description

T2EVOLVE aims to accelerate development and increase cancer patients' access to immunotherapy with immune cells that harbor either a:

Genetically engineered T-cell receptor (TCR)
Synthetic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)

Simultaneously, T2EVOLVE aims to provide guidance on the sustainable integration of these treatments into the EU healthcare system.

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS T2EVOLVE pages.

Coordinator and principal investigator

Prof Hudecek

EU-Horzon EN-ACTI2NG (European Network on Anti-Cancer Immuno-Therapy Improvement by modification of CAR and TCR Interactions and Nanoscale Geometry)

Project description

The EN-ACTI2NG project aims to improve:

Engineered immune receptors in T-cells
Understanding of their mechanisms of action

The project will also train PhD students in the development of T-cell-mediated cancer immunotherapies.

You can find detailed information about this project and its aims on the CORDIS EN-ACTI2NG pages.

Coordinator and principal investigator

Prof Hudecek