Greeting
(Professor, Department of Hematology and Rheumatology,
Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine)
We are pleased to announce that the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hematology will be held in Sendai, Japan, from Thursday, September 23 to Saturday, September 25, 2021. This will be the first time for JSH to hold the meeting in Sendai City. I would like to make every effort for the success of this congress.
Blood cells, which have a beautiful and delicate differentiation process from stem cells to mature cells, are essential ones that play a fundamental role in homeostasis, such as oxygen delivery, protection against infection, and hemostasis. Hematological disorders are defined as the conditions deviating from normal differentiation process and losing the homeostasis.
In hematology, the analytical methods have evolved ahead of other fields, from morphology to molecular biology, and the achievements have led to the development of new treatments such as chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapies and even cell therapies. These therapies certainly cure hematological disorders, but the main power, which cures the diseases, is the resilience of hematopoiesis itself.
The main theme of the conference is thus "Homeostasis and Resilience", which is the essence of hematology.
In addition, this theme reflects another thought of mine. Ten years ago, in 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami devastated the Tohoku region of Japan and destroyed the social homeostasis in this country. After a while, in 2020, all homeostasis vanished away from over the globe due to COVID-19 infection. Just as Japan has regained homeostasis through its resilience 10 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, I believe and hope that the resilience of the society will once again restore the homeostasis of life, science, and healthcare by 2021.
Along with this main theme, the congress provides a lot of scientific and informative programs on hematology, from the latest treatments to basic research topics. I believe that you will enjoy the essence of hematology in each of these areas. I am also planning to hold a special symposium about "the social transformation in the post-COVID-19 world".
Lastly, Sendai City in September, the host city, is still a bit early for the autumn leaves, but is a comfortable season. I hope that you will also enjoy the sightseeing of the cities near Sendai City in Tohoku region after the meeting.
I look forward to seeing you at the first congress in Sendai City next September.