HemaSphere Podcast

In this episode, host Dr Charles de Bock delves into groundbreaking preclinical research exploring the potential of tasquinimod to restore blood cell production and modify the bone marrow microenvironment in MDS with Dr Manja Wobus and Dr Katja Sockel. Join us as we unpack the mechanisms, animal studies, and future clinical prospects for this promising therapy. Read the accompanying article publis...

Discover the latest insights into the multifaceted role of p53 in normal hematopoiesis and its critical involvement in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). This episode features Dr. Isabelle Plo and Dr. Barbara Monte-Mór sharing their expertise on TP53 mutations, molecular mechanisms driving leukemic transformation, and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting p53. Article: https://bit.ly/4sZbo01...

In this episode, host HemaSphere Scientific Editor Dr Charley de Bock speaks with Associate Professor Dr Matthew Greenwood about the SUBLIME (ALL09) trial, which explores replacing consolidation chemotherapy with blinatumomab in adolescents and young adults with B‑cell ALL. They discuss why immunotherapy may outperform traditional cytotoxic approaches, how MRD‑guided treatment is reshaping risk st...

In this extended episode of the HemaSphere podcast, based on a must-read Perspective " Can health inequalities in sickle cell disease be addressed through novel therapies? ", our host Scientific Editor Charles de Bock discusses sickle cell disease with co-authors, covering both expert and lived-patient perspectives. They explore the complexities of living with the disease, the current treatment la...

Dr. Anikó Sijs-Szabó & Roger Mulet Lázaro, PhD, join Dr. Charles de Bock to unpack the challenges of diagnosing and treating acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage (ALAL). Discover how RNA sequencing, machine learning, and collaboration are shaping the future of precision medicine in hematology. 🎧 Listen and then read the full open-access article on the HemaSphere website https://bit.ly/4oeJo6w

Join our host HemaSphere Scientific Editor Dr Charles de Bock as he chats with Dr Kai Rejeski, first author of this 2025 HemaSphere Top Cited –Clinical Award-winning paper. The conversation delves into the complexities of CAR-T therapy, particularly focusing on the associated toxicities and the need for a structured grading system. EHA/EBMT Survey on Grading and Management of ICAHT , is on our web...

Host Dr Charles de Bock speaks with Prof Michel Zwaan and Prof Olaf Heidenreich, co-authors from the 2025 HemaSphere Award - Top Cited: Biology paper, " The MLL-Menin Interaction is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in NUP98-rearranged AML . " The conversation delves into the complexities of #AML, particularly focusing on NUP98 rearranged AML and the therapeutic potential of Menin inhibitors. The discus...

In this second part of a 2-part episode, Dr Charles De Bock engages with Prof Dr Petya Apostolova and Dr Jörg Büscher to explore the intricate relationship between metabolism and hematology, particularly focusing on #AML. They discuss the challenges and advancements in metabolomics, the importance of integrating multi-omics approaches, and the future directions of research in this field. The conve...

In this 2-part episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Dr Charles de Bock and guests Dr Jörg Büscher and Prof Dr Petya Apostolova discuss the critical role of metabolism in cellular function, particularly in the context of hematology and cancer research. The discussion highlights the technological advancements in metabolic analysis and their impact on understanding cellular metabolism. They also e...

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Charles de Bock and guest Tim Mocking, PhD, discuss the role of machine learning in the assessment of measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They explore the challenges of MRD detection, the potential of machine learning to improve accuracy and efficiency, and the importance of understanding the human element in computatio...

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Dr Charles De Bock discusses the newly published Guidelines on the treatment of neutropenias with co-authors Dr. Francesca Fioredda and Dr. Eleni Papadaki. They explore the importance of these international guidelines, the challenges faced in gathering evidence, and the consensus-building process among experts. The conversation also delves into treat...

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Charles De Bock engages with HemaSphere Editor in Chief Professor Jan Cools, Professor Heidi Segers, and Doctor Margo Aertgeerts to discuss their recent study on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They explore the advancements in treatment, particularly for high-hyperdiploid ALL, the challenges of relapse, and the innovative use of single cell seque...

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Charles de Bock engages with Professor Hélène Cavé and Dr. Marion Strullu to discuss their recent study on juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). They delve into the complexities of diagnosing JMML, the genetic mutations associated with the disease, and the prognostic factors that influence patient outcomes. The conversation explores the intriguing...

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Dr Charles de Bock discusses the critical role of mouse models in understanding leukemogenesis and hematopoiesis with Prof Richard Lock. They explore the significance of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) in preclinical testing, the challenges faced in generating PDXs for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the importance of molecular characterization....

In this episode of the HemaSphere podcast, host Charles de Bock discusses the latest research on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with Dr Francesca Tiso and Dr Florentien in 't Hout from Radboud University Medical Center, co-authors of a recent paper published in HemaSphere. The conversation covers the clinical presentation of MDS, treatment options, and the significance of genetic mutations. Delve...

This podcast episode delves into the complexities of informed consent in healthcare, particularly in the context of hematology. The discussion with host Dr Charles de Bock features insights from Dr Stephen Hibbs and Dr Louise Caldwell, authors of the HemaTopics "Informed consent is almost impossible” and guest Mark Dawson, a patient family member, exploring the emotional, legal, and ethical dimens...

In the latest episode, Dr Charles de Bock talks with Prof H. Josef Vormoor and Dr Maria Ester Bernardo, Chair and Co-Chair of EHA’s Pediatric Hematology Specialized Working Group. They discuss highlights from the EHA 2024 Congress in Madrid, including key lectures, new insights and what they could mean for clinicians, researchers, patients and their families, along with hopes and expectations for...

Authors of this recent HemaSphere published paper discovered a high-risk subgroup of pediatric T-LBL, defined by NOTCH1 gene fusions. This finding will have an important impact on newly diagnosed children with T-LBL globally, listen to two of the co-authors, Dr Jan Loeffen and Professor Roland Kuipers discuss their findings with Dr Charles de Bock, how they discovered them, and dreams of future de...

In this newest podcast episode, Dr Charles de Bock hosts Dr Thomas Mercher and Dr Alexandre Fagnan. This episode is based on their recent paper, “The ETO2 transcriptional co-factor maintains acute leukemia by driving a MYB/EP300-dependent stemness program”, highlighting ETO2 activated gene transcription and how this affects erythroleukemia. The discussion traces the journey from part of Dr Fagnan’...

Welcome to Season 2 of our podcast! In this episode, Dr. Francesca Vinchi interviews Professor Alessandra Balduini about thrombopoiesis. They explore Prof. Balduini's journey into research, her intuition that led to silk scaffolding, and her hopes on future results. "Unraveling the secrets of thrombopoiesis", is on our website and all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube, etc)....

 Dr Stephen Hibbs invites HemaSphere Associate Editor Prof Robert K Hills to discuss statistics in scientific writing in an entertaining and informative episode: What’s so Great About the P-value? A Statistician’s Point of View . This discussion covers the overlap of statistics and hematology with themes like the importance of P value and the use of statistics in clinical trials. What’s so G...

Dr Stephen Hibbs invites Dr Joseph Taylor to a discussion based on Dr Hibbs popular HemaTopics article, This Is Going to Hurt: Revisiting the Patient Experience of Bone Marrow Biopsies .  The conversation ranges from the type of training providers receive, how to talk to patients about these bone marrow biopsies,  and some of the outstanding questions about bone marrow biopsies and the p...

Though many advances have been made in neutropenias, diagnosis and management are still based on physicians’ experience or local practices. Prof Francesca Fioredda and Prof Helen Papadaki, two co-authors of the HemaSphere published article The European Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Neutropenia in Adults and Children: A Consensus Between the European Hematology Association and the EuNet...

POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-protein and Skin changes) is rare, and systemic manifestations are commonly overlooked initially. Diagnosis is often delayed 12-16 months, during which patients can be severely disabled. No established treatment guidelines exist for POEMS. A recent HemaSphere published article, Comprehensive Diagnosis and Management of POEMS Syndrome ,...

POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-protein and Skin changes) is rare, and systemic manifestations are commonly overlooked initially. Diagnosis is often delayed 12-16 months, during which patients can be severely disabled. No established treatment guidelines exist for POEMS. A recent HemaSphere published article Comprehensive Diagnosis and Management of POEMS Syndrome o...