Guest editorial: the seven wonders of erythropoiesis

Excerpt

This month’s issue introduces a special series of Progress in Hematology (PIH) reviews by seven outstanding scientists, providing comprehensive overviews of recent progress in seven aspects of erythropoiesis. A number of new findings in this rapidly evolving field are the focus this editorial feature, written by cutting-edge scientists invited to the 1st Annual International Symposium of The Japanese Society of Hematology (JSH) in Akita on 16–17 July 2010. The JSH International Symposium series focuses on outstanding scientific fields in each region of Japan, and encourages researchers to communicate and exchange knowledge and ideas, in the hope of contributing to advances in the selected field in both Japan and the rest of the world. This first year’s Scientific Program included cutting-edge scientific presentations by an outstanding group of speakers in seven sessions over a 2-day period. Oral and poster presentations by future leaders in the study of erythropoiesis were also a highlight of the meeting. The seven sessions were organized along the theme of “the Seven Wonders of Erythropoiesis”, acronymically titled Enucleation, Ribosomal proteins, Yield (of red cells), Transcription factors, Heme and iron, Red cell aplasia, and Oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and micro RNA, or “ERYTHRO”. There has been much progress in recent years toward developing a better understanding of these aspects of erythropoiesis, as well as applications at the frontiers of medical science. This International Symposium also represented the start of the 1st JSH-EHA Joint Educational Program. These seven reviews will appear in PIH across two volumes of the International Journal of Hematology. …