A brief history
The necessity to give more space to researching the biological and experimental aspects of hematological diseases has been growing within the SIE (Italian Society of Hematology) since the 1970s. It was from this that GESSIE (Italian Group of Experimental Hematology of the SIE) was born. The vigorous development of biological studies in the field of hematology until the end of the 1970s and during the 1980s rendered this structure insufficient and therefore the necessity to give rise to a new society was felt, complimentary and synergetic with the SIE, with the goal of giving more space to the biological and experimental aspects.
On 7 July 1987, in the presence of notary Gaiani in Modena, Giovanni Astaldi, Gian Paolo Bagnara, Maria Antonietta Brunelli, Gianluigi Castoldi, Alfredo Ubaldo Di Prisco, Licia Gaggioli, Riccardo Ghio, Fausto Grignani, Anna Teresa Maiolo, Carlo Mauri, Ulku Ozger Astaldi, Cesare Peschle, Vittorio Rizzoli, Pierluigi Rossi Ferrini, Carlo Sacchetti, Vittorio Silingardi, Antonio Tabilio, Giuseppe Torelli and Umberto Torelli signed the memorandum of association of the SIES (Italian Society of Experimental Hematology).
The founders nominated Umberto Torelli president.
After having publicized the news of the birth of the new society, professor Maiolo assumed the responsibility of organizing the first National Convention of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, held 27 May 1988 in Milan. The meeting was organized into three sessions with the following themes: STEM cells, immunophenotype of leukemic cells, cell kinetics, cytogenetics, molecular biology.
The first elections were held during the scientific convention: there were 199 voters and Anna Teresa Maiolo, Gian Paolo Bagnara, Cesare Peschle, Felice Gavosto, Fausto Grignani, Vittorio Rizzoli and Sante Tura were elected. The former president, Umberto Turelli was, by right, part of the board of directors.
The board nominated Felice Gavosto President, Sante Tura Vice- President, Giuseppe Saglio Secretary and Stefano Sacchi Treasurer.
There were 221 members.
In the first phase of development, the Society set the principle goal of supporting the relationship between hematologists with the same research interests and of organizing meetings and conventions among the members.During Gavosto's presidency (1989-1991), the number of members increased from 221 to 305.
The first SIES National Convention was held in Rome on 12-13 November 1990. The main topics regarded molecular biology, bone marrow transplants and cytokines.
Elections for the new SIES board of directors were held on 22 April 1991 at the Fondazione Formasini in Bologna during a scientific convention on Megakariocytopoiesis organized by professor Tura and professor Bagnara. A few modifications to the original charter of the society were discussed including the duration of the term of the board of directors and president, which changed from 3 to 2 years, the Meeting of the Members is convened every 2 years, the inclusion among the members of the board of directors of a representative nominated by the board of directors of "Haematologica" (Official Organ of the Society) extra number, but with the right to vote. The number of voters was 122 and Massimo Aglietta, Sante Tura, Vittorio Rizzoli, Gian Paolo Bagnara, Cesare Peschle, Anna Teresa Maiolo and Giuseppe Torelli were elected; the representative of Haematologica, Edoardo Ascari.
The Former President, Felice Gavosto, was, by right, part of the board of directors.
The board nominated Sante Tura Chairman, Cesare Peschle Vice-President, Giuseppe Visani Secretary and Stefano Sacchi Treasurer.
During Tura's presidency (1991-1994) the number of members increased from 305 to 479.
It was indeed during Tura's presidency that some meetings, for the most part held in Florence, titled "Discutiamone Insieme" ("Let's Discuss it Together") directed to young hematologists on topics of experimental hematology began to be organized. The particular aspects of these initiatives had to be the propagation of the results of ongoing research, in such a way as to favor the convergence of different groups on the same topics; all in a simple and informal style. This tradition was maintained by successive presidents Baccarani and Saglio. The complete list of "Discutiamone Insieme" is given apart. While in the beginning, the abstracts of these meetings were not published, it was later decided to publish them in Haematologica. Now the moderator prepares a review in English on the studied topic followed by abstracts of each communication, these also in English.
The second SIES National Convention was held in Genoa on 19-21 November 1992. The principle topics were: immunotoxins, gene transfer, bone marrow microenvironment, acute promielocytic leukemia.
The third SIES National Convention was held in Udine-Grado on 22-24 September 1994. The principle topics were drugs resistance mechanisms, growth factors and CML. SIES elections were held during the convention; there were 147 voters and Giuseppe Saglio, Carmelo Carlo Stella, Michele Baccarani, Sergio Amadori, Sergio Ferrari, Antonio Tabilio and Giuseppe Visani were elected; the representative of Haemotologica, Mario Cazzola. The Former President Sante Tura, by right, was part of the board of directors.
The Board nominated Michele Baccarani President, Giuseppe Saglio Vice-President, Domenico Russo Secretary and Stefano Sacchi Treasurer.During Baccarani's presidency (1995-1996) the number of members increased from 479 to 508.
Among the last decisions to be made by the board of directors under Baccarani was to publicize a scholarship in order to use the resources of the Society in the best way possible.
The fourth SIES National Convention was held in Rome on 6-8 November 1996; among the principle topics: growth factors: proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, hematopoietic regulatory genes, mechanism of action of IFN, allogenic and autologous BM transplant. SIES elections were held during the convention. There were 115 voters and Carmelo Carlo Stella, Giuseppe Pellici, Giuseppe Saglio, Antonio Tabilio, Stefano Sacchi, Domenico Russo and Sergio Amadori were elected; the representative of Haematologica, Mario Cazzola. The Former President Michele Baccarani was, by right, part of the board of directors.
The SIES board nominated Giuseppe Saglio President, Carmelo Carlo Stella Vice-President, Gianluca Gaidano Secretary and Stefano Sacchi Treasurer.
Among the first decisions made by the new Board of Directors was to award the scholarship to Doctor Carolina Terragna in order to carry out a research program titled "Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma (MM): comparison of different plasmidic vectors aimed of optimizing an anti-idiotypic vaccine".
The number of members as of 31 December 1996 was 515.The fifth SIES National Convention was held in Siena on 23-25 September 1998. Among the principle topics were acute myeloid leukemia, monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of NHL, molecular biology of hematological disease and peripheral stem cell transplantation. Sies elections for renewing 4 board members were held during the convention. There were 94 voters and those elected were Francesco Lo Coco, Ignazio Majolino, Antonio Cuneo, and Francesco Lauria. The representative of "Hematologica", has continued to be Mario Cazzola. Past President, Giuseppe Saglio, is by right part of the board of directors. The SIES board nominated Piergiuseppe Pelicci President, Stefano Sacchi Vice President and Treasurer and Gianluca Gaidano Secretary, Domenico Russo has continued to be a member of the board. The number of members as of September 1998 was 557.
The sixth SIES National Convention was held in Bologna on 26-28 September 2000. Among the principle topics were Molecular therapy:new insights, experimental aspects of allogeneic stem cells transplantation, acute myeloid leukemia in the erderly, mechanism of leukemogenesis and lymphomagenesis, anti-factor VIII and anti-factor IX antibodies (inhibitors) in hemophilia, osteogenesis and osteolysis in hematology, mdr. Hopes, disappointments and perspectives. Sies elections for renewing 3 board members were held during the convention. There were 55 voters and those elected were: Mario Cazzola, Valeria Santini and Brunangelo Falini. The new representative of "Hematologica" is Vittorio Rosti. Past President, Piergiuseppe Pelicci, is by right part of the board of directors. The SIES board nominated Francesco Lo Coco President, Brunangelo Falini Vice President. Treasurer and Secretary have continued to be Stefano Sacchi and Gianluca Gaidano. Francesco Lauria, Antonio Cuneo and Ignazio Majolino have continued to be members of the board. The number of members as of September 2000 was 566.