ASH Foundation launched by blood disorder organisation

The American Society of Haematology (ASH) has announced the launch of the ASH Foundation.

Dedicated to supporting research, career development, quality care and education in the treatment of blood disorders, the new foundation will work alongside the American Society Foundation to build on the work and research already done.

It will focus on gathering the support and generosity from donors to widen the scope of ASH programs.

The society will also assist in generating new initiatives to address vital problems faced by haematology clinicians and researchers.

New or improved ASH programming encouraged by the foundation and supported by contributors will take place in three categories, career development, research, as well as quality care and education. This will include global programmes, new bridge grants, ASH scholar awards, its Minority Recruitment Initiative and Clinical Research Training Institute.

One hundred per cent of donations will be given directly to programme expenses, as the ASH already pays for all programmes' administrative and management costs, stated the organisation.

The constant decline in federal support for haematology research gives the new foundation a vital role in securing and sustaining donor support for these types of programmes.

"The progressive decline in research funding over the last several years negatively affects both researchers and clinicians – and ultimately patients – as the development of new and improved therapies is dependent on scientific discoveries that advance our understanding of blood diseases," said ASH president Armand Keating of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.

The ASH foundation was created to make sure that there will be a new generation of haematology-focused professionals who will continue to add to the huge progress made in the field of blood diseases and devise new strategies to tackle them in the future, stated Mr Keating.

Donors will have the choice of donating to a particular programme area or to the more general "Where Our Need is Greatest" fund, which focuses on the most urgent priorities and main issues the haematology community faces presently.

Posted by Ben Evans