This year, Geneva welcomes us as we open new doors to advancing our understanding of MRD in hematologic diseases. Together, we will explore the critical question of sensitivity—how far we have come and how much further we can go. Join us for an inspiring and dynamic (Labtour) meeting filled with cutting-edge insights, lively discussions, and scientific exchange and solving the question:
How low can we go?
The meeting is free of charge. Registration will open soon.
Please find in the member area the presentation from the last SMH Business Meeting. We added the informaiton on various quality and FAMH politics informaiton and you can find the recommendation paper and die GSPR Checklist officially published on the homepage of the FAMH.
It was once again a very well-attended and content-rich business meeting. In addition to the engaging presentations on the clinical aspects of eosinophilia by the charming Dr. Natalia Baran and the in-depth insights into molecular diagnostics presented by the President of the SMH, Corinne Widmer, there were stimulating discussions throughout the event.
These discussions were fueled not only by the much-appreciated opportunity for in-person exchange but also by several pressing political topics, such as outpatient flat rates, the inclusion of new analyses in the official analysis list, and reporting obligations to QUALAB. On the latter topic, SMH Vice v
President Britta Hartmann provided a valuable overview of the necessary requirements and administrative procedures.
To conclude, the announcement of the next Technician Meeting was made. It will take place at HUG under the motto „MRD: How low can we go?“. So save the 31th of March for an interessting trip to Geneva.
We sincerely thank the members of the SMH for their active participation and for contributing to a highly enriching exchange.
Once again, we were able to experience an exciting and successful diagnostics meeting. Full of activities, the meeting offered the opportunity for networking and a lot of good professional input. Special thanks therefore goes to our keynote speaker Dr. Lorenz Bastian from the University Schleswig-Holstein of Germany, who introduced us to the molecular depth of ALL diagnostics with a very clear and broadly informative presentation. 
The results of the GMALL patient cohort and the application of the latest technologies including AI stimulated many discussions afterwards.
A very nice tweek this year was that the keynote session held together with our colleagues from Flowcytometry was perfectly aligned with the topic of ALL for both speakers.
Under the title „From Zero to Hero“, the team from Basel 
(Darius Juskevicius and Friedel Wentzel) not only presented the basics to the young audience in a very good presentation peppered with „aha“ moments, but also used quiz examples to get some of the more experienced ones thinking. The first day was rounded off with the exciting cases from Kinderspital Zürich and Aarau perfectly maching the Keynote Topics and a case from Berne, which 
provided plenty to talk about afterwards. The SMH Board 
would like to thank all speakers and participants for a very nice meeting
And of course already the next in person meeting has been plannend: SAVE THE DATE for the next business meeting on September 25 in Berne at Inselspital.
And before that: Save the date for the next upcoming SMH Journal Club on the 10th of June online. The invitation to all member will be send out by Liza Ho.
On the 27th of March.
Just in time for the start of spring, we looked at allergies in the scientific section and examinated mastocytosis and hereditary alpha-Tryptasemia from a clinical and molecular genetic perspective. We thank all 40 virtually persent members for their participation and you can find the talks on the member area.
The numerous visitors to the Technican Meeting were greeted by wonderful Ticino weather.
The perfectly organized meeting startet at the Ospedale Reginale di Bellinzona with the opening by the dircetor 
of the hospital and the director of the institute of medcial laboratroy. 
Until lunch time, several very well coordinated and interessting CLL topics were covered from the various clinical and diagnostic point of view. In the after noon there was a more technical part rounded up by demonstration of the application of liquid biopsy. You can find some of the talks in the member area.
The day was completetd perfectly with a visit to the modern IOR/BIOS Lab including the IOSI Lab from Davide Rossi and a super charming insight into the SGM EOLAB-EOC from the SGM Team of Gloria Gaudio.
We would like to warmly thank our colleagues from Ticino for their hospitality and the exciting insight into their laboratory world.
We are looking forward to meet on the 4th of February at the SMH Technician meeting, that will take place in Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona, San Giovanni. The topic will be on CLL, followed by an labtour.
Today the first SMH Journal Club took place. It was initiated and held by our vice president Britta Hartmann. She presented an important paper on germline assement for allogeneic stem cell transplant candidates. The paper can be found in the member area. We were very happy about the lively discussion about technical and ethical considerations and we would like to thank the members for their numerous attendance and will continue the format in 2025.So stay toon for further SMH JC to come!
The in person Business Meeting was very well attended and this was not by chance. The meeting was dedicated to Dr. Elisabeth Oppliger-Leibundgut, one of the founders of the SMH, which gave an overview over her important work in the field and took as back to the beginning of the SMH. We thank Elisabeth for all this years of dedication to bring molecular diagnostics forward in Switzerland and beeing an important international representation. Additionally there where presentation about the AML classification and how
the different labs performe their AML testings. There were important updates on IvDv, rembursements and EQC. Some of the presentation you can find in the members area.
One interessting suggestion was made during the meeting by Britta Hartmann and Jacqueline Schoumans to come up with short in-between meetings, where the different labs join for a short virtual lunch meeting, discussing important new literatur and pressing upcoming topics. We from the boad think, this exchange supports our members more in the daily life and we will start organizing a pilot project by end of the year. You will be contacted if your lab is interessted to participate in such a format. 
After the meeting, which was hosted in Berne, there was a nice farewell apero for Elisabeths retirement on the rooftop bar nido where besides a stunning view over the city, the society enjoyed the networking with exchanges between the labs and lively discussions. We hope to see you all latest in february, when Ticino will be hosting the next technician and academics meeting! So save the date for the 4th of february 2025!
The days at this year’s Diagnostics Meeting were very interesting and full of activities. The very well-attended meeting offered the opportunity for networking and a lot of good professional input.
Special thanks therefore goes to our keynote speaker Ana Rio-Machin from the Barts Cancer Institute Queen Mary University of London, who introduced us to the emerging topic of hereditary leukemias with a very clear and broadly informative presentation and stimulated many discussions. We are very happy that we can make her interessting presentation available to all our members in the member area.
Jacqueline Schoumans‘ crash course was also very well attended and gave the trainees the opportunity to learn the techniques in a memorable way. The first day was rounded off with the exciting cases from St. Gallen, Aarau and Berne, which provided plenty to talk about afterwards.
The SMH Board would like to thank all speakers and participants and is motivated to organize a part of the Diagnostics Meeting again next year. But before the next Diagnostics Meeting (which will take place in May 2025), it is now SAVE THE DATE for the next business meeting on September 17. More detailed information will follow soon.
