The president of the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH), María Victoria Mateos, has highlighted the role of immunotherapy and gene therapy in expanding therapeutic possibilities against hematological pathologies, insisting on the need for these advances to be made accessible to all patients who may need them.
"We are achieving deep and lasting responses in patients who previously had very few alternatives. But the real advance is that each person can receive the appropriate treatment at the right time, regardless of where they live," Mateos emphasized.
In this context, #Hemato2026 will host from October 22 to 24 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), in Barakaldo, the LXVIII National Congress of the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH) and the XLII National Congress of the Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (SETH).
#Hemato2026 brings together this year 2,374 registered participants, which represents a new maximum of participation, and has accepted 1,107 of the 1,127 communications submitted: 306 will be presented in plenary sessions and oral presentations, 667 will be shown in poster format, and 134 will be allocated for publication. The program includes 92 official speakers, 20 symposiums, and eight meetings with experts.
The scientific agenda, aimed primarily at hematologists and other healthcare professionals, integrates PLATEA #Hemato2026 as an educational space for attendees, with parallel activities to the central scientific sessions.
In parallel, the educational initiative "Get Closer to Hematology" will bring these advances to the public in the center of Bilbao. The press conference emphasizes how biomedical innovation translates into more therapeutic alternatives and a better quality of life for patients.
Immunotherapy: CAR-T and bispecific antibodies
Throughout #Hemato2026, the role of CAR-T therapies will also be analyzed, which use lymphocytes from the patient's own body modified to identify and destroy malignant cells. Bispecific antibodies, for their part, act as a link for immune system cells to locate and attack tumor cells. Both strategies, integrated within immunotherapy, have increased options against certain types of leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma.
Jordi Esteve, president of the Scientific Committee of the SEHH of #Hemato2026, emphasizes that the margin for improvement of CAR-T is still wide: "We are researching new targets and changes in the design of these cells to increase their efficacy and reduce toxicity. We are also studying how to use them earlier in the evolution of some diseases. The challenge is for such a complex treatment to be accessible and sustainable."
Gene therapy and artificial intelligence in hematology
The congress will also address how innovation is changing the approach to coagulation disorders. In hemophilia, gene therapy aims for the body itself to synthesize the deficient or insufficient factor, with the purpose of decreasing hemorrhagic episodes and reducing the need for prophylaxis. Its use requires individualized assessment and close monitoring.
"Gene therapy for hemophilia is already a clinical reality in Spain. The challenge now is to identify candidate patients and ensure equitable access. Our goal is not only to prevent bleeding but to enable people to live with fewer limitations imposed by their disease," says María Teresa Álvarez, president of the SETH.
Artificial intelligence is another of the pillars of the meeting, both in the diagnosis of hematological cancers and in bleeding disorders. According to experts, its ability to integrate clinical data and complex tests allows for more personalized therapeutic decisions, always under the validation and supervision of specialists.