Partnered with our TMS Patient/Caregiver Conference (May 1-3, 2019), TMS and the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM) Steering Committee worked together to host the Inaugural AIM Physician/Investigator Conference (May 4-5, 2019).  Both conferences were held in the San Francisco Bay Area. The intention of AIM is to develop a pan-American mast cell disease network, including all of North and South America.

BACKGROUND

Since 2014, The Mastocytosis Society, Inc. (TMS) has been hosting small ancillary meetings during the annual gatherings of several physician specialty associations.  We now refer to these discussion groups as Mast Cell Disorder Challenges meetings because the general purpose has been to bring together specialist physicians, drug company representatives and members of the TMS Research Committee to identify the primary challenges facing the mast cell disorder community in the United States and to explore possible actions that would address those challenges. A key conclusion from our initial Challenges meetings was that the establishment of a US Network for Mast Cell Disorders would be extremely helpful in overcoming many of the challenges faced by our disease community.

During these meetings, our US physicians have received significant support from many international specialists who have shared their experiences of forming networks in their own countries and more broadly in Europe. TMS is committed to supporting activities that will lead to the formation of a network under the leadership of Cem Akin, MD, PhD, and Jason Gotlib, MD, as Co-Chairs, and is working with these and other specialists on the formation of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM), which has the intent to form a network of mast cell disease centers throughout the Americas. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Mast Cell Disorder Committee has also agreed to participate in this effort.

Below is a list of the Challenges and AIM conference planning meetings that TMS has hosted.

MAST CELL DISORDER CHALLENGES/AIM CONFERENCE PLANNING MEETINGS:

• 2019 AAAAI Ancillary Meeting: TMS hosted an AIM inaugural meeting planning session with physicians attending the 2019 AAAAI meeting in San Francisco, CA.
• TMS Pre-2018 ECNM Meeting: Susan Jennings, PhD, TMS Research Committee Chair, attended the October 2018 European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) Annual Meeting in Salerno, Italy. Immediately prior to this meeting, TMS hosted a gathering of US physicians attending the ECNM meeting to work on planning efforts for the AIM Inaugural Physician/Investigator Meeting to be held in May 2019.
• 2018 AAAAI Ancillary Meeting: TMS hosted an AIM inaugural meeting planning session with allergists attending the 2018 AAAAI meeting in Orlando, FL. The meeting was moderated by Cem Akin, MD, PhD, and Melody Carter, MD.
• 2017 ASH Ancillary Meeting: TMS attended the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting in December in Atlanta, GA, and hosted our fourth ASH ancillary mast cell disorder meeting, bringing together specialist hematologists, drug company representatives and TMS for a discussion on Mast Cell Disorder Challenges, moderated by Jason Gotlib, MD, and focused on brainstorming for the formation of AIM and inaugural meeting discussions.
• TMS Pre-2017 ECNM Meeting: Susan Jennings, PhD, TMS Research Committee Chair, attended the October 2017 ECNM Annual Meeting in Paris, France. Immediately prior to this meeting, TMS hosted a gathering of US physicians attending the ECNM meeting to initiate planning efforts for the formation of the AIM.
• 2017 AAAAI Ancillary Meeting: TMS hosted our 7th Mast Cell Disorder Challenges meeting during the March 2017 AAAAI Annual Meeting. The meeting was moderated by Cem Akin, MD, PhD, and Melody Carter, MD. Dr. Akin gave a slide presentation on the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) (kindly shared by Peter Valent, MD, from his presentation during the 2016 ASH Challenges meeting noted below) to provide the group with a similar background as our hematologists received on a potential model for a US Mast Cell Disorder Network.
• 2016 ASH Ancillary Meeting: TMS attended the 2016 ASH Annual Meeting in December and hosted our third ASH ancillary mast cell disorder meeting, bringing together specialist hematologists, drug company representatives and TMS for a discussion on Mast Cell Disorder Challenges, moderated by Jason Gotlib, MD. Peter Valent, MD, from the Medical University of Vienna, gave a presentation on the background, structure and activities of the ECNM. Meeting discussion related to solidifying support for creation of a US Network for Mast Cell Disorders and important considerations for this effort.
• 2016 AAAAI Ancillary Meeting: During the March 2016 AAAAI Annual Meeting, TMS hosted another Challenges meeting with mast cell disorder-focused physicians and industry representatives attending the AAAAI meeting (Conquering Challenges in Mast Cell Disorder Therapy Development and Patient Care), moderated by Cem Akin, MD, PhD, and Melody Carter, MD. A committee was assembled to work on the establishment of a US Network for Mast Cell Disorders.
• 2015 ASH Ancillary Meeting: TMS attended the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting in December and hosted our second ASH ancillary mast cell disorder meeting, bringing together specialist hematologists, drug company representatives and TMS for a discussion on Challenges in Developing Novel Mast Cell Disorder Therapies, moderated by Srdan Verstovsek, MD (Dr. Gotlib was able to attend for the end of discussions, but was delayed due to an unexpected conflicting meeting).
• TMS Pre-2015 ECNM Meeting: Susan Jennings, PhD, TMS Research Committee, attended the October 2015 ECNM Annual Meeting in Munich, Germany. Immediately prior to this meeting, TMS hosted a gathering of US physicians attending the ECNM meeting to discuss the possible formation of a US Network for Mast Cell Disorders. The idea was met with enthusiasm and Cem Akin, MD, PhD, and Jason Gotlib, MD, agreed to Co-Chair a committee to move forward with this initiative.
• 2015 AAAAI Ancillary Meeting: TMS hosted a Primary Challenges for Mast Cell Disorder Treatment in the U.S. meeting during the February 2015 AAAAI Annual Meeting, bringing together specialist allergists, drug company representatives and members of the TMS Research Committee, moderated by Dean Metcalfe, MD, and Cem Akin, MD, PhD.
• 2014 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Ancillary Meeting: TMS attended the 2014 ASH Annual Meeting (December 2014) and hosted our first ancillary mast cell disorder meeting, bringing together specialist hematologists, drug company representatives and TMS Research Committee members for a discussion on Challenges in Developing Novel Mast Cell Disorder Therapies, moderated by Srdan Verstovsek, MD. The group agreed to meet again during the following 2015 ASH Annual meeting, with Srdan Verstovsek, MD, and Jason Gotlib, MD, serving as meeting Co-Chairs.