Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous group of myeloid disorders characterized by the accumulation of dysplastic cells within the bone marrow, resulting in ineffective hematopoiesis and cytopenia. Around 30% of patients with MDS will progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) currently represents the only curative option for MDS; however, novel strategies and therapies are under investigation, including personalized medicine approaches and immunotherapies.

In this VJSession, chaired by Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, of the Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, CT, Valeria Santini, MD, of the University of Florence in Italy and Eva Hellström-Lindberg of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, discuss their experiences of breaking into the MDS field, share advice for women in science, and talk on the current state of the MDS space.