The International Symposium on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, organized by the Hematology Clinic of the Military Medical Academy, was held at the MMA.

In his welcoming speech, the Head of the Sector for Treatment of the Military Medical Academy, Colonel Dr. Miroslav Broćić, pointed out that modern medicine is taking giant steps forward and that one of the leaders, if not the bearer of this accelerated development, is certainly hematology, which, together with basic medical sciences, creates the prerequisites for providing the best health care protection. He also said that gatherings of this type significantly contributed to and improved the work of hematology medicine with the harmonization of all necessary circumstances and prerequisites so that the work of institutes and clinics were at the highest level.

Head of the Clinic for Hematology MMA Prof. Dr. Dragana Stamatović, in her opening speech, referred to the history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the MMA and noted that the rich history is a great obligation for all contemporaries of modern medicine. As she said, the adoption of methods in transplant hematology and their introduction into regular clinical practice along with monitoring modern trends and excellent cooperation with centers from the region and the country bring security to the well-being of all MMA patients.

With an emphasis on clinical experiences and case reports, the lectures were united under the topic "Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of malignant hemopathies: challenges in clinical practice". Along with lecturers from the current transplant centers in Serbia - MMA, Clinical Center of Serbia, Institute for Mother and Child "Dr. Vukan Čupić" and Clinical Center of Vojvodina, a representative of the National Register of Voluntary Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors from the Institute of Blood Transfusion of Serbia participated too. Traditionally, eminent experts who work in this branch of medicine are among the top ten in the world - prof. Dr. Mohamad Mohty from France and Prof. Dr. Andrea Bacigalupo from Italy.

The first hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was performed 50 years ago in MMA. Since then, these forms of treatment have been successfully applied to numerous patients with hematological and non-hematological, malignant and benign, congenital and acquired diseases, and so far, about 1,500 all forms of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have been performed at the MMA Hematology Clinic.