HELIOS is delighted to return to ASCAT 2026 in London this October, with both a dedicated scientific session and an exhibition booth, marking our final participation at ASCAT in this format during the current HELIOS COST Action.
Over the years, ASCAT has become an important meeting point for the international sickle cell disease and thalassaemia community, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, patient representatives, advocates and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, discuss advances in research and clinical care, and build collaborations across countries and disciplines.
For HELIOS, ASCAT has offered much more than a platform to present our work. It has provided an opportunity to connect directly with the wider haemoglobinopathy community, strengthen existing relationships, establish new collaborations and introduce researchers and healthcare professionals to the activities and opportunities available through the network.
We are therefore particularly grateful to the ASCAT organisers and community for their continued collaboration, support and warm welcome to HELIOS over the years. Their willingness to provide a space for scientific exchange, networking and collaboration has helped us engage with colleagues from across the world and has contributed to the growth and visibility of our network.
At ASCAT 2026, HELIOS will once again have the opportunity to share its work and bring its community together.
On 9 October at 11:30 AM in the George Thomas Room, HELIOS will host the dedicated session:
“HELIOS at ASCAT: Advancing Global Collaboration, Training, and Research in Haemoglobinopathies.”
The session will showcase how HELIOS has worked to strengthen international collaboration across haemoglobinopathy research and care, bringing together expertise in molecular diagnosis, clinical research, data management, education and training, and communication and dissemination. It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on some of the scientific activities, collaborations and initiatives that have developed through the network.
Throughout the conference, attendees will also be able to visit the HELIOS booth, meet members of the network and learn more about our activities. From collaborative research and publications to training, mobility, networking, and opportunities for researchers at different career stages, the booth will offer a snapshot of what has been achieved through HELIOS and the community behind it.
This year’s participation has a special significance for us. As HELIOS enters the final stage of the COST Action, ASCAT 2026 will be the last conference at which we participate with both a dedicated HELIOS session and exhibition booth.
Rather than simply marking an ending, we see this as an opportunity to celebrate what has been built: the connections created across countries and disciplines, the knowledge shared, the opportunities provided to researchers and healthcare professionals, and the collaborations that we hope will continue long beyond the lifetime of the Action.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank ASCAT for being part of the HELIOS journey and for providing us with a valuable platform to connect with the global haemoglobinopathy community throughout the years.
Whether you have been involved with HELIOS from the beginning, recently joined the network, collaborated with one of our activities, or are meeting us for the first time, we warmly invite you to join us at ASCAT 2026.
Come and meet the HELIOS community, exchange ideas, explore opportunities for future collaboration, and celebrate this important milestone with us.
9 October 2026 | 11:30 AM
George Thomas Room | ASCAT 2026, London
And make sure to visit the HELIOS booth during the conference — we look forward to seeing you in London.