Dr Jim Vadolas will delve deep into the subject of thalassaemia, a group of inherited blood disorders that affect red blood cell production, looking into its devastating past and the medical developments that have helped combat it.
Dr Vadolas will speak on the topic in an upcoming lecture organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne titled ‘Thalassaemia Uncovered: Understanding the Condition, Recent Advances, and Hope for the Future”.
The seminar will take place on 4 September, 7pm, at the Greek Centre with the recognised leader in the field of red blood cell disorders to offer his expert insights.
Dr Vadolas will explore the history of thalassaemia which, in Australia, is more common among people with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Southeast Asian heritage.
It was first recognised in the 1920s and once caused life-threatening anaemia, organ failure and early death in its most severe form ‘thalassaemia major’.
The Greek Australian, who leads the Immunohaematology Group at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, will touch on the introduction of regular blood transfusions in the 1960s that improved survival, but led to iron overload, which can damage vital organs.
Medical advancements over the years have improved the treatment of the blood disorders.
Iron chelation therapies, including oral medicines like deferiprone and deferasirox, are now central to long-term care, while genetic screening before or during pregnancy and at birth is conducted and helps detect and prevent severe disease early.
Additionally, curative treatments have advanced, from stem cell transplants to promising gene therapies.
Dr Vadolas will elaborate on the ongoing research in Australia and globally that is working to refine these therapies, improve iron regulation, and reduce complications, with their overall goal of working towards a future where thalassaemia is manageable or even curable.
