Contributions to Global Hematology from Low and Middle-Income Countries: Insights from ASH 2018

Background. Establishing research capacity in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) is key for improving health systems and implementing actionable programs through evidence-based assessments. Few studies have analyzed hematology research capacity in LMICs. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting is the largest hematology event where peer-reviewed contributions from researchers worldwide are selected for presentation based on scientific merit. Therefore, it can provide a useful snapshot of the current status of hematology research in a single point in time. For this reason, we analyzed abstracts presented at the 2018 ASH annual meeting (ASH18) with a focus on those from authors working in a LMIC. Objective. To describe the proportion of abstracts presented at ASH18 from an LMIC and analyze their characteristics as a surrogate for academic contributions to global hematology. Methods. We reviewed all abstracts presented at ASH18 in an oral presentation or poster form published online in the supplemental edition of Blood 2018;132 (Suppl 1). LMICs were selected according to the World Bank classification including countries or territories with a gross national income