Ventana supports World Health Organization's global classification of haematopoietic and lymphoid cancers

TUCSON, Ariz., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), a member of the Roche Group has made an educational grant to support the World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Advisory Meeting being held March 31 through April 1, 2014 in Chicago.  The meeting's purpose is to update the existing WHO monograph on Tumours of the Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues published in 2008.  The meeting will be attended by up to 100 global experts in the field of hematopathology. 

According to the editors of the WHO monograph Tumours of the Haematopoeitic and Lymphoid Tissues, Fourth Edition, "It is important to have an accepted classification that can be used worldwide so the results of clinical trials from different institutions can be compared and pathologists and clinicians have a common framework for understanding epidemiology, pathogenesis, and approaches to treatments of cancers."

The WHO publishes classification handbooks for neoplastic diseases to provide uniform criteria and terminology for pathologists and clinicians globally. 

"In line with our mission to improve the lives of all patients afflicted with cancer, we recognize and support the extraordinary efforts the WHO Clinical Advisory Committee puts forth to provide consistent classification criteria and terminology to the global hematopathology community.  This work is critical to continued progress in the understanding and treatment of diseases in this area and we are committed to supporting these efforts to improve patient care." says Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eric Walk.   

Dr. Thomas Grogan, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Founder and hematopathologist, was a contributor to the 2008 WHO monograph on Tumours of the Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues.

About Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. ("VMSI") (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), a member of the Roche Group, innovates and manufactures instruments and reagents that automate tissue processing and slide staining for cancer diagnostics. VENTANA products are used in clinical histology and drug development research laboratories worldwide. The company's intuitive, integrated staining, workflow management platforms, and digital pathology solutions optimize laboratory efficiencies to help reduce errors, support diagnosis and enable informed treatment decisions by anatomic pathology professionals. Together with Roche, VMSI is driving Personalized Healthcare through accelerated drug discovery and the development of "companion diagnostics" to identify the patients most likely to respond favorably to specific therapies.

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CONTACT:                                                     
Jacqueline Bucher
Sr. Director, Corp. Communications
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Tel 520.877.7288 o
Tel 520.468.9145 m
[email protected]

SOURCE Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.