The first-ever chimeric antigen receptor ( CAR ) T-cell therapies were approved for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma last year , and the robust gene-therapy pipeline is sure to produce other revolutionary treatments for a variety of health problems soon .

We asked ASH Clinical News readers , “ What medical conditions will CAR T cells and gene therapies be used for next ?” Here ’ s how they responded :

The 2017 ASH Annual Meeting marked the debut of ASH-enabled Alexa stations , providing instant answers to your annual meeting questions . This year , meeting organizers are stepping up their tech game . Here ’ s a look at the gadget rollouts planned for 2018 :

Alexis stations , where you can ask holograms of ASH President Alexis Thompson , MD , detailed questions about hematology physiology

Telepresence robots , so you can attend 2 sessions at once while simultaneously sailing around the San Diego Bay

Xbox Blood Edition , where you can play first-person action games like submitting a manuscript to Blood using BenchPress ( includes approving proofs )

Fear Factor ! Virtual reality headsets let you live the coagulation cascade from the perspective of factor V ( with narration from ASH Clinical News Associate Editor Alice Ma , MD !)

Video drones for rising above audience members taking photos of slides with their iPads

What other gadgets and gizmos would you like to see ?

ASH Clinical News Associate Editor Keith Stewart , MBChB , MBA , raised some thought-provoking questions about what to do when confronted with a touchy-feely patient in his last Editor ’ s Corner (“ Hugging It Out ”). So , we created a helpful diagram for all the self-proclaimed misanthropic hematologists who need some guidance : “ Stewart ’ s Hierarchy of Hugging .”

The suitable expressions of fondness , in order of endearment :

14 ASH Clinical News April 2018