In 2016, representatives from the British Society for Haematology (BSH) and haematologists from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) met to decide the priorities of the Global Haematology Special Interest Group (SIG).
One priority was identifying BSH speakers to visit LMIC haematology meetings to establish links and collaborative projects.
We built on the success of the 2017 pilot project to establish the Plenary Speaker Project as a core activity of the SIG. In 2023, we rebranded the scheme as BSH Global Speakers to better communicate our vision for the project,
Applications are open for societies to request a BSH-sponsored Global Speaker.
The BSH Global Speakers scheme aims to form international partnerships with haematology societies in LMICs to share knowledge and expertise.
We have previously funded UK-based speakers selected by BSH to travel to face-to-face meetings, financially supporting economy return international flights, accommodation, visas and subsistence for speakers. We have also provided speakers for virtual meetings.
Several long-term collaborations have resulted from previous speakers’ visits. Society applicants are encouraged to use this initiative to collaborate on eg. co-authored evidence-based guidelines or research to improve evidence and treatment in your setting.
If your society is planning a conference or meeting from August 2025 onwards, we welcome applications for a speaker. Please apply using this form and return it to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed by a panel and applicants notified of the outcome by the end of February 2025. You should also use this address if you have any questions about the application process.
Deadline: Friday 10 January 2025.
Please note that applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed until August 2025.
The BSH Global Speakers task force is now accepting applications for the BSH Global Speakers scheme. The aim of the scheme is to form collaborative partnerships between the BSH and haematology societies in low- and middle-income countries, for the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
The Global Haematology Special Interest Group requires speakers for two conferences:
The Annual Meeting of the Egyptian Society of Hematology and Research (ESHR), Cairo. 24-25 November 2025.
The organisers request a speaker with expertise in Challenges in the diagnosis and management of rare anaemias. The selected speaker will also be invited to visit university and hospital facilities to network with scientists and clinicians.
The Eighth Conference of the Myanmar Society of Haematology, Yangon. 20-21 September 2025.
A speaker with expertise in Stem cells and cellular therapy is requested. The selected speaker will also be invited to additional meetings with clinicians and scientists for further discussion.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel and applicants will be notified of the outcome within three weeks of the closing date. This project is always evolving, and we hope to work closely with our international partner societies and the BSH Global Speakers during both planning and evaluation stages.
Deadline: Friday 24 January 2025
Eligibility: you must be a BSH member to apply.
We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any queries please contact [email protected]
About the programme
Making links, creating networks
The initial phases of this programme involved mapping out and making contacts with active haematology and transfusion societies in LMICs worldwide.
We searched for active haematology societies in LMICs in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
We contacted attendees from LMICs at the 2016 BSH international congress, and we asked respondents about active haematology societies in their region. We conducted internet searches and contacted haematologists and transfusion specialists in large teaching hospitals in LMICs.
We shortlisted LMIC haematology societies for our 2017 pilot scheme based on pre-defined criteria. We invited the Ghanaian Society of Haematology (GHASH) and the Haematology and Oncology Society of Africa (HOSA) to take part.
Previous attendees:
2017: Dr Hume Ahmad - Accra, Ghana - Challenging diagnostic cases in anaemia.
2017: Dr Maadh Aldouri - Nairobi, Kenya - Treating lymphoma in low resource settings.
2018: Dr Noemi Roy - Cairo, Egypt - Dyserythropoesis and the use of NGS in rare anaemias.
2019: Dr Anita Hill - Colombo, Sri Lanka - Update in PNH.
2019: Dr Ben Kennedy - Bangkok, Thailand - Update in CLL.
2021: Dr Jecko Thachil - South Africa - Coagulopathy and COVID-19.
2021: Dr Nandini Sadasivam - Vietnam - Update in care for patients with thalassaemia.
2022: Dr Richard Dillon - Egypt - Molecularly guided interventions to prevent relapse in AML.
2022: Dr Keith Gomez - Ghana - Anticoagulation: challenging cases.
2023: Dr Bill Grey - Thailand - Targeting protein homeostasis to eradicate acute myeloid leukaemia stem cells and protect health issues.
2023: Miss Lucy Wheeler - Egypt - MRD in acute leukaemia: a 'different from normal' approach.