Formed in 2022, The British Society for Haematology (BSH) Laboratory Special Interest Group (SIG) incorporates both benign and malignant laboratory haematology. The SIG is comprised of BSH members and non-members who are a mix of medics and scientists.
The group will focus on general laboratory haematology, haematological malignancy diagnostics and the investigation of constitutional haematological disorders in the UK. These will continue to be a growth area over the next few decades, particularly with the advent of genomic and personalised medicine. Within the SIG, we will have separate sub-speciality workstreams to allow professionals to coalesce around areas of their particular interest, such as HMDS or red cell haematology.
These workstreams will operate and report through the SIG organising committee.
Laboratory SIG committee
April Sellors (Chair)
Consultant Clinical Scientist
HMDL Laboratory, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Dr Alesia Khan (Vice-chair)
Consultant Haematologist
Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Andrew McGregor
Consultant Haematologist
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Andrew Wilson
Consultant Haematologist
University College London NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Anna Godfrey
Consultant Haematologist and Clinical Lead
Haematopathology and Oncology Diagnostics Service, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Mr Chirag Bharat Modhwadia
Trainee Clinical Scientist (STP - Haematology and Transfusion Science)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr David Gurney
Head Biomedical Scientist, Research Lead for Pathology
Haemostasis and Thrombosis Laboratory, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Chair of IBMS Haematology Panel
Professor John Snowden
Consultant Haematologist, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Honorary Professor, University of Sheffield
Honorary Clinical Professor, University College London
Kat Mordue
Clinical Scientist
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Dr Katie Wickenden
Haematology Specialty Trainee
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Dr Linda Barton
Consultant Haematologist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Honorary Associate Professor, University of Leicester
Professor M. Calaminici
Consultant Haematopathologist Barts Health NHS Trust
British Lymphoma Pathology Group (BLPG) Chair
Mrs Nicki Lawrence
Principal Biomedical Scientist
Royal Stoke University Hospital
Dr Rachel Brown
Haematology Consultant and Clinical Director for Laboratory Haematology
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Sateesh Kumar Nagumantry
Consultant Haematologist, Peterborough City Hospital
PNH Physician, National PNH Service, Leeds
Dr Shireen Kassam
Consultant Haematologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, London South-East
KSS Training Programme Director, King’s College Hospital, London
Dr Timothy Farren
Head of Immunophenotyping and Scientific Lead for SIHMDS
NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership
Tom Butler
Consultant Haematologist and Haematopathologist, Barts Health NHS Trust
Clinical Director, NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership
Join the Laboratory Special Interest Group.
The SIG welcomes both members and non-members of the BSH who have a special interest in Laboratory Haematology and is free to join.
Please note you will need to log in or create a website account to join a SIG.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 020 7713 0990.
Laboratory SIG at ASM
These are exciting times to be a laboratory haematologist. This year's Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), held in Glasgow in April, was a great success. The SIG hosted three sessions and the new Digital Pathology task force was showcased on the Membership stage.
The SIG hosted a By Scientists For Scientists breakfast question and answer session. SIG Chair April Sellors, along with committee members Nicki Lawrence and Tim Farren, outlined the challenges facing scientists and offered some solutions.
Career progression - April Sellors
This presentation outlined career progression challenges for clinical and biomedical scientists, highlighting concerns over senior role vacancies and suggesting new pathways such as the Diploma of Expert Practice. It emphasises the need for structured development and recognition to retain expertise and support advanced scientific roles.
View the Career progression presentation
Delivery of training and education within a haematology laboratory - quick wins for the trainee and trainer - Nicki Lawrence
The presentation emphasised the importance of a clear departmental training strategy, supported by periodic audits to assess needs, accreditation, and resources. It outlined structured qualifications and practical “quick wins” to enhance haematology training outcomes for both trainees and trainers.
View Delivery of training and education within a haematology laboratory
Training and Support of Healthcare Scientists in Haematology - building a skilled and sustainable workforce - Tim Farren
This session highlighted the critical role of the scientist in haematology, as well as the concerns and constraints facing the scientific workforce. It emphasised the need for good, structured training support and prioritising training at a departmental level.
View Training and support of healthcare scientists in haematology
The main Laboratory SIG session saw SIG committee members Shireen Kassam and Tom Butler present on sustainable pathology practice and the haematology lab. of the future, while Dr Olga Tsiamata and Dr Amany Ihab Mohamed introduced the online Pathology Portal.
Sustainable pathology practice - Shireen Kassam
‘Without decisive and urgent action, the climate crisis will increasingly undermine human health and disrupt healthcare delivery. There are both moral and practical reasons for health professionals to be at the forefront of climate action’. This presentation outlines the steps that can be taken to enhance sustainability and reduce emissions at every stage of the healthcare journey.
View the Sustainable Pathology Practice presentation
Pathology Portal - Olga Tsiamata and Amany Ihab Mohamed
Using technology to enhance learning, the Pathology Portal incorporates the ability to digitally host and view whole slide images and a range of other resources, including teaching sessions and quizzes. Published content includes thousands of modules, in a phased rollout across pathology specialities. Keen educators are invited to contribute to and expand the portal's library of content.
View the Pathology Portal presentation.
The Haematology Laboratory of the future - Tom Butler
Digital haematology is transforming diagnostic accuracy and efficiency and BSH is at the cutting edge. The Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) network is getting off the ground to ensure consistency of diagnosis and share learning and innovation across the whole of the UK. Genomics is leading to increasingly complex biological concepts and precision medicine, and the first BSH Genomics grants were offered last year. Morphology remains ever-popular, as proved this year's session at the ASM. We can no longer ignore artificial intelligence and the BSH is at the forefront, offering Fellowships in Clinical AI.
As Dr Butler said: We are already working in the laboratory of the future.
Eight fascinating cases were presented at the ASM.
Instructions:
- Follow this link to view the cases on the Leeds Virtual Pathology website.
- Check out the details for each case below:
Case 1: Alesia Khan, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust
Case 2: Dina Osman, University Hospital Birmingham
Case 3: James Wilson, Harrogate and District Foundation Trust
Case 4: Lauren Jamieson, Synnovis, Kings College Hospital
Case 5: Katie Wickenden, University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust
Case 6: Nicki Lawrence, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Case 7: Alan Mitchell, Barts Health NHS Trust
Case 8: Anita Sarma, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust
- Reveal the diagnosis on the Leeds Virtual Pathology website
With a whistlestop tour of haematology diagnosis from 1590 to the future, Tim Farren's presentation at the Membership Stage explained the purpose of the new Digital Haematology task force: To review and develop the use of digital pathology (and AI) in haematology in the UK to advance the integration of cutting edge digital technology within haematology to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency and patient outcome.
HMDS survey results
Thank you to those who completed our HMDS survey in 2022. A summary of the results is available.
The results have already been presented at a BSH-supported HMDS network meeting in February 2023, as well as at the Lab SIG session of our BSH Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in April 2023.
The ASM presentation discusses the results of the survey, as well as outlining national issues and progress on forming a UK HMDS network.
Genomics Laboratory Hubs (GLHs)
Below you will find further information on the UK GLHs and the services they offer.
North East and Yorkshire Genomic Medicine Service
Useful resources
For some time, we have been anticipating the publication of two new haematological malignancy diagnostic classifications: the World Health Organisation (WHO) 5th edition and the International Consensus Classification (ICC), the outlines of which have recently been published in Leukemia and Blood, respectively.
While, for the most part, they agree and overlap with each other, the two classifications do differ in some areas.
The British Society for Haematology (BSH) and the British Lymphoma Pathology Group (BLPG) have been asked to help. We want to provide some interim guidance for members whilst planning formal, definitive guidance.