British Society for Haematology. Listening. Learning. Leading British Society for Haematology. Listening. Learning. Leading
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Annual Scientific Meeting
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Pioneering Research

Haematology has seen many significant advances thanks to research and major clinical trials. The discoveries being made today will continue to transform care.

In the words of our Past Presidents

‘…I think British haematology needs to be proud of their activity in clinical trials in some diseases.’
Alan Burnett, BSH President 1997 - 1998

‘…the actual highs of exhilaration come with seeing the results of your research and your ideas pan out in the laboratory and then move into the clinic.’
David Linch, BSH President 2009 - 2010

‘…we did the first trial in the world silencing a gene, the Bcl-2 gene, to good effect in patients with follicular lymphoma.’
Finbarr Cotter, BSH President 2010 – 2011

‘The UK has probably punched above its weight in haematology research…’
Michael Greaves, BSH President 2001 – 2003

Highlights from the haematology timeline

Our haematology timeline highlights many examples of pioneering research, including:

  • 2010 Tranexamic acid used to stem bleeding in many different situations
  • 2000s Transfusion: major advances in red cell genotyping
  • 1990s A decade of development of imatinib therapy for CML
  • 1984 Cloning and expression of factor VIII
  • 1973 First reported bone marrow transplant for aplasia
  • 1960s Development of anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis for haemolytic disease of the
    fetus and newborn (HDFN)

Browse the full timeline for more examples using the link below or in the right-hand menu.

Reflections from the haematology community

In preparation for our 60th anniversary, we invited members of the haematology community to share with us their thoughts and reflections. 

Find out more about our anniversary video contributors.

It is not too late to participate – please send your story to [email protected].

Anne Lennard: What do you see as the future of the treatment of T-cell lymphoma?
Anne Lennard: What do you see as the future of the treatment of T-cell lymphoma?
Anne Lennard: What excites you about the future direction of the treatment of T-cell lymphoma?
Anne Lennard: What excites you about the future direction of the treatment of T-cell lymphoma?
Anne Lennard: Of what would you say you are most proud in your career?
Anne Lennard: Of what would you say you are most proud in your career?
Peter Johnson: How has research within your field developed over the years?
Peter Johnson: How has research within your field developed over the years?
Peter Johnson: What improvement would you like to see in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Peter Johnson: What improvement would you like to see in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Peter Johnson: Why do you think there has been considerable progress within the past 30 years?
Peter Johnson: Why do you think there has been considerable progress within the past 30 years?
Sally Barrington: An area for improvement within PET imaging
Sally Barrington: An area for improvement within PET imaging
Sally Barrington: One of the most important written guidelines I was involved in
Sally Barrington: One of the most important written guidelines I was involved in
Sally Barrington: A key development in PET imaging
Sally Barrington: A key development in PET imaging
Sally Barrington: The future of PET imaging
Sally Barrington: The future of PET imaging
Sally Barrington: What excites you about the future direction of PET imaging?
Sally Barrington: What excites you about the future direction of PET imaging?
Sally Barrington: The major developments in PET imaging
Sally Barrington: The major developments in PET imaging
Robert Marcus: The future of the treatment of follicular lymphoma
Robert Marcus: The future of the treatment of follicular lymphoma
Robert Marcus: Major developments in the treatment of follicular lymphoma
Robert Marcus: Major developments in the treatment of follicular lymphoma
Andrew Jack: When did the modern era in haematological malignancy diagnostics begin and what existed before that?
Andrew Jack: When did the modern era in haematological malignancy diagnostics begin and what existed before that?
Andrew Jack: What technological developments took place in biotech in the 70s that had an impact on how leukaemia and lymphoma were diagnosed?
Andrew Jack: What technological developments took place in biotech in the 70s that had an impact on how leukaemia and lymphoma were diagnosed?
Andrew Jack: How have the developments of modern diagnostics changed the way patients are treated in the past few years?
Andrew Jack: How have the developments of modern diagnostics changed the way patients are treated in the past few years?
Jim Murray: Advances in haematology over the past 60 years
Jim Murray: Advances in haematology over the past 60 years
Jim Murray: The reason for the delay in introducing more targeted treatments
Jim Murray: The reason for the delay in introducing more targeted treatments
Cathy Burton: The personalisation of medicine
Cathy Burton: The personalisation of medicine
Cathy Burton: What has been the greatest achievement in immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics in the past 60 years?
Cathy Burton: What has been the greatest achievement in immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics in the past 60 years?
Cathy Burton: What do you envisage is the future of AI in diagnostics?
Cathy Burton: What do you envisage is the future of AI in diagnostics?
Lorna Williamson: Over the course of your career, what have been some of the major developments in transfusion medicine?
Lorna Williamson: Over the course of your career, what have been some of the major developments in transfusion medicine?
Lorna Williamson: What will transfusion medicine look like in 60 years?
Lorna Williamson: What will transfusion medicine look like in 60 years?
Jackie Green: What are your biggest hopes for haematology over the next 60 years?
Jackie Green: What are your biggest hopes for haematology over the next 60 years?
Jackie Green: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Jackie Green: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Imelda Bates: What do you believe are the key contributions UK haematologists have made to haematology in developing countries over the past 60 years?
Imelda Bates: What do you believe are the key contributions UK haematologists have made to haematology in developing countries over the past 60 years?
Shivir Moosai: What are the most significant developments happening right now in haematology?
Shivir Moosai: What are the most significant developments happening right now in haematology?
Shivir Moosai: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Shivir Moosai: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Jamie Saunders: What are the most significant developments happening right now in haematology?
Jamie Saunders: What are the most significant developments happening right now in haematology?
Jamie Saunders: What do you believe are the key innovations in haematology in the past 60 years?
Jamie Saunders: What do you believe are the key innovations in haematology in the past 60 years?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovataions in haematology in the 1960s?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovataions in haematology in the 1960s?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovations in haematology in the 1970s?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovations in haematology in the 1970s?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovations in haematology in the 2000s onwards?
Keith Hyde: What do you believe were the key innovations in haematology in the 2000s onwards?
Ted Tuddenham: An overview of clotting factors
Ted Tuddenham: An overview of clotting factors
Ted Tuddenham: Could you talk us through an overview of your work with factor 8? 
Ted Tuddenham: Could you talk us through an overview of your work with factor 8? 
Ted Tuddenham: What do you believe are the key innovations in haemostasis in the past 60 years?
Ted Tuddenham: What do you believe are the key innovations in haemostasis in the past 60 years?
Ted Tuddenham: What do you consider to have been the greatest moment within your career to date?
Ted Tuddenham: What do you consider to have been the greatest moment within your career to date?
Ted Tuddenham: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Ted Tuddenham: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Ted Tuddenham: Which aspects of working in haemostasis have given you the greatest satisfaction?
Ted Tuddenham: Which aspects of working in haemostasis have given you the greatest satisfaction?
Barbara Bain: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Barbara Bain: Where do you believe haematology will be in 60 years' time?
Barbara Bain: Will AI replace morphologists in the future?
Barbara Bain: Will AI replace morphologists in the future?

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The views expressed in the material filmed for the anniversary are those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent the views of the British Society for Haematology.

Filming took place in the second half of 2019 and the start of 2020, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.