Undergraduate and postgraduate education

The Centre for Haematology, with its varied team of academic and clinical staff, contributes extensively to the teaching activity within the department and further afield. Teaching is assigned to ‘teaching fellows’ or academics with specific roles within the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in Molecular and Translational Haematology and Biomedical Sciences, Masters in Molecular Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Clinical Research, and components of the MBBS course at the Imperial College School of Medicine.

The BSc in Haematology, the only one in the UK, was originally developed by Professor Barbara Bain, internationally renowned as a diagnostic clinician. It is designed for medical students with an interest in the blood and its disorders. The Course Director is now Dr Letizia Foroni, who continues Professor Bain's goals to deliver a comprehensive, well-constructed course that teaches haematology in the era of molecular pathology, modern diagnostic technologies and targeted therapies. The principles of red cell diseases, haematological malignancies, and disorders of haemostasis and thrombosis are presented to give fascinating insights into the normal and abnormal function of haemopoiesis and provide a solid basis for the understanding of the haematological manifestations of systemic diseases. 

Professor Foroni and Dr Andy Porter are responsible for teaching modules in molecular biology and molecular haematology within the BSc in Medical Biosciences.

The MSc Molecular Medicine course is a highly successful pathway co-directed by Dr Tom McKinnon and Dr Paras Anand. The course offers the opportunity for both basic and clinical scientists to learn about world-class cutting edge research and gain theoretical and practical training in state-of-the-art molecular and cell-based methods. The course covers a broad range of topics including haematology, immunology, cancer biology, virology and genomics. Students are taught with innovative and interactive teaching methods and performance assessed with novel assessment methods rather than standard exams.  Many students from the course will go on to undertake PhDs.

We offer both clinical and laboratory projects for taught courses and welcome students for PhD degrees. Several of our consultants have progressed from the BSc in Haematology to academic research posts in a rich and vibrant environment.

The Centre for Haematology is fortunate in having the support of the Philip and Helen Fialkow Memorial Travel Scholarships, in memory of the eminent haematologist, Philip Fialkow. This funding is provided to support our trainees, including medical students, PhDs, post-docs and clinical fellows to attend international meetings to present their work.

External courses

Our biannual, internationally renowned short postgraduate courses in haematology, particularly diagnostic haematology, originated at St Mary’s Hospital in the 1980s and subsequently transferred to the Hammersmith Hospital. They have been led by Professor Barbara Bain, supported by St Mary’s Hospital and Imperial College staff and by external experts. The courses cover blood film and bone marrow morphology, histopathology of the bone marrow and diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies.

Academic medical training

The Centre for Haematology has hosted Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) and Clinical Lecturers (CLs) under the NIHR funding scheme since its inception. The posts are advertised and appointed through the London Deanery. Interested applicants are advised to contact our academic training lead, Professor Mike Laffan.

Haematology ACFs are encouraged to use their 9 months of research funding to establish themselves in an Imperial laboratory of their choosing and obtain preliminary results to support an application for a clinical research training fellowship. So far, all of our 15 ACFs have been successful. ACFs and CLs both receive additional travel bursaries and consumables support from the BRC and are allocated an appropriate supervisor. 

Additional Clinical Research Fellow posts are available within the Centre. Successful applicants can pursue MD or PhD degrees, or undertake one-year attachments to sub-specialities or the Clinical Trials Unit to gain additional experience prior to consideration of a higher degree. These posts are advertised through NHS jobs and/or the BMJ.