A huge thank you to PathSoc and BDIAP for the opportunity to organise and celebrate another excellent educational gathering on 25th June 2026. The meeting was organised by the (BLPG), bringing together colleagues, trainees, and experts for a day packed with updates, discussion, and shared enthusiasm for the ever-evolving world of haematopathology.

The meeting, titled “Updates for Everyday Haematopathology”, took place in Manchester during a rather memorable heat wave. While we came prepared for scientific heat, Manchester decided to add a little extra excitement with some genuine summer temperatures! The city was certainly glowing — not only from the sunshine but also from its vibrant character. The colourful graffiti artwork running through the tunnels added a creative touch to the urban landscape, while the lively atmosphere around the university area, filled with busy students and the energy of academic life, made the surroundings feel wonderfully dynamic. The venue, the Manchester Business School, provided the perfect setting for a day of learning and collaboration.

The evening before the meeting, speakers and organisers gathered for a memorable dinner at the historic Midland Hotel — a location full of charm and stories. This iconic hotel is famously linked with the early agreement that led to the creation of Rolls-Royce, and guests were welcomed by the terracotta sculpture marking the exact spot where partners first met  along with a beautiful vintage Rolls-Royce on display. The setting was impressive, but the evening itself was even better. The food was outstanding, the live band brought plenty of atmosphere. The much-anticipated Conference Dinner Speech Sweepstake, with the challenge of guessing how long the two societies’ speeches would last (Prof Mohd Ilyas (Latch); Chair & Meetings Secretary of PathSoc and Dr Matthew Clarke; meetings secretary of BDIAP) were entertaining highlights. added a playful competitive spirit to the evening — proving that pathologists can analyse more than just slides!

The scientific programme on Thursday began with a keynote lecture from Dr Rob Hasserjian of Harvard USA, who opened the meeting with “Advances in Everyday Myeloid”, providing an insightful update on developments shaping current practice.

This was followed by Dr Liron Barnea-Slonim (King’s College London, BLPG Treasurer), who explored “Molecular in Everyday Myeloid”, highlighting the increasing importance of integrating molecular information into routine diagnostic approaches.

Our international guest speaker, Professor Maurilio Ponzoni of Milano, Italy, then shared his expertise on CNS lymphomas, offering valuable perspectives on this complex and challenging area.

One of the standout sessions of the day came from Prof Daphne de Jong (Netherlands), who delivered a fantastic talk on LPDs in immunosuppression. This is an area that can often feel like a diagnostic maze, but Prof de Jong had a remarkable ability to simplify, clarify, and demystify the challenges with her depth of knowledge and engaging style.

Following the break, Dr Andrew Wotherspoon  (The Royal Marsden -UK) guided attendees through the morphology, classification, and latest updates in extranodal lymphomas, providing a practical and informative overview relevant to everyday diagnostic work.

Prof Maria Calaminci (Barts -UK and the BLPG Chair) then focused on the important topic of cytological assessment of lymphoma, demonstrating how to maximise the value of fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples and make every specimen count.

Keeping the meeting firmly future-focused, Dr Richard Byers (Manchester-UK) delivered an exciting session on AI and digital advances in haematopathology, showcasing the innovative work he has developed with Martin Fergie (UK) and exploring how technology may continue to transform our diagnostic landscape.

Of course, trainees and residents were very much part of the programme. Dr Hebah Ali from Leeds (BLPG Secretary) delivered an engaging lymphoma case-based session, focusing on the practical interpretation of morphology and IHC in everyday lymphoma diagnosis.

The day concluded with the important and always valuable EQA session, delivered by Dr Malee Fernando (UK, BLPG) and Dr Anna Green (UK, BLPG), bringing together learning points, reflection, and practical lessons to support continued excellence in diagnostic practice.

Overall, it was a wonderful combination of cutting-edge science, practical education, international expertise, and the friendly collaborative spirit that makes haematopathology such a special community. The meeting in Manchester was a truly memorable meeting, both scientifically and socially.

Warmly,
Prof Maria Calaminici & Dr Hebah Ali
on behalf of BLPG Council

Cambridge provided the perfect setting for the British Lymphoma Pathology Group (BLPG) Autumn Meeting on 21 November 2025. With its world-renowned colleges, tranquil riverside walks, and centuries-old academic tradition, Cambridge provided an inspiring backdrop for a day dedicated to advancing lymphoma diagnostics and research. Held at the beautiful St Catharine's College, the meeting brought together pathologists, scientists, and clinicians for an outstanding programme that reflected both the depth of modern haematopathology and the collaborative spirit of our specialty.

The hybrid meeting attracted a full audience in the lecture theatre, with more than 70 additional delegates joining online from across the world. The lively discussions throughout the day demonstrated the continued strength and international reach of the BLPG community.

The scientific programme opened with a superb session on low grade lymphomas. Our invited speaker, Prof Luc Xerri (Marseille), delivered an outstanding lecture on Germinal Centre B-cell Subsets and Follicular Lymphoma Subtypes, providing fascinating insights into lymphoma biology and classification.

This was followed by another distinguished guest, Prof German Ott (Stuttgart), who presented an excellent overview of BCL2 Translocation-Negative Follicular Lymphoma and its Differential Diagnosis. His practical approach and wealth of experience generated considerable discussion among delegates.

Continuing the morning session, Dr Myrsini Tzioni, presenting work from Prof Ming-Qing Du's group at the University of Cambridge, shared exciting findings demonstrating that different primary thyroid B-cell lymphomas exhibit overlapping mutational profiles, highlighting the evolving role of molecular pathology in understanding lymphoma pathogenesis.

The focus then shifted to NGS,, an area rapidly transforming diagnostic haematopathology. Dr Ayoma Attygalle (The Royal Marsden) led a lively and thought-provoking discussion on How Do We Choose Cases for NGS Analysis?, addressing the practical challenges faced in routine diagnostic practice. Building on this theme, Prof Ming-Qing Du (Cambridge), explored the Hidden Potential and Pitfalls of Mutation Profiling by NGS, providing valuable insights into both the opportunities and limitations of molecular testing. The final presentation before lunch was delivered by Dr Livia Raso-Barnett (Cambridge), who discussed The National Test Directory: What Do We Need? Her presentation offered an informative perspective on how national guidelines and policies are shaping the implementation of NGS in everyday practice.

The lunch break provided an excellent opportunity for networking, allowing colleagues to reconnect, exchange ideas, and continue scientific discussions in the welcoming surroundings of St Catharine's College.

The afternoon programme focused on high-grade lymphomas from both clinical and pathological perspectives. Prof Andy Davies(Southampton) offered the clinician's viewpoint in his engaging lecture, What Does the Clinician Need from Pathologists?, emphasising the importance of close multidisciplinary collaboration in delivering optimal patient care. Continuing the clinical theme, Dr Dan Hodson (Cambridge) discussed Genomic Classification of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma to Meet Clinical Need, demonstrating how genomic advances are increasingly influencing therapeutic decision-making.

From the busy molecular diagnostic centre in Leeds, Dr Sharon Barrans (HMDS) presented an excellent overview of Molecular Subtyping of DLBCL to Meet Clinical Need, highlighting the practical application of molecular classification in routine diagnostic services. Returning to the podium, Prof Ming-Qing Du delivered another fascinating lecture on MYC Translocation in DLBCL and High-Grade B-cell Lymphoma: Why the Partner Matters, bringing together molecular mechanisms and their diagnostic significance with his trademark clarity.

Following the afternoon coffee break, delegates enjoyed two excellent educational case presentations demonstrating how complex diagnostic challenges are translated into routine practice. Dr Liron Barnea Slonim, (King's College & BLPG Treasurer), presented a highly instructive case, followed by another outstanding case from Dr Calogero Casà of Cambridge, both stimulating enthusiastic audience participation.

As always, the meeting concluded with the much-anticipated (EQA) Discussion, expertly led by Dr Anna Green, Dr Malee Fernando, and Dr Lakshmi Venkatraman. This interactive session remains one of the highlights of every BLPG meeting, encouraging open discussion and shared learning from challenging diagnostic cases.

Beyond the outstanding scientific programme, the meeting also celebrated the collegiality that makes the BLPG such a special society. Our host and BLPG Research Officer, Prof Ming-Qing Du, extended exceptional hospitality by hosting not one, but two memorable dinners—a welcoming pre-meeting gathering and a post-meeting celebration. The latter, held at one of Cambridge's finest Chinese restaurants, was particularly special. The relaxed atmosphere provided the perfect opportunity for further conversations, new collaborations, and catching up with colleagues and friends.

The BLPG Autumn Meeting once again demonstrated the exceptional quality of education, research, and collaboration within the haematopathology community. Scientific excellence, engaging discussion, and the unique charm of Cambridge combined to make this a truly memorable event.

We now look forward to the next BLPG meeting, which will be held in London on 20 November 2026. Be sure to save the date—we look forward to seeing you there.

The Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) Integrated Diagnostic Course is a new innovative two-day course running twice a year.

This is an interactive, case-based course with interspersed micro-lectures to address all the aspects of haematological malignancy diagnostic testing, and is designed to simulate working in an HMDS setting and integrated reporting. The cases cover a wide range of myeloid and lymphoid neoplastic entities primarily involving the bone marrow. Each case will be available for participant-independent review of morphology (through whole slide imaging scans), immunophenotyping, histology, immunohistochemistry and genomic testing results. The participants will then be encouraged to determine the diagnoses followed by discussion with experts in the field. The interspersed lectures will discuss the different diagnostic test methodologies and their interpretation.

This course is aimed for any health care professional with an interest in haematological malignancy diagnostics, to include: haematology trainees and consultants, histopathology trainees and haematopathology/histopathology consultants as well as clinical scientists.