Other CPD activities

Members have the opportunity to engage in various activities to complete their CPD requirements. Below is a list of resources that you might find useful.

Conferences and events

Podcasts

Basics to Brilliance Haematology Podcast

The Haematology Podcasts provide a free, Q&A-based learning experience that covers clinical cases and laboratory techniques. These resources are designed to elevate your haematology knowledge to the level of a proficient registrar. Whether you're traveling or relaxing at home, our podcast is the ideal companion for aspiring haematologists everywhere!

The HaemSTAR podcast

HaemSTAR is an independent UK-wide network of registrars in clinical haematology, interested in promoting and performing research in classical haematology. In their podcast ‘Don’t Just Read the Abstract’ Dr Pip Nicolson and Dr Rich Buka discuss the latest advances in non-malignant haematology with the help of expert guests.

The HaemSTAR podcast ANNEXA-I: Plasma exchange free treatment of TTP – February 2025
In this episode, Rich and Pip discuss a paper a German/Austrian study published in Blood: Kühne et al. Management of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura without therapeutic plasma exchange.

The HaemSTAR podcast: ANNEXA-I: Exa-cel for severe sickle cell disease – December 2024
In this episode, Rich and Pip discuss gene therapy for sickle cell disease, focusing on Frangoul et al. Exagamglogene Autotemcel for Severe Sickle Cell Disease, NEJM 2024.

The HaemSTAR podcast: ANNEXA-I: Discussion with Dr Will Lester – October 2024
In this episode, Pip and Rich discuss ANNEXA-I with Dr Will Lester, Consultant Haematologist at University Hospitals Birmingham. ANNEXA-I was a randomised controlled trial of andexanet alfa for reversal of anti-FXa oral anticoagulants in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. There's a lot to get your teeth stuck into so and this one is a lively discussion!

The HaemSTAR Podcast: ANNEXA-I – August 2024
In this episode, Rich and Pip discuss the ANNEXA-I trial (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2313040). This was a randomised controlled trial of andexanet alfa, a decoy factor Xa molecule that is a reversal agent for oral factor Xa inhibitors. Patients were randomised to andexanet alfa or usual care. The primary outcome was haemostatic efficacy and andexanet alfa was shown to result in better control of haematoma expansion compared to usual care. However, there are many discussion points here not least the validity of the surrogate outcomes used in the trial.

The HaemSTAR Podcast: VITT, HIT, and spontaneous syndromes – May 2024
In this episode, Rich and Pip discuss vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. They critique a recent paper that has shown that VITT has been around before vaccines against COVID-19. Importantly, they discuss which patients should be tested for spontaneous VITT- and HIT-like syndromes, and discuss a recent case.

The HaemSTAR Podcast: Efgartigimod for ITP – April 2024
Dr Pip Nicolson and Dr Rich Buka discuss the ADVANCE IV trial: Efficacy and safety of the neonatal Fc receptor inhibitor efgartigimod in adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

The HaemSTAR podcast: FRAIL-AF – March 2024
Dr Pip Nicolson and Dr Rich Buka discuss the FRAIL-AF study: Joosten et al. Safety of Switching From a Vitamin K Antagonist to a Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant in Frail Older Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

The HaemSTAR podcast: The PACER trial – January 2024
In this, the first episode, Dr Pip Nicolson and Dr Rich Buka take a deep dive into the PACER trial: Platelet Transfusion before CVC Placement in Patients with Thrombocytopenia.

Webinars

The Professional Guidelines team is delivering an online learning programme to support pathologists with the implementation of new and revised clinical guidelines.

Some examples of topics include: