Hematology in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) took its birth in Varanasi with the establishment of a Hematopathology laboratory & Coagulation laboratory in the year 1965 & subsequently, formation of a Varanasi Hemophilia Society. The Department of Pathology, IMS, BHU was honoured to organize the XXVI Haematocon in 1985. Establishment of a Kashi Hematology Society (KHS) in the year 1999 was a shot in the arm for hematology lovers in this region. KHS has till date organized 26 academic meets, published four books & seven newsletters. It was honoured to organize the biggest hematology meet in Kashi in the past 40 years -the ‘IIIrd Annual Conference of Uttar Pradesh Hematology Group’ (IIIrd UPHGCon 2026) in Feb 2026.

Hematology in Lucknow took wing with the establishment of state-of-the-art hematology centers at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) & King George’s Medical University (KGMU). Soon Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) & private sector joined them. Lucknow was honoured to organize Haematocon twice in 2007 & 2025, making it the ‘Takshashila’ of hematology in U.P.

UP produced four legends in Hematology namely Prof.B.Dube,Prof.V.P.Singh,Prof.A.K Tripathi & Prof.Soniya Nityanand .They nurtured & played a pivotal role in the growth of hematology in U.P. Prof.B.Dube was twice the President of Indian Society of Hematology & Blood Transfusion ( ISHBT) & was awarded the life time achievement award by ISHBT.Prof.V.P.Singh was awarded the life time achievement award by Uttar Pradesh Hematology Group.Prof.A.K Tripathi was elected as President ,ISHBT & established the Department of Clinical Hematology at KGMU.Prof.Soniya Nityanand established the Department of Hematology at SGPGI & as hon’ble Vice Chancellor KGMU, established the bone marrow transplantation centre at KGMU.

Uttar Pradesh Hematology Group (UPHG) was formed in the year 2024 to act as a forum for collaborative work in the field of hematology, exchange of ideas & for dissemination of knowledge in hematology in U.P. The group has organized three annual conferences in Lucknow (2024), Kanpur (2025) & Varanasi (2026) & was honoured to organize Haematocon 2025. It will now be bringing out its own newsletter & website. It is poised to play a significant role in the development of hematology in U.P.

I wish the group best of luck in their endeavor.
Prof Vijai Tilak