British Society for Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics
The British Society for Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (BSHI) was formed in 1989
following widespread expression of support for a formal professional body to represent workers
in the field. It has a membership of over 450 which includes Biomedical Scientists, Clinical
Scientists, Physicians, Surgeons, Researchers and Academics throughout the UK. There are BSHI members in all the
Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics laboratories in the UK and Ireland and many Europoean
laboratories.
BSHI objectives
The main objectives of BSHI are:
To promote as widely as possible service and research activity in H&I, especially in the
fields of transplantation and disease susceptibility.
To promote and maintain the highest possible professional standards in H&I.
To establish and promote formally recognised training in all theoretical and practical
aspects of H&I.
To promote the interests of members by representation on the accreditation bodies
that monitor working practices and conditions including emergency duty, job descriptions,
adequate staffing levels and career structures.
The Society holds an annual three-day scientific meeting, which is enthusiastically
supported by the membership and commercial companies.
BSHI COMMITTEE
The BSHI committee is comprised of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Meetings Secretary,
HIG Chairman and HIG Secretary together with 6 ordinary members. Committee members are
elected by the membership with a normal term of office of three years. The society has a
written constitution, which is available from the secretary.
STANDARDS
The issue of establishment and maintenance of appropriate standards within the profession
is being actively addressed. A BSHI Standards Working Group is working in close liaison
with the European Federation for Immunogenetics -(EA) Standards Committee on amendments
to the EFI Standards Document. The Standards Working Group are also producing a paper for
inclusion in the standards document relating to organ and tissue transplantation compiled
by the British Transplant Society.
BSHI EDUCATION BOARD
The BSHI Education Board aims to facilitate, develop and advance the academic and
professional standing of BSHI and all its members. Three subcommittees, the training
Executive, Professional Development Executive (Higher Training/ CPD) and Research
Executive/ Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Group (HIG), address the education and
training requirements within H&I.
The Training Executive maintains and administer a training programme to meet the needs of
Grade A Clinical scientists and Biomedical scientists in H&I, and awards the appropriate
qualification, the BSHI Certificate to the successful candidates. The Research Executive/
HIG is the academic arm of BSHI and is formally affiliated to the British Society of
Immunology (BSI). HIG promotes interaction on an academic basis between the two societies
and contributes to the scientific programme of the annual BSHI conference and usually has
one joint session per year at BSI meetings. HIG is responsible for co-ordinating
peer-reviews of papers submitted for presentation at BSHI conferences and peer-reviews
all applications for BSHI bursaries and awards.
The Professional Development Executive is responsible for the training programme aimed at
experienced Grade B Clinical Scientists working towards the Royal College Part I
examination in H&I, although clearly this will benefit many other workers in the
profession. This group is also responsible for the Continuing Professional development
(CPD) scheme, which acts as a formal recognition that an individual is keeping up to date
and maintaining professional commitment and competency.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIG'S)
The main objective of the SIG's is to encourage and promote practical co-operation and
research activities between members. These SIG's annually hold one day meetings and the
SIG co-ordinators regularly update the membership through the BSHI Quarterly Newsletter.
AWARDS
BSHI Meeting Bursaries are available to fully paid up members who have been with the
Society for at least one year. Members are able to apply for one bursary in a year and
priority is given to 'junior' members contributing to meetings. Approximately £5000 is
available for bursaries each year.
An Annual Travelling Fellowship Award was instigated in 1997 with the aim of promoting
the interaction and exchange of ideas between laboratories, either abroad or in the UK.
It is aimed principally at mid-career scientists under 35 years of age who have been BSHI
members for more than three years. The award is up to the value of £1500 and has been renamed
The Julia Bodmer Travel Fellowship.
Since its establishment the Society has enjoyed continuing support and encouragement
from the commercial sector. Several companies have joined as corporate BSHI members.
BSHI REPRESENTATION AND LIAISON
BSHI is represented on:
Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS)
British Society for Immunology (BSI)
British Transplantation Society (BTS)
Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA)
Clinical Scientists Board at CPSM
European Federation of Immunogenetics (EFI)
Federation of Healthcare Science (formerly CCSO)
National External Quality Assurance Advisory Panel (NEOAAP)
Royal College of Pathologists
UKBTS/NIBSC Liaison Group. Working Party on Histocompatibility Testing
UK Transplant Kidney Advisory Groups
BSHI has liaison with:
Advisory Committee on the Commissioning of Education for Specialist Staff
British Blood Transfusion Society
Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine
Institute of Biomedical Sciences
National Blood Authority
UK Transplant Service
THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS
This is the official journal of BSHI and short reviews, commissioned by BSHI, covering
all aspects of H&I are regularly published in this journal.
THE BSHI NEWSLETTER
The BSHI Newsletter is circulated quarterly to all members to update them on developments
within the Society including regular reports on meetings, conferences, and special
interest groups and information on training.
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