WELCOME TO Haematology
History and About Hematology Department, NRS Medical College and Hospital
The Hematology journey was started long back in around 1972. The hematology wing, at N.R.S. Medical College started as a unit under the department of medicine to provide the needs of hematology patients. It commenced with a single room with a very small space for a laboratory. The unit consisted of a faculty (teacher) trained in hematology, who was posted under the department of medicine, along with one technician & a group D staff. The unit in this initial phase was headed by Dr Sandhya Ghose (1972-1974), Dr Manju Dutta Chaudhuri (1974 - 1980) and Dr Madan Mohan Rakshit (1980 -1990) sequentially. A total of ten beds and two-house physicians were allotted from the department of medicine to the unit. The activities included-outpatient clinic-twice in a week, indoor admission and attending referred cases. Basic instruments were scanty - 1-2 monocular microscopes, a water bath, a few Wintrobe and Westergren tubes, a couple of centrifuge machines, and a few bone-marrow aspiration needles. The faculty in-charge of the unit had to work overtime single handedly to provide adequate hematology services as well as teaching students. After about a decade, the unit was provided additional space, better ward facilities and some additional essential items. In spite of repeated efforts nothing substantial was achieved. Beginning of a new era Dr. Malay Kumar Ghosh (June 1990 – February 2013) joined the department in mid-nineties, he was fortunate enough to visit few established hematology setups in the country. He got inspired & realized that to sustain this specialty, it needs to transform the existing set up into a comprehensive hematology department, outside the prevailing domain of medicine. Dr Ghosh was a post-graduate in medicine with exclusive hematology training under Prof. Sandhya Ghosh besides training in general medicine. He was also fortunate enough to be posted as a clinical tutor in the prestigious hematology department of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (first time in the history of hematology in West-Bengal). Bolstering of the department by younger generation Dr. Maitreyee Bhattacharya, was headed the department from February 2013 to August 2014, joined as a clinical tutor in late nineties when only a post of clinical tutor was sanctioned by the health department. With her intense involvement, both Dr. Ghosh and Dr. Bhattacharyya embarked upon an intense drive for up progression of the hematology service and academic activities. In the beginning of 2000, it was officially declared an independent department of its own-one dream fulfilled. During this time the hematology department gradually started its journey for induction into the national field. With the initiative of Prof. Ghosh N.R.S. Medical College became the principal center for ICMR sponsored multicenter - JAY VIGYAN MISSION PROJECT for assessing the most recent status of thalassemia burden in the country. During this period, the relentless persuasion for the upgradation continued ceaselessly. New posts were created for professor, associate professor, assistant professor & clinical tutors along with nonacademic Senior Residents. DM course in Clinical Hematology was permitted to start from 2009 and got recognized in 2012 at the time of the final examination of the first batch.
Department had three seats for DM (Clinical Hematology) from 2013. Subsequently the department was headed by Dr Prantar Chakrabarty (August 2014 –June 2019) followed by Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai from June 2019 to till now. Since 2019 there has been a major development in all aspects of Hematology. Presently the department runs four seats for DM (Clinical Hematology) from 2023.
In February 2009, first Bone Marrow Transplantation was done in the Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College and Hospital. This center did the first autologous as well as allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the Eastern part of India. This is the first center in India that did stem cell transplantation under the state Government Hospital in India. Initially the BMT unit was started with a single room with only air conditioning facilities. Subsequently transformed to three bedded non-HEPA filter facilities in 2015. Four bedded state of the art modular Bone Marrow Transplantation units started functioning in December 2021. The BMT unit of NRSMCH, still now (June 2024) did 122 stem cell transplants successfully. Now the center is well equipped with state of art stem cell transplant facilities and able to perform all types' stem cell transplantation procedures (Autologous, Allogeneic with MSD, MUD, Haploidentical and UCBT) and CAR T cell therapy. To serve the people of West Bengal and adjacent parts of countries, NRS Hematology is the largest Hematology center in the Eastern part of India. Today in June 2024, the Hematology department had 66 (sixteen) indoor beds and 15 (fifteen) Outdoor beds. Pre-Natal-Diagnosis (PND) for thalassemia and sickle cell anemia started in July 2013. As of now (June 2024), the total number of cases was 1578 and 523 affected fetuses were identified. To strengthen the laboratory services, the department got a sanctioned dedicated post of Professor, associate professor, assistant professor and senior resident of Hematopathology. Presently the department has Molecular Laboratory, Coagulation Laboratory, Hemostasis Laboratory, Hemolytic Laboratory and other advanced techniques. Today the hematology department of N.R.S Medical College has made a position in the hematology map of India as well as In the World.
UG Teaching Program-
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Haematology section of Undergraduate curriculum is taken care by Haematoogy Faculties
PG Teaching Program
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Haematology section of Postgraduate curriculum (MD Pathology; MD Medicine and MD Pediatrics) is taken care by Haematoogy Faculties
PD Teaching Program-2009 to 2012- Two DM Clinical Haematology Seat/year; 2012 to 2022-Three DM Clinical Haematology Seat/Year; From 2023 on ward-Four Seat/Year
DM Clinical Hematology course-
NMC Approved course and name of Trainee since 2009
2009- Dr.Nataraj KS
2010- Dr.Prakas Kumar Mandal
2011- Dr.Sandeep Saha
Dr.Basab Bagchi
2012- Dr.Ashutosh Panigrahi
Dr.Meet Kumar
2013-Dr.Shuvraneel Baul
Dr.Karthik KS
Dr.Pooja Prasad
2014-Dr.Soumya Mukherjee
Dr.Tusti Ganguly
2015- Dr.Shazia Gulshan
Dr.Pritish Patra
Dr.Abhijit Phulkan
2016- Dr.Ankita Sen
Dr.Bijita Dutta
Dr.Ankita Jitani
2017- Dr.Manisha Jain
Dr.Karthika V
2018- Dr.Malini
Dr.Avriti Baweja
Dr.Prakash Shekhawat
2019- Dr.Bilal Kazi
Dr. Rishu Vidharti
Dr.Kusumita Mandal
2020- Dr.Shipla Roy
Dr.Abhishek Maurya
Dr.Apurba Banerjee
2021- Dr.Kaustav Ghosh
Dr.Chirasree Sanyal
2022- Dr.Praveen Kumar Jha
Dr.Praveen Kumar Thulu
2023- Dr.Subhrakamal Saha
Dr.Suprotim Ghosh
Dr.Mayank Pandey
Dr.Pratibha Singh
Ongoing Research
DST/DBT/ICMR Project-
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Optimization of Available Infrastructure and Resources for the Management of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Treated with FISH & Minimal Residual Disease based Dynamic Risk Stratified ICiCLe Protocol (ICMR approved-Prof Rajib De, Co-PI-Prof Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai)
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Preclinical Studies to Investigate Citrate-Functionalized Tri-Manganese Tetroxide Nanoparticles for Its Bilirubin Reduction Properties for Risk of Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia (ICMR approved-Co-PI-Prof Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai)
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Cytogenetic Characterization of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML) And Its Clinical Relevance” DST-BT, West Bengal. [PI- Dr. Shuvra Neel Baul; Co-PI-Prof Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai]
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A Geographical Information System Based Analysis 0f Leukemia Registry Data in West Bengal”. DST-BT, West Bengal [PI- Prof Dr. Prakas Kumar Mandal]
On going Clinical Trial-
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Protocol No. NN7533-4470 (Phase -III)- Protocol Title: A multicentre trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral decitabine tetrahydrouridine (NDec) in patients with sickle cell disease (ASCENT 1). Date of Initiation-2024. [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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Protocol No: CVAY736Q12301 -Protocol Title: “A phase 3 randomized, double-blind study of Ianalumab (VAY736) versus placebo in addition to Eltrombopag in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who had an insufficient response or relapsed after first line steroid treatment (VAYHIT2)”. Date of initiation-2023. [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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An Open-Label, Multi-Center, Phase IV Clinical Trial to Evaluate Disease Response of Carfilzomib Injection with Patients Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Have Received One to Three Lines of Therapy. [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Phase III Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Roxadustat (Fg-4592) For Treatment of Anemia in Patients with Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) With Low Red Blood Cell (RBC) Transfusion Burden (LTB). [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Randomised Open - Label, Phase III Study to Evaluate Imetelstat (Grn163l) Versus Best Available Therapy (BAT) In Patients with Intermediate-2 Or High -Risk (Mf) Refractory to Janus Kinase) Jak – Inhibitor. [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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Safety And Efficacy Study of Azadine® (Azacitidine) In Treatment of Myelodysplatic Syndrome in Indian Patients. [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Prospective, Single-Arm, Multicentre Study to Assess Safety and Efficacy of Romy® (Romiplostim Powder for Injection) (Intas Pharmaceuticals LTD., India) In Patients with Chronic Refractory Immune (Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai]
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A Phase II, Randomized, Parallel, Open-Label Study to Investigate the Safety, Efficacy, And Pharmacokinetics of Various Dosing Regimens of Single Agent Belantamab Mafodotin (Gsk2857916) In Participants with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (Dreamm14) [PI: Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai]
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Randomized, Assessor-Blind, Multicentre, Parallel Group, Two Arms, Clinical Study to Assess the Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Immunogenicity and Safety of Rituximab (Test Product, Zydus) In Comparison with Rituximab (Reference Product, Roche/Genentech) In Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai]
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A Multicentre, Open-Label, Randomized, Phase III Clinical Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Pf-114 Versus Imatinib At 600 Or 800 Mg Daily in Adult Patients with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive (Ph+) Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) In The Chronic Phase (CP) Resistant To Imatinib At Daily Doses Of 400 Or 600 mg” [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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An Indian Multi-Centric Phase Iv Study to Assess the Safety of Crizanlizumab With or Without Hydroxyurea Therapy In Sickle Cell Disease Patients With Vaso-Occlusive Crises” [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Phase IV Study to Evaluate Safety and Effectiveness of Luspatercept (Ace-536) For the Treatment of Anaemia Due To IPSS-R Very Low, Low, Or Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) With Ring Sideroblasts Who Require Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Subjects Who Have Had Unsatisfactory Response to or Are Ineligible to Erythropoietin Based Therapy and in Subjects with Transfusion Dependent Anaemia Due to Beta-Thalassemia [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Prospective, Nonrandomized, Open Label, Single Arm, Multicenter, Phase III Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Human Normal Immunoglobulin for Intravenous Administration in Adult Patients with Chronic Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia. [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Randomized, Open-Label, Three-Treatment, Three-Arm, Three-Period, Single-Dose, Multi-Center, Cross-Over Study to Assess Bioequivalence of Azacitidine Tablets of Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd., India Compared with Onureg™ Under Fasting Condition in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Remission Phase. [PI- Dr Tuphan Kanti Dolai].
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A Phase III, Prospective Multi-Centre, Open Label Study to Investigate Safety, Immunogenicity and Hemostatic Efficacy of Pegylated Factor VIII (Bax855) In Previously Untreated Patients ? 6 Years with Severe Hemophilia A. (PI: Dr. Prakas Kumar Mandal).
Thesis/Dissertation
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Dr. Kaustav Ghosh: A Study on Outcome of Low Dose Azacytidine in Patients of Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
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Dr. Chirasree Sanyal: Outcome Assessment of Phenotypic Matched Packed Red Blood Cell (PRBC) Transfusion in Thalassemia Patients, In Relation to Allo & Autoantibody Formation and Transfusion Requirement.
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Dr. Praveen Kumar Jha: A Study on Role of L-Asparaginase Level on Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) Status in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) And Its Relation with Early Clinical Outcome.
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Dr. Praveen Kumar: Comparison of Point of Care Ultrasonography with MRI In Assessment of Joints in Hemophilic Arthropathy.
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Dr Pratibha Singh -Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Bortezomib in patients with Low and Intermediate risk Myelodysplasia Syndrome (MDS).
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Dr Suprotim Biswas-Effectiveness of Imatinib in Modifying the Complications of Sickle Cell Syndromes.
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Dr Subhra Kamal Saha - “Effectiveness of Romiplostim and Eltrombopag as a Dual Agent in the Treatment of Aplastic Anemia: A Prospective Study.
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Dr Mayank Pandey- Clinical Outcome of Hydroxyurea with Thalidomide in Patients of Hb E Beta Thalassemia and its Relationship with XMNI Polymorphism.
