Presidents of 'THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN GENETICS'
Dr. H.M. Bhatia, Ph.D - 1983-84
An internationally
recognized immunologist and specialist on human blood groups, Dr Bhatia
is known for his discoveries of the Bombay Oh blood group, the In-a
blood group system and a new phenotype in the I-i system.
Dr Bhatia started his research in the Cancer Research Institute in the
company of Dr Sanghvi and Dr Khanolkar and in due course established the
blood group Reference Centre (BGRC), which has grown into the Institute
of Immunohaematology. Under these two institutes, he has done a yeoman
service in the standardization of blood banking services in the country
and in training scores of personnel on haematogical and blood grouping
techniques. he carried out many studies on the genetics of tribal and
caste populations of Western India and his book "Genetic Atlas of
Indian Tribes" written with V.R. Rao and his manual on "Blood
Grouping Techniques" are much sought after sources of reference.
Author of about 250 research papers, DR Bhatia served on the Editorial
Board of Vox Sangvinnes.
Dr Bhatia received several distinctions and Awards: the N.I.H. Post
Doctoral Fellowship, S. Amirchand Prize, M.Sapre Oration, J.B Chattarjee
Award, J.M Parekh Oration, BRC Foundation Day Award and the L.D Sanghvi
Oration Award of the Indian Society of Human Genetics.
He held many positions of distinctions such as expert Member of world
Health Organization on Haematology and Blood Transfusion and helped the
blood banking services in Srilanka and Bangladesh. He was Expert Member
of Indo-German, Indo-Russian and Indo-French scientific committees of
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
In addition to ISHG, Dr Bhatia served as President of the Indian Society
of Haematology and Blood Transfusion and the Bombay Haematology Group.
