Staff of different divisions of the Center of Haematology
During the 1920’s, T.S. Istamanova performed her first clinical studies in haematology with
emphasis on erythropoiesis, i.e., the importance of the spleen in destruction of erythrocytes,
neurogenic regulation of erythropoiesis, and evaluation of reticulocytosis as a functional
criterion of red blood cell production. The Doctor’s Thesis of T.S. Istamanova was concerned
with polycytemia. Subsequently, her pupils and colleagues continued studies of blood system
disturbances in various diseases (V.V. Svirchevskaya, S.I. Ryabov, V.A. Almazov, S.V. Kanaev,
M.M. Tushinskaya, Yu.P. Urinson, N.N. Mamaev).
During the 60’s and 70’s, cytogenetic techniques were actively introduced into clinical
practice, including haematology. The Chair of Faculty Therapy retained leading positions
in this field.
Within this time period, local haematological service was rearranged, and the Haematological
Department was organized. Clinical haematology now focussed more on oncology and intensive
therapy.
At the beginning of the 70’s, a revolutionary discovery confirmed the A. Maximov’s hypothesis
suggesting the existence of a polypotent stem cell, and this pioneering fundamental data
permitted effective study of initial hemopoietic events in vitro and in vivo. The question
of optimal research approaches enabling up-to-date studies in haematology arose.
Proper conditions were created for the establishment of a laboratory of hematopoietic cell
culture (B.V. Afanasiev, A.Yu. Zaritskey et al.), while being supported by
Prof. T. Istamanova and Prof. V.A. Almazov. The cell culture media deficient in USSR and
a lot of chemicals for these aims were kindly provided by the son of G.F. Lang, Professor
Anton Lang, who was a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
Professor V.A. Almazov ran the Chair and Clinics of Faculty Therapy from 1974 to 1997.
At the beginning of his professional career, he was deeply involved into various aspects
of haematology. During that period, haematological research was concerned with the following
areas: studies of granulomonocytopoiesis in hemoblastoses and neutopenias (B.V. Afanasiev,
A.L. Shishkov, T.S. Zabelina, L.S. Zoubarovskaya), evaluation of bone marrow stroma in
leukaemias (A.Yu. Zartskey), studies of erythropoiesis (M.S. Dozenko), and the blood
clotting system (M.N. Petrov, V.K. Vashkinel).
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