Josu La Fuente

Dr Josu de la Fuente is the Clinical Lead for Paediatric Specialties at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where he directs the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Programme and leads the Service of Paediatric Haematology. He is a Senior Lecturer in Haematology at Imperial College London.

Dr Josu de la Fuente completed his general training in paediatrics in different hospitals in London and following membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, he trained in haematology at Imperial College and Great Ormond Street Hospital achieving membership of the Royal College of Pathologists. During this time he developed an interest in red cell disorders, bone marrow failure and transplantation. After a period of research in human developmental haemopoiesis as an MRC Clinical Research Fellow leading to a PhD, he was appointed in 2006 to lead the paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Programme at St. Mary’s Hospital, which specialises in transplantation for haemoglobinopathies and bone marrow failure, and has been innovative in the use of alternative donors. He has also developed a unique clinical and research programme for Diamond Blackfan anaemia patients and is part of the iBFM Study Group steering committee for chronic myeloid leukaemia. He is a member and haematology lead in the Paediatric Medicine Clinical Reference Group of NHS England developing national standards of care.

Dr Josu de la Fuente is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Pathologist, reflecting his expertise in haematology and paediatrics. He is a member of the British Society for Haematology, the American Society of Haematology, the American Society of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the European Haematology Association and European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Dr Josu de la Fuente offers services to newborn, children and young adults who have abnormal or lack of blood production and those with red cell disorders, including haemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and other abnormal haemoglobins) and those who have anaemias of whatever cause. He has expertise in iron management including use of non-invasive MR techniques and liver biopsies. He advises, investigates and treats any cases of immune destruction of blood cells (immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, autoimmune neutropenia, etc), platelet disorders, clotting abnormalities and thrombosis, and transfusion issues. He offers a comprehensive service including laboratory haematology and access to a clinical nurse specialist in paediatric haematology. Bone marrow biopsies, if needed, are performed under general anaesthesia to minimise pain and distress.