Professor Titus H.J. Huisman is best known for his work on hemoglobin (Hb) 
variants. To date, more than 1,000 Hb variants have been discovered and 
characterized, of which about one-third were discovered in Titus Huisman's 
laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. A registry of 
these Hb variants and other information, a legacy from Professor Huisman, is now 
available online, at HbVar database (hhtp://globin.bx.psu.edu/hbvar). During the 
last century, major developments in Hb research have been made using physical, 
chemical, physiological and genetic methods. This review highlights the 
milestones and key developments in Hb research most relevant to hematologists, 
and that have impacted our understanding and management of the thalassemias and 
sickle cell disease.