SOCIETY

The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) is a scientific society, founded in 1935 and joining over 1300 professionals involved in blood transfusion and transfusion medicine from more than 95 countries.

What are the aims of the ISBT?

The objects of the Society are the following:

1. Dialogue between the Organizations. To create close and mutually beneficial working relationships between the relevant national and international professional societies and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for the purpose of spreading the know-how about the manner in which blood transfusion medicine and science can serve the patient's interests best.
2. International Forums. To create worldwide and regional possibilities for the presentation of research, new developments and changing insights in the field of blood transfusion medicine and science and related disciplines, and for exchanging views and information between the members of this and other societies.
3. Professional Guidelines. To promote and enforce high-quality ethical, medical and scientific guidelines in the field of blood transfusion medicine and science all over the world by all possible means.
4. Permanent Education and Training. To stimulate the development of cooperation programmes in the field of good manufacturing, laboratory and user practices in all countries, in particular in countries where blood transfusion services are less developed.
5. Scientific Interests and Research. To stimulate scientific and other interests and to promote research in the field of blood transfusion medicine and in addition, everything that is related thereto, either direct or indirect, everything to be taken in the broadest sense possible.

The Society seeks to achieve these objects, by:

• organizing, evaluating and coordinating conferences, research meetings, seminars, training programmes, and symposia;
• acquiring and granting funds for research purposes and participating in national and international conferences, seminars and research projects relating to the objects of the Society;
• inviting experts to deliver talks;
• promoting publications and publishing a scientific journal;
• making funds available to persons from developing countries;
• offering financial support for scientific research, possibly in combination with other organizations.

How is the ISBT organised?

• The management of the affairs of the Society is vested in the General Assembly.
• The ISBT Board of Directors is responsible for the general management of the Society during the interval between general Assemblies. The Board of Directors includes eight Regional Directors, from each of the six world regions (WHO definition).
• The Board delegates the administration of the affaires to the Executive Committee - the President, the Secretary-General, two Vice-Presidents, the President-Elect, the Past-President and the Treasurer.
• Standing Committees work on set themes, such as Education, Finance, Ethics, Publications, Membership, Nominations, Constitution and by-laws, scientific advice and Vox Sanguinis. The committees are made up of a chairman and individual members, chosen for their expertise in the field in question.
• Working Parties and Expert Panels are organised to study specific topics such as Automation and Data Processing, Transmissible Diseases, Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens, Socio-Economics, Rare Donors, Haemovigilance, Cord Blood, Blood Supply Management, Platelet Immunobiology, Granulocyte Immunobiology, Blood Group Serology, Molecular Biology and Stardisation of Blood Group Reagents.
• The ISBT Central Office assists in administrative and organisational tasks.

What are the activities of the ISBT?

• Organising international and regional congresses, symposia, workshops and seminars on issues of topical interest, from blood donations to the latest therapeutic products, transfusion transmitted diseases, quality control and standardisation, monoclonal antibodies, biotechnology …. etc.
• Compiling and publishing various technical, administrative and scientific documents - congress proceedings, state of the art reviews, monographs, guidelines to members and a membership list to facilitate exchanges and developments.
• Setting ethical and technical standards for those involved in blood transfusion, transfusion medicine and science.
• Presenting a biennial award, the ISBT Presidential Award to senior persons for exceptional performances in transfusion medicine or a related field.
• Presenting a biennial award, the Jean Julliard Prize, to scientists under the age of 40 for recent work in the field of blood transfusion.
• Presenting together with the AABB and the BBTS the International Women in Transfusion Award
• The journal Vox Sanguinis is the official scientific journal of the Society
• The quarterly bulletin, Transfusion Today, enables members to keep up to date and exchange news, views and information on their work.

ISBT central office

• handles all matters relating to membership of the Society. This includes applications for membership, subscriptions and enquiries;
• serves the Board of Directors and Executive Committee in administrative and organisational matters. This includes the organisation of the election of Officers of the society, together with the preparation of meetings;
• provides the Standing Committees, Working Parties and Expert Panels with information;
• arranges for the distribution of ISBT's quarterly bulletin Transfusion Today.
• serves as webmaster of the ISBT web-site.