International Society of Blood Transfusion

The formation of the International Society of Blood Transfusion, or Societé International de Transfusion Sanguine, as it was called at the time, was initiated in Rome at a meeting between representatives from 20 nations, the International Red Cross and the Bogdanov institute in Moscow. Blood transfusion was a rather new therapeutic option, and therefore it was decided that transfusion-specific congresses should be organised, to highlight the potential importance of transfusion. To organize these congresses, a society was needed.

After it was decided that a society dedicated to organizing transfusion-related congresses should be created, it did not take long until ISBT was founded. In 1937 in Paris a Central Office (CO) was set up, led by newly appointed Secretary General Arnault Tzanck. Only two years later the CO activities had to be suspended in 1939 because of the Second World War (WW2).

In the period surrounding WW2 immunohaematology and transfusion technology had developed almost explosively. Blood banks were created, voluntary blood donations came in great numbers in the allied nations to support the fight for a free society, plasma-transfusion became a standard anti-shock treatment, Rh and Kell systems were discovered, and industrial blood plasma fractionation was developed to produce albumin, which can be used as a substitute for plasma. In 1947 the first post-war congress was organised in Turin, Italy. Here some specific future goals were laid out to complement the main activity of the Society, the organization of congresses. - Non-commercialisation of blood and –derivatives - Oversee and initiate standardization of equipment, reagents and nomenclature. - Stimulate the set-up of central transfusion organisations for every country, under flag of the National Red Cross Society, unless otherwise organised.

These goals show the strong ambitions of the young, post-war society to not just organise congresses, but be a stimulating factor in the development of modern blood transfusion science and practice, taking into account socio-political and socio-economic aspects. After the congress in Turin and the goals that were set there the society was able to continue its work for 40 years, until 1985, the year of crisis.

In 1985 the HIV/AIDS epidemic struck transfusion medicine. During that time the ISBT CO was still located in Paris as a part of the Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine (CNTS) as their head, Michel Garretta, was also ISBT Secretary General at the time. In June 1991 he had to step down as head of CNTS, as the HIV/AIDS crisis had become a catastrophe for the transfusion system in France and eventually led to a reorganisation of CNTS in 1991. Subsequently, at the ISBT Congress in Hong Kong it was decided that ISBT could no longer be linked to CNTS, ruling out Garretta’s succession of a French colleague. Harold Gunson, who was President of ISBT in 1991, agreed to take on a second role as acting Secretary General. Together with CNTS, and ISBT Secretary Claudine Hossenlopp he supervised the move of the CO from Paris to Manchester, UK. In 1994 he resigned from his post as blood centre director in Manchester and moved the ISBT CO to Lancaster, into his own home. He upheld the CO together with his wife until 1999. The end of Gunson’s term meant having to find a new location for the CO, and a new Secretary General.

In 1999 the new location for the ISBT CO was Amsterdam, where it became a part of professional congress organiser (PCO) Eurocongress. Paul Strengers, a doctor at Sanquin Blood Supply took up the role of Secretary General. A new vision for the 2002-2006 period of ISBT was created by the executive committee, focusing on developing ISBT into an umbrella organization, improving communication with the membership, educational and scientific activities, and professionalizing the central office. In the coming ten years the society would work had to achieve these goals, with Strengers to remain Secretary General for that period. Eurocongress organised ISBT congresses together with the CO and local organizing committees. The help of a PCO took away economic risks attached to congresses as they were able to provide professional assistance and detailed advice. As the CO had moved to a different country, the ISBT statutes and by-laws were also updated and adapted to Dutch law.

The reformations made in the previous years had led to an increase in workload for the ISBT CO. In order to continue the fulfilment of the strategic plans of the ISBT, a full-time, paid Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was hired in 2010. In 2012 the CO moved to a separate location in Amsterdam as the shared space with Eurocongress did not meet the needs of the expanded CO staff. Currently, 5 paid persons are employed full-time at the CO, managed by CEO Judith Chapman (2010 – today). Congresses are organised by MCI, of which Eurocongress became a part in 2010. In that same year Martin Olsson was appointed as Scientific Secretary (non-remunerated) to overlook the scientific programming of ISBT congresses and to guarantee the high scientific quality. The second scientific secretary, Ellen van der Schoot, is currently in office until 2018.

The ISBT Education is an online learning environment accessible exclusively to members of ISBT. The platform contains a range of educational, scientific content, including eBooks, an interactive fainting module, accredited webcasts, interviews, recordings of the monthly ISBT webinars and Live Journal Clubs, learning quizzes, and guidelines. Special content from ISBT Congresses are also posted on ISBT Education, such as ePosters, abstracts, and recordings of scientific sessions, which are typically complemented with a learning quiz. The ISBT Education is also available as a mobile application. The free content page on ISBT Education is accessible also to those, who are not members of the society.

Every two years at the ISBT International Congress award is presented to a Blood Service or an institutional department of Transfusion Medicine from a Developing Country as a recognition of their significant contribution to improving blood transfusion practise in that country. The award is reserved to candidates from Low or Medium UNDP Human Development Index countries.

This award, named after the Society’s first Secretary General, was established in 1962. It is awarded to scientists under 40 years of age in recognition of their recent scientific work on blood transfusion related subjects. Individual members of ISBT can apply themselves for the prize, which is awarded once every two years at the ISBT International Congress. The winner of the Jean Julliard Prize is expected to give a prize lecture at the plenary session.[7]

This award is granted to a senior person who has made significant contributions to transfusion medicine. It is awarded by the Foundation Transfusion Medicine to those that advanced transfusion medicine or a related field through the practice of transfusion therapy, basic or applied original research, or through educational or service contributions to the field. The winner is chosen by the Nomination Committee, consisting of the ISBT President, President Elect, the ISBT Scientific Officer, and the chairman and a member of the Board of the Foundation Transfusion Medicine. The award is presented once every two years at the ISBT International congress.

This award is presented to those who have contributed significantly to transfusion medicine and science, especially in relation to education. The award is presented during the opening ceremony of ISBT congresses. Typically two ISBT Awards are presented each congress. Members of the Executive committee decide who are to receive the award.

The Harold Gunson Fellowships were introduced in 2007 in recognition of the work Harold Gunson carried out as Secretary General and President of ISBT. The fellowship is essentially a travel grant, allowing applicants under 40 years of age to attend ISBT Congresses. The fellowship covers the congress registration fee, travel expenses, and hotel cost. Early 2016 regulations were changed to not only allow people from low- and medium HDI countries to apply, but allow people from all countries to apply for the grant. In order to be eligible for this grant, one must be the first, submitting, and presenting author of an abstract that has been accepted to the scientific programme of that congress. After the congress, Fellowship winners are expected to write a report on their experience.[8][9]

This scientific award is presented to the author(s) of the best original paper that was published in the ISBT journal Vox Sanguinis in the past calendar year. The selection of eligible articles is made by the editors of Vox Sanguinis. The prize is granted by the Editorial Board and the Standing Committee on Vox Sanguinis. The value of the prize is €5000.