From Central Office
From the President
I am eagerly anticipating our upcoming ISBT Congress in Milan, which promises to be both exciting and fruitful.
In the days leading up to the congress, the ISBT Board will come together for a dedicated two‐day seminar focused on shaping the society’s strategy for the years 2026 to 2030. During this intensive session, we will review our progress against the main strategic priorities defined in the 2019–2025 framework. This includes evaluating our success in delivering a high-quality integrated education and training program, expanding our global reach, engaging underserved segments of our community, developing interactive teaching materials, enhancing the role of Working Parties, raising the reputation of ISBT publications and advocating for a healthy and motivated donor base as well as a sustainable blood supply. In addition, we will assess progress in the areas of education, outreach, and overall management as highlighted in the 2022 mid-term review of our 2019–2025 strategy. I believe we have made significant tangible progress in several in all these themes, while recognizing that more and better is needed in the future.
While we can take pride in the substantial and tangible progress made across these areas, we are equally aware that sustained commitment and fresh thinking will be vital to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Looking ahead, ISBT vision “a world of safe and sufficient blood,” could possibly evolve to place further emphasis on the appropriate use of high-quality blood components, accessible to all - everywhere.
To align our strategic plan accordingly, the following topics may be considered. • Empowering ISBT Members: Enhance our members’ ability to implement knowledge-based practices through targeted education and support. This objective focuses on robust professional development, ensuring that our members remain at the forefront of transfusion medicine by translating new research and emerging practices into real-world applications. • Promoting evidence-based practices: Commit to the continual improvement of practices in blood donation, blood component manufacturing, and transfusion through an evidence-based approach. This includes rigorous data collection and policy development to ensure that every aspect of blood management is informed by the latest scientific insights. • Fostering high-quality research: Stimulate and support high-caliber research across all fields of transfusion medicine. By leveraging the collective expertise and diverse interests of our membership, ISBT is a catalyst for innovation and discovery. • Strengthening global diversity and regional engagement: Further position ISBT as a truly worldwide organization that respects and integrates global diversity. This entails developing region-specific policies that are championed by our regional directors in close collaboration with the relevant working parties. By doing so, we ensure that our strategies and initiatives are culturally sensitive, locally relevant, and globally impactful.
The ISBT 2026-2030 strategic plan will not only complement our current progress but also set a bold direction for the future, ensuring that ISBT remains a leader in the safe, effective, and innovative practice of transfusion medicine - striving to make high-quality care accessible to all- well into 2030 and beyond.
As we shape this future together, we are actively seeking and welcoming input from our members, whose insights and experiences are essential to the relevance and success of our strategy. I look forward to engaging with many of you in Milan during what promises to be an inspiring and productive ISBT Congress
Pierre Tiberghien, ISBT President
