Almost 250 people joined us for a two-day, in-person event in Strasbourg, France, to discover and discuss new developments in blood donation and blood component preparation in Europe and address the important question “How can they be implemented into practice?”
Blood establishments must adapt to continuous progress, such as the impending EU legislative changes, and this conference has provided a forum to share expert knowledge and practical guidance in this rapidly developing field. It has addressed novel technical developments, current challenges, technical aspects, change control management, evidence- and risk-based approaches, together with regulatory questions, all of which are of interest to professionals working in the blood sector.
The focus of the conference was divided into two main areas of interest: blood donation and blood components.
This conference was an opportunity to engage with the blood sector’s international community of experts, to present cutting-edge research, share expertise and discuss practical aspects and challenges.
List of speakers
- Vanessa Agostini, San Martino Hospital, Italy
- Jens Altrichter, ARTCLINE GmbH, Germany
- Marco Amato, Tirol Kliniken, Central Institute for Blood Transfusion and Immunology, Austria
- Torunn Oveland Apelseth, Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway
- Richard Benjamin, Cerus Corporation, USA
- Ína Björg Hjálmarsdóttir, The Blood Bank, Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland
- Johannes Blümel, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany
- Thibaut Bocquet, Établissement Français du Sang, France
- Johanna Castrén, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Finland
- Xavier Delabranche, University of Strasbourg, Établissement Français du Sang & Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Strasbourg University Hospital, France
- Nigar Ertuğrul Örüç, Blood Transfusion Center, University of Health Sciences Diskapı Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Türkiye
- Ryan Evans, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), Scotland
- Susan Galel, Roche Diagnostic Solutions, USA
- Jan Hartmann, Haemonetics Corporation, USA
- Beatrice Hechler, University of Strasbourg, Établissement Français du Sang, France
- Mart Janssen, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, the Netherlands
- Sandra Kurth, Swiss Transfusion SRC, Switzerland
- Linda Larsson, National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden
- Jeffrey Linnen, Grifols Diagnostic Solutions, USA
- Amber Meulenbeld, Donor Health, Sanquin Research & Amsterdam UMC, Dept of Public and Occupational Health, the Netherlands
- Jenny Mohseni Skoglund, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Sweden
- Norbert Niklas, Red Cross Transfusion Service for Upper Austria, Austria
- Peter O'Leary, European Blood Alliance, Belgium
- Joanne Pink, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Australia
- Rodica Popa, European Blood Alliance, Belgium
- Simonetta Pupella, Italian National Blood Centre, Italy
- Melanie Robbins, NHS Blood and Transplant, England
- Dinara Samarkanova, Banc de Sang i Teixits & Transfusional medicine study group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Spain
- Anita Siller, Tirol Kliniken, Central Institute for Blood Transfusion and Immunology, Austria
- Betina Samuelsen Sørensen, Aalborg University Hospital Department of Clinical Immunology, Denmark
- Luciana Teofili, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Italy
- Katja van den Hurk, Donor Health, Sanquin Research & Amsterdam UMC, Dept of Public and Occupational Health & Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands
- Hans Van Remoortel, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Belgium
- Stephen Vardy, NHS Blood and Transplant, England
- Hans Vrielink, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, the Netherlands
- Mike Wiltshire, NHS Blood and Transplant, England
Download the programme, abstract book and presentations:
Session A1: Challenges for blood supply, donor recruitment & retention
Session A2: Blood collection & apheresis
Session A3: Donor protection
Session A4: Recipient protection & blood safety
Session B1: Innovative & novel blood components: Part 1 and Part 2
Session B2: Risk-based approach for implementing process changes
Session B3: Novel component development & clinical outcome monitoring
Workshop 1: Development of innovative blood components and their authorisation/implementation
Workshop 2: Blood Quality Management
Workshop 3: Discussion regarding deferrals based on haemoglobin/ferritin levels
EDQM Session: Blood Guide and blood transfusion programmes
This event was organised by the EDQM in close collaboration with an international scientific committee composed of 11 experts working in the field:
- Dr Margarida AMIL, Consultant National Competent Authority – Instituto Português do Sangue e Transplantação, Portugal
- Dr Alex AQUILINA, Director Emeritus National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), Malta
- Dr Nigar ERTUĞRUL ÖRÜÇ, University of Health Sciences Diskapı Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Türkiye
- Prof. emeritus Tor HERVIG, Medical Doctor, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Ireland
- Mrs Ína BJÖRG HJÁLMARSDÓTTIR, Head of Department, The Blood Bank, Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland
- Dr Lene HOLM HARRITSHØJ, Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen Blood Centre, Denmark
- Dr Luca MASCARETTI, former Director of the Transfusion Medicine Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste, Italy. Qualified Auditor ISO 9001:2015 and Regulation (EU) 2017/745/ (Medical Device Regulation), Italy
- Dr Simonetta PUPELLA, Director Medical Affairs & Blood Inspection System, National Blood Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
- Prof. Harald SCHENNACH, Head of Institute, Central Institute for Blood Transfusion and Immunology (ZIB), Tirol Kliniken GmbH, Austria
- Mr Stephen VARDY, Lead Quality Specialist, National Health Service (NHS) Blood and Transplant, United Kingdom
- Dr Tomislav VUK, Head of Quality Management, Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Croatia
The EDQM Blood Conference is co-funded by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe and the European Commission (EC).
The EDQM is a major contributor to developing internationally recognised guidelines and providing capacity-building tools, thus acting as an essential partner for blood establishments in Europe and beyond. In collaboration with international experts, the EDQM actively supports progress in the field of substances of human origin by organising dedicated conferences and providing regular training courses on quality management.
If you have any queries about this event, please contact us via the HelpDesk.