Background

The ISBT Presidential Award is an initiative of the Netherlands Foundation Transfusion Medicine in Amsterdam. It is jointly sponsored by the ISBT and the Netherlands Foundation Transfusion Medicine.

The Board of the Foundation Transfusion Medicine is composed of The President (W.G. van Aken), The Treasurer (R.F. de Soet), The Secretary General (H.W. Reesink), The Vice President ( C.Th. Smit Sibinga) and Board Member (P.F.W. Strengers).

To select the ISBT Presidential Award winner(s), a Nomination Committee is constituted. The committee consists of the ISBT President, the ISBT President-Elect, the President of the ISBT Congress at which the award ceremony will be held, together with the Chairman and a Member of the NL Foundation Transfusion Medicine. From a list of nominees, the Nomination Committee select the best candidate for the ISBT Presidential Award.

How is a member of ISBT nominated for the Presidential Award?

This award is granted to, “a senior person who has made eminent contributions to transfusion medicine or a related field through original basic or applied research, the practice of transfusion therapy or through significant educational and/or service contribution to the field.” These contributions and their impact on the field must have made a significant contribution to transfusion medicine.

In the lead-up to each International Congress, financial ISBT members will be invited to propose one or more candidates for this unique award. A proposal must consist of:

  • An abbreviated curriculum vitae of the proposed candidate.
  • A description of his/her contribution in blood transfusion or transfusion medicine.
  • A letter of proposal for consideration by the committee, signed by three financial ISBT members who support the nomination.

The nomination should be sent to the Secretary General of the NL Foundation Transfusion Medicine. The contact is Henk Reesink at e-mail: internationalforum(at)kpnplanet.nl.

What does the Award Entail?

The ISBT Presidential Award is represented by a special medal, a certificate inscribed with the name of the winner and a cash prize. A celebratory ISBT Presidential Award Symposium is also organised at the International Congress, during which the winner presents a lecture encompassing his/her expertise. Complementary presentations by other specialist(s) in the same field may also be made. On the evening of the Presidential Award Symposium, an invitation-only gala dinner will be held to honour the winner of the ISBT Presidential Award.

Previous Presidential Award winners include:

  • 2000:  P.L. Mollison, United Kingdom
  • 2002:  H.J. Alter, United States of America
  • 2004:  D.J. Anstee, United Kingdom and J.P. Cartron, France
  • 2006:  C.F. Högman, Sweden 
  • 2008:  S. Slichter, United States of America
  • 2010:  P. Engelfriet, Netherlands