ISBT Highlight Days

Please read the guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions carefully before submitting your application. 

What are the ISBT Highlight Days?

Highlight Days are designed to bring key topics and sessions from past ISBT congresses to transfusion medicine professionals in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LIC and LMICs).  The speakers for these sessions are funded by the ISBT Academy. Sessions and topics are selected in collaboration with the organising committee of the local event and are based on the programmes of previous ISBT Congresses. The ISBT Academy has capacity for a maximum of three ISBT Highlight Day events per year.

Who can apply and when?

Applications are sought from national/regional societies in LICs/LMICs, with deadlines in January 1 and July 1. The person who applies on behalf of their organization does not need to be an ISBT member.

The meeting under consideration should be at least 6 months away. A country may only hold an ISBT Highlight event once in two years. Please apply through the online form below. 

The review and selection procedure

The aim is for these ISBT Highlight events to take place in different regions, but the quality of applications, the location of previous ISBT Highlight events, the location of other ISBT congresses and ISBT MoUs related to Academy events will be taken into account. Pre-applications are reviewed by the Standing Committee of the Academy and up to two organisations may be selected to partner with.

These organisations will be invited to submit their final applications. The selected organisations work with the ISBT Vice Presidents to develop a programme and identify speakers, based on previous ISBT congress talks / speakers. 

The Budget

The budget for each ISBT Highlight event should be kept within €5,000. Funding is limited to the speakers’ travel and accomodation expenses. 
ISBT Highlight speakers will be approached by the ISBT Vice Presidents initially, and confirmed speakers will be invited formally by the host organisation. Each ISBT Highlight Speaker should deliver a minimum of two talks, if the meeting is in-person. The ISBT Highlight Days can be virtual if there are travel restrictions, and ISBT funding will be adjusted to accommodate these changes.

Unsuccessful applications

Unsuccessful applicants can still apply for Academy funding, and ISBT can offer advice on international speakers.