The Society seeks expressions of interest for grants from the ANZSBT Research Fund for the 2024 calendar year.
The ANZSBT Research Fund supports research in transfusion and related fields (as long as they otherwise meet eligibility criteria) and is offering a total of $75,000, comprising either a single grant of $75,000 or smaller grants totalling $75,000.
The ANZSBT Research Fund is available to ANZSBT Members residing in Australia and New Zealand at all levels of their careers who are undertaking basic science, clinical or translational research in transfusion or related fields. The Society encourages applications from nurses, medical staff, medical laboratory scientists and researchers for funding of suitable projects.
For more information, please visit the ‘Awards & Grants’ page of the ANZSBT website and choose the Research Fund tab where you can also download the terms of reference and application form.
CLOSING DATE IS ON SUNDAY 31ST MARCH 2024.
2024 IHN Symposium Registration is OPEN!
They are accepting abstract submissions for presentation at the Symposium. Please click on the following link for more information:
2024 IHN Symposium at Athens
Save the date! 11th and 12th of April 2024 (Thursday and Friday)
IHN are excited to announce that the 2024 IHN Symposium is going ahead in collaboration with the Coordinating Haemovigilance Centre and Surveillance of Transfusion (SKAEM) of the Hellenic National Public Health Organisation (EODY).
Join them for this 2-day event filled with insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and more. Don’t miss out on this knowledge-packed event!
Save the date with Registration link
This may be of interest to members.
In May 2022 the National Blood Authority (NBA) announced that five of Australia’s domestic plasma products will be changing. More information on these transitions can be found here: Transition of Australia’s domestic plasma products.
This particular notification refers to Australia’s three factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), PROTHROMBINEX-VF. This product will be replaced with a four factor PCC containing clotting factors II, VII, IX and X in 2024.
It is anticipated PROTHROMBINEX-VF will be available until around June 2024. To ensure there is continued access to human PCC between that time and when the domestic replacement BERIPLEX AU will become available in late 2024/early 2025, a short-term supply of BERIPLEX P/N (an imported product manufactured with plasma collected overseas) will take place.
More information about the initial transition from PROTHROMBINEX-VF to BERIPLEX P/N, including product information, timing and implementation will be released in BloodNet and the Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry in early 2024.
Please direct any queries to the National Blood Authority at Supply.Management.Plasma@blood.gov.au or 13 000 BLOOD (13 000 25663).
Blood Matters are pleased to announce the publication of the Serious Transfusion Incident Report (STIR) for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 (FY22) is available on the Blood Matters webpage (https://www.health.vic.gov.au/patient-care/serious-transfusion-incident-reporting-system-stir#stir-reports-and-summaries).
This annual report contains de-identified information on investigations relating to 186 validated incidents and errors, including near misses, that have occurred with fresh blood components (red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate) and RhD immunoglobulin.
STIR is a voluntary haemovigilance reporting program that receives investigations from four jurisdictions, Victoria, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.
Informative case studies and key messages that are derived from the investigations provided are included in the report.
This may be of interest to members.
CSL are delighted to announce that applications for the Prof Heimburger Award 2024 opened on August 1, 2023.
The Prof Heimburger Award is an annual grant program introduced to honour Prof Dr. Norbert Heimburger, a pioneer of modern coagulation therapy who significantly contributed to the understanding and treatment of coagulation disorders during his more than 30 years’ service at CSL Behring. The grant offers €25,000 each to five emerging coagulation specialists to pursue innovative research and inspire the wider research community.
Applying is simple:
- The first round consists of submission of an application form, one-page research proposal and a short CV via the Prof Heimburger Award website
- The deadline for applications is 11:59pm CET, November 14, 2023
- Following round one, 10 successful applicants will be asked to submit a more detailed 3–4 page research proposal in December 2023
- Winners are announced at the end of February 2024
Applications have been increasing year on year, with the 2023 cycle receiving over 80 applications. CSL continues growing the success of the Prof Heimburger Award, as we recognize, motivate, and inspire the next generation of coagulation specialists.
For enquiries regarding application, policy and procedures information, please contact the Prof Heimburger Award Facilitator at heimburger.award@cslbehring.com
This may be of interest to members.
In May 2022, the National Blood Authority (NBA) announced that 5 domestically produced plasma products are undergoing transition in 2023 and 2024. The NBA has been releasing information on these transitions via BloodNet and BloodSTAR where relevant as each product is transitioning to advise the exact timing, information on the products, and ordering and inventory arrangements.
The current status of the domestic plasma product transition is in the below table. 4 of the 5 transitions are in progress with the transition of ALBUMEX 4 to ALBUREX 5 AU the most recent to commence. Information on this most recent transition can be found in the second last row of the table. More information is also available on the NBA website here: Transition of Australia’s domestic plasma products | National Blood Authority.
In addition to these domestic plasma product changes, a new 20% concentration SCIg product (Grifol Australia’s Xembify) is being introduced under the national blood arrangements in early calendar year 2024. It is anticipated Xembify will be available from February 2024.
If members have any questions, the NBA can be contacted on 13 000 BLOOD (13 000 25663) or supply.management.plasma@blood.gov.au.
The QuidelOrtho/ANZSBT 2023 Webinar Series is now completed and we are very pleased to announce that this educational webinar series on a variety of topics in immunohematology is now available to watch on demand in the ANZSBT Members Area.
To view, please log in to the Members Area via this link: ANZSBT Webinars to View – ANZSBT : ANZSBT
This may be of interest to members.
The Blood Synergy is undertaking a survey to identify the research questions of most interest and importance to the community. They are seeking the input of a broad array of consumers (patients and carers), blood donors, healthcare professionals and others with a professional interest in blood products, transfusion medicine and patient care.
They would like to announce that the survey is now open. A link to the survey is available here<https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8CBfPyRsGmT929E>, or via the blood synergy website:
bloodsynergy.org/community-consultation
The National Blood Authority (NBA) is pleased to announce that the Patient blood management guideline for adults with critical bleeding (the guideline) is now available. The guideline supersedes the 2011 Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 1 – Critical Bleeding/Massive Transfusion.
The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary Clinical/Consumer Reference Group (CRG) which also included ANZSBT representatives The NBA gratefully acknowledges the dedication and clinical expertise provided by the CRG.
The guideline was developed in accordance with the NHMRC Guidelines for Guidelines which require that guidelines are based on the best available scientific evidence and developed according to rigorous standards.
The intent of the guideline is to provide updated clinical guidance for health professionals providing immediate in-hospital care for adults who have critical bleeding resulting in a major hemorrhage. The guidance is based on scientific evidence and consensus among clinical experts.
The guideline has been published on MAGICapp, a web-based platform for guidelines. A pdf version of the guideline can also be accessed from the NBA website at www.blood.gov.au/pbm-critical-bleeding along with a summary of the clinical guidance, adaptable major haemorrhage protocol (MHP) template and a technical report describing the evidence review process. The website also provides a link to access the guideline on MAGICapp.