Tissues: A New Chapter with TTAG
Celebrating the Contributions of ETTAG, NATTAG, and ITTAG
The development of the ISBT 128 Standard for tissue banking has been a collaborative effort driven by the dedication and expertise of professionals worldwide. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all members of the European Tissue Technical Advisory Group (ETTAG), North America Tissue Technical Advisory Group (NATTAG), and International Tissue Technical Advisory Group (ITTAG) for their invaluable contributions and dedication over the years. Their efforts have played a crucial role in advancing the ISBT 128 Standard to support tissue banks worldwide.
A Transition to the Future: Introducing the Tissue Technical Advisory Group (TTAG)
Building on this foundation, we are pleased to announce the formation of the new Tissue Technical Advisory Group (TTAG). This group marks an important transition, bringing together members from the three tissue advisory groups—ETTAG, NATTAG, and ITTAG—into a single, unified body to enhance collaboration and support for tissue facilities worldwide.
The initial members of TTAG include:
Chair:
Izabela Uhrynowska-Tyszkiewicz
Representatives:
Dorte Kinggaard Holm - Odense University Hospital
Elkin Vasquez - VIVEX Biologics
Jannine Westby - NHS Blood and Transplant, UK
Jennifer DeMatteo - Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)
Johan Guns - European Association of Tissue and Cell Banks (EATCB)
Ken Lotherington - Canadian Blood Services
Kip Hanks - American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)
Rafael Villalba Montoro - Centro de Transfusión Tejidos y Células of Córdoba, Spain
Technical Experts:
Diane Wilson
Jelena Holovati
Liaisons:
Martin FitzGerald - GS1
Observers:
Geoff Browne
Jeff Dragoo
Jill Davies
John Kling
We welcome interested professionals to join TTAG and contribute to its work. If you or your organization would like to participate, please contact us at support@isbt128.org.
Key Transition Dates
March 11, 2025 – ETTAG, NATTAG, and ITTAG will officially be discontinued.
March 12, 2025 – TTAG will commence its activities.
Looking Ahead
With deep appreciation for the support from ETTAG, NATTAG, and ITTAG members, we celebrate their contributions and the progress we have made together. Their efforts have laid a strong foundation for the development of ISBT 128 for tissue banking. We look forward to further building on this remarkable legacy through TTAG.
Assisted Reproductive Technology: A New Name- Medically Assisted Reproduction Technical Advisory Group (MARTAG)
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Technical Advisory Group (ARTTAG) will be renamed to the Medically Assisted Reproduction Technical Advisory Group (MARTAG) on March 12, 2025.
Why the Change?
Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) is a broader term that includes all assisted reproductive technology procedures and assisted insemination, as defined in The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2017 (Zegers-Hochschild et al. 2017). This change reflects a more comprehensive approach and supports a broader range of medically assisted reproduction techniques.
As we embark on this exciting transition to TTAG and MARTAG, we look forward to enhanced collaboration and strengthened support for ISBT 128 users worldwide!
Stay connected, stay informed, and stay inspired with ICCBBA.
Subscribe to our newsletter at: isbt128.org/newsletter
About ICCBBA:
ICCBBA is the nonprofit international standards organization responsible for the development and management of the ISBT 128 Standard.
The acronym ISBT was originally derived from the important role played by the International Society of Blood Transfusion in the development of the Standard. Today it expands as Information Standard for Blood and Transplantation. The number 128 reflects the 128 characters of the ISO/IEC 646 7-bit character set.
The acronym ICCBBA is derived from the International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation.
For More Information About ICCBBA:
Media Contact:
Christina Salinas
Email: support@isbt128.org
Authors
Mónica Freire
Standards Document Manager, ICCBBA
Commentaires