It is essential that any blood service is up-to-date and responsive to changing needs of patients and changing risks from transfusion. One of the aims of the NHS NSS, SNBTS’ parent organisation, is to be a world-class service provider. It is not always simple to show that a service is world-class, but by developing research activity that is published in international journals of known high impact and through obtaining research grants against competition, it is possible to measure performance. As can be seen from the publication list, SNBTS members of staff are active in publishing in the foremost blood related journal BLOOD: the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, among other important publications.

Obtaining grant funding has also been strong, especially in the areas of immune modification of patients using small peptides [with the University of Aberdeen], in stem cell research [Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow] and in optimal blood usage. For the latter, SNBTS was identified as the lead organisation by the European Blood alliance to bid for funds from the European Union. This bid was successful and the EU Optimal Blood Use project is now in its second year. In 2008, the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre opened next door to the SNBTS building at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow, providing further opportunities for synergy in research programmes between SNBTS and the University of Glasgow.