Appointment to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service:

Following a Public Jobs campaign, The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has appointed Dr Jean-Baptiste Thibert to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service with effect from 7 June 2025 until 6 June 2028.

Dr Jean-Baptiste Thibert is a qualified pharmacist specialised in Medical and Transfusion Biology, and a PhD in Public Law, Jean Baptiste has worked with the EFS Bretagne since 2007. His initial scientific training focused on haematology and transfusion, and he began his career as a medical biologist in an immunohaematology and blood products issuing laboratory. He managed a donor qualification laboratory, previously held the roles of Head of Cell Therapy Laboratory and has been Medical Director of EFS Bretagne and Director of Biology, Therapies and Diagnosis since 2016.

Jean-Baptiste is a member of the Executive Committee (EFS Bretagne), Board member of the European Blood Alliance (EBA), member of the Standing Committee on Ethics of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), and board member of the French speaking Society of Blood Transfusion (SFTS). He is involved in collaborative European work groups on donors’ health protection, strategy and quality and safety of blood products.

He has published substantially in peer reviewed journals in the areas of transfusion practices and therapies, blood donations and donors, and ethics and law. He participated in the development of best practice recommendations in the areas of patient blood management, cell therapies, plasma collection, and participated in discussions on the European legislation on SoHO. He is a regular presenter as a subject matter expect at related conferences and lectures at the University in Paris and Rennes.