SoGAT: Future Development

1. SoGAT: Future Development • Tremendous amount achieved over past 12 years in blood safety area • Timely to think about future direction • Clear that other areas of NAT testing could benefit from SoGAT ‘treatment’ • NIBSC keen to see SoGAT adapt to public health needs • Discussion over past year about new initiatives/opportunities • Agreement at organising committee meeting yesterday evening

2. SoGAT: Blood/Tissue Safety – carrying on the tradition • Continue to run SoGAT meeting focused on blood safety but • From now on move to a 2 year cycle • Continue to run meeting back to back with IPFA meeting (IPFA meetings will remain annual) • Agenda to include tissues/organ safety SoGAT-BT • Organising committee for SoGAT-BT to remain as it is • Next meeting proposed to be in Brussels 2009 (Isabelle Thomas)

3. SoGAT: Clinical Virology – a new direction • Clear need for standardisation of NAT assays to support viral diagnosis • High enthusiasm in UK – likely to be similar internationally • Significant overlap with current SoGAT audience, but also substantial differences • Plan to initiate 2nd meeting series: SoGAT-CV • focus on clinical virology • 1st meeting to be in the UK in 2008 - details to come • Likely to need meetings at least annually • New organising committee will be required

4. SoGAT-CV/BTO ‘Cross talk’ • Huge and valuable experience in current SoGAT • Vital that there is good communication between both meeting series • Must preserve ability/flexibility to get things done effectively • Cross representation on organising committee (NIBSC + other stalwarts) • Encourage ‘cross attendance’ from participants • Meeting agendas of both SoGAT-BT and SoGAT-CV focused but not exclusive • Burning issues can be addressed (e.g. ECBS proposals) • Report back from SoGAT as regular agenda item at IPFA

5. See you all in: UK 2008 Brussels 2009 (Tick as appropriate)