SANBS strives for excellence not only in the procurement, processing and issuing of blood products but also in teaching, training and research.

Research is an integral part of SANBS core business and underpins the excellence for which SANBS strives.

The collection, processing and testing of blood, as well as the issuing of blood products, provides multiple opportunities to pose research questions. The answers to these questions will ultimately contribute to the SANBS body of knowledge and improve service delivery.

SANBS research is conducted by many individuals within SANBS and between employees and third party collaborators. SANBS Management and staff are committed to conducting research aimed at improving the safety, quality and availability of the blood supply and the practice of transfusion medicine.

All research involving SANBS data and/or blood and blood products requires approval from the SANBS Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). To make applications to the SANBS HREC, please follow the instruction in the Information for Applicants 2022. pdf document. The templates referred to in the instructions document are available below for download:

1. HREC application form
2. HREC investigator cv form
3. HREC declaration form

Completed applications must be zipped and emailed to SRCAdmin@sanbs.org.za.

SANBS will be launching a new online system for the submission of research applications on 19 June 2023. All completed forms downloaded from this website will be accepted for review until the 30 June 2023, thereafter the online system must be used. Instructions on how submit an application using the new system will be posted on this webpage closer to launch date.