the inbts (now termed ibto – iranian blood transfusion organisation) is a world health organization collaborating centre, and remains the best developed such service in the eastern mediterranean region, in terms of size, diversity, and academic achievement, and is exceptional in its exclusive reliance upon voluntary, unremunerated blood donation. fereydoun ala was appointed as councillor to the international society of blood transfusion (isbt) in 1969. he also became a member of the world health organization (who) eastern mediterranean regional advisory committee on medical research in 1979, as well as a member of the who expert advisory panel on human blood products and related substances in the same year. in iran, he became the director of the newly established iranian medical research committee (1975).