Berga Promotes Organ Donation Awareness with Key Institutions

Berga, 12th march – The city of Berga hosted an important event dedicated to raising awareness about organ and tissue donation, bringing together key institutions such as OCATT, ATH, and DTI Foundation. The initiative is part of an ongoing project to promote donation and transplantation through informative sessions with professionals and the public.

The event took place at Hospital de Berga, where healthcare professionals engaged in discussions to address questions and share insights on donation processes. The Civic and Community Center also welcomed citizens interested in learning more about the cause.

Among the participants, Jorge Twose (OCATT) outlined the organization’s role within Catalonia’s public health system. Representatives from ATH, including Josep Maria Martínez, Montse Collado, and Pere Puig, shared personal testimonies and highlighted their support initiatives for patients and families, such as accommodation programs. Dr. David Paredes (Hospital Clínic & DTI Foundation) emphasized the crucial role of clinical work in providing second chances at life.

As the initiative progresses, awareness talks will continue in Berga’s high schools throughout April. The project will culminate in a major event on June 6 at the Pabellón de Suecia, promising a series of engaging activities to further promote organ donation.

by Francesc Marti

🌟 40 Years of Transplants in Catalonia: An Anniversary that Saves Lives🌟

This week, 40 years of achievements in the field of transplants in Catalonia were celebrated. Representatives from various organizations attended the commemorative event at the Palau de la Generalitat, a tribute to four decades of successes, challenges overcome, and, most importantly, lives saved.

Catalonia has become a global leader in organ donation and transplants. The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, highlighted that this success is possible thanks to a model based on ethical values and the needs of patients, ensuring that everyone has access to this life-saving opportunity, regardless of their social status.

“The process of donation and transplantation is the sum of two human virtues: the deepest solidarity and the most advanced professionalism,” expressed Jaume Tort, director of the responsible entity. These words summarize the essence of this project.

Thanks to the altruism of the donors and their families, more than 1,300 people per year receive a second chance in Catalonia. A number that reminds us of the importance of saying yes to donation, an act of love that transcends time. During the event, it was emphasized that the transplant system is a model of success, built over the past 40 years thanks to the collaboration and coordination of all those involved in organ donation and transplantation. These achievements have been made possible by professionalism, commitment, and transparency in management.

Among the attendees, representatives from DTI Foundation were present, invited to the event thanks to the work of Dr. Martí Manyalich, President of DTI Foundation and one of the first transplant coordinators at the national level, working at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. His contribution has been crucial in the development and consolidation of the transplant system in Catalonia.

However, challenges remain. President Illa called for an update of the healthcare system, adapting it to new technologies and the changing needs of patients. A commitment to continue leading.

by Francesc Marti

28th AFCH Exchange Days

Dr. Chloë Ballesté, Medical Director at DTI Foundation, recently participated in the 28th AFCH Exchange Days in Toulouse, France, from June 5 to June 7, 2024.
The ACFH (French Association of Hospital Coordinators) is an association of multidisciplinary health care professionals dedicated to organ donation that annually organizes training sessions and sessions to improve and exchange knowledge and creates networking between professionals and authorities.
This training organized by professionals for professionals provided a valuable platform to exchange knowledge in organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Dr. Ballesté was invited to talk about the best practices in the organ donation process.

by Gemma Josa

EIT's HEI Initiative 2024 Pilot Phase Conclusion event

In collaboration with the University of Barcelona, DTI represented the TRUE project consortium, part of the first cohort of the EIT HEI Initiative. The event took place on June 3-4, 2024, in Brussels.

This event brought together representatives from all 65 projects of the three cohorts of the HEI Initiative’s Pilot Phase, the full initiative management team, delegates from each EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), and various external stakeholders. The event was designed to provide participants with context as the HEI Initiative moves past the pilot phase. It offered insights into lessons learned and fostered a collaborative atmosphere. Keynotes and presentations from institutional leaders highlighted success stories and celebrated the Initiative's progress during the Pilot Phase.

Participants had the opportunity to network and engage in a poster presentation session, facilitating the building of new connections for future collaborations. It was a pleasure for us to be able to attend and be part of this event.

We thank all partners involved in this project led by the Universitat de Barcelona - StartUB! Universitat de Barcelona and implemented by Universidad de Extremadura, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, University of Montpellier, Sapiens Mindset, Siemens Healthineers and DTI Foundation.

by Gemma Josa

DTI attends the fourth International Congress of Transplantation 2024

Dr. Chloë Ballesté, Medical Director of DTI Foundation, participated and presented at the 4th International Congress of Transplantation 2024 (ICOT 2024) in Mongolia. Top medical doctors and researchers gathered to share knowledge and exchange ideas on recent developments in the field of transplantation medicine from the 24^th until the 26^th of May.

Dr. Ballesté's had the opportunity to speak on "How to Implement a Sustainable Deceased Organ Donation Program: An International Perspective." This talk highlighted the critical need for sustainable organ donation and transplantation practices. In her presentation, Dr. Ballesté emphasized the importance of establishing strong frameworks for deceased organ donation that can be adapted to various healthcare systems worldwide. She also moderated a session and conducted a workshop on Family Approach.

During the congress, Dr. Ballesté was awarded with a medal for the contribution in the country. From DTI, it is an honour to see members of our team being recognized worldwide.

The Fourth International Congress of Transplantation 2024 allowed us to exchange knowledge with national and international experts in the field. We want to thank Prof. Batchuluun Pandaan and the Regulatory department of cells, tissue, organ transplant and CHD for inviting us. We hope we can continue attending in the future.

by Gemma Josa

7th China International Organ Donation Conference 2023

We had the honor to co-organize the 7th China International Organ Donation Conference (CIODC) with the China Organ Transplantation Development Foundation (COTDF). Our President, Dr. Martí Manyalich, with other experts from DTI Foundation, attended the conference in Nanning, China from the 8^th until the 10^th to take part in the conference.

DTI president, Dr Marti Manyalich opened the ceremony on Dec 9^th together with Dr. John Fung, President-elect of The Transplantation Society; Dr. Jiefu Huang, Chairman, China Human Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee and chair of the COTDF Advisory Borad; Dr. Haichao Lei, Vice-minister and deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of the National Health Commission.

A signing of Memorandum of Understanding was also held at the congress for cooperation projects between DTI Foundation and COTDF in the field of organ donation and transplantation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The congress continued with the exchange of expertise and experience by local and international experts and scholars focused on four different themes: Leadership, Quality, Management and Innovation.

DTI experts participated in the following oral presentations:

• Martí Manyalich – Developing DCD practices worldwide
• Chloë Ballesté – How to maintain sustainable deceased organ donation system
• Chloë Ballesté – Highlights of challenges, actions and strategies in ESOT
• Carmen Blanco – Innovation in training of donation management
• Joaquim Albiol – Advancement in the use of perfusion machine
• Theo de By – Tissue Banking in Europe
• Zeljka Gavranovic – Quality program in clinical donation processes
• Zeljka Gavranovic – New approaches in organ donation
• Moisès Palou – Leadership and teambuilding in organ donation and transplantation
• David Paredes – Quality in the donation process and biovigilance
• David Paredes - Highlights of challenges, actions and strategies in EDTCO
• Seow Huey Choy – The impact of European-Mediterranean postgraduate program on organ donation and transplantation.

A work meeting on Belt & Road Cooperation Alliance on Organ Donation and Transplantation was held in the evening where we saw the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, represented by Dr Sun Xuyong and Sri Lanka, represented by Dr. Niroshan Seneviratne were elected as the additional rotating presidential members of the alliance, for China and International community respectively. In the same meeting, a scientific workgroup was formed among the local and international experts to work on the ‘Priorities on Management, Leadership, Innovation and Quality’ as a collaborative effort among the international communities to contribute to the improvement and advancement of organ donation and transplantation.

The event concluded successfully on December 10th, with the participation of over 750 experts from more than 30 countries. Through activities like keynote speeches and forums, the conference aimed to discuss cutting-edge topics extensively and profoundly in organ donation and transplantation.

The international experts were also invited to visit the Institute of Transplantation Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. This visit provided them with insights into Guangxi's organ transplantation technology and the current status of organ donation in the region.

It was a pleasure for DTI to be able to co-host the event and share experiences with the attendees. It was a great opportunity to learn and exchange knowledge with international experts in the field.

by Gemma Josa

Dr. Manyalich attends International Symposium in Ankara

Dr. Martí Manyalich, our President, attended the International Symposium: Brain Death and Circulatory Death that took place in Ankara, Turkey. From November 29th to November 30th, he actively participated in the symposium through different talks. The event was co-organized by the Turkish Transplantation Society and the Turkic World Transplantation Society

Dr. Manyalich had a presentation entitled: “Implementing DCD practices worldwide: is it feasible?” He explained how DCD practices are growing worldwide and how they are implemented in Spain. He also mentioned the importance of DCD training for all healthcare professionals who want to continue growing in the field.

We are honoured to have been invited to participate in this symposium by Dr. Mehmet Haberal, Past-President and TTS Symposium Chair.

by Gemma Josa

TAIEX expert mission in Barbados: Moving forward together with EU expertise

“TAIEX FPI Expert Mission on National policy development on live donor and deceased organ donation and transplantation” took place from the 20^th to the 24^th of November in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. This event was organized in co-operation with the EU Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM.

Aiming to expand the existing live donor programs in the country and learning more about the implementation of a deceased organ transplantation program there were five international experts invited, all of them DTI collaborators:

• Dr. Chloë Ballesté, Director of International Cooperation and Development at DTI and associate professor at the University of Barcelona, Spain,
• Dr. Corinne Antoine, nephrologist consultant at Hospital Saint Louis, France.
• Dr. Zeljka Gavranovic, Consultant in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, Hospital Transplant Coordinator at the University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy, Croatia
• Dr. Jose Eduardo Silva Sousa, Hospital donation coordinator in Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Protugal.
• Dr. Shanti Sigh, Director of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency, Guyana

They all presented on how the organ donation and transplantation models are organized in their countries, and the policies involved.

It was a pleasure for DTI to be able to have these experts be part of the TAIEX meeting and be able to exchange ideas with the Queen Elisabeth professionals and board of direction, the Ministry of Health of Barbados, and the EU delegation. We hope this visit will contribute to the good development of organ donation and transplantation in the country.

by Gemma Josa