Meeting in Dresden: experience exchange with the DSO
The DTI Foundation team, represented by Dr. Mauricio Galvão and Dr. David Paredes, took part between September 29 and October 1, 2025, in a series of hospital visits in the northeast and eastern regions of Germany, at the invitation of the Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation (DSO).
The aim of this mission was to exchange experiences with organ donation coordination teams, thus strengthening mutual learning and international collaboration in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
The visit concluded on September 30 at the University Hospital of Dresden, where the official photograph was taken together with:
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Dr. Sandra Loder
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Sepp Höhne
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Dr. Anne Trabitzsch
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Konrad Pleul
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Prof. Kristian Barlinn
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Dr. Félix Pfeifer
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Dr. Markus Dengl
DTI Foundation would like to sincerely thank the DSO, and especially Dr. Axel Rahmel, Dr. Sandra Loder and Dr. Félix Pfeifer, for their initiative and full support of this visit, which reinforces our shared commitment to saving lives through organ donation and transplantation.
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Success in Barcelona: Phase 3 Graduation of the MODHS-MOT Case Managers Development Program
From September 1 to 5, Barcelona proudly hosted Phase 3 – Preceptorship & Graduation of the MODHS-MOT Case Managers Development Program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This graduation is much more than an academic achievement: it represents a new generation of professionals committed to strengthening the organ donation and transplantation system in Saudi Arabia.
At Donation and Transplantation Institute – DTI Foundation, we firmly believe that training saves lives. Sharing knowledge, building capacities, and fostering international cooperation are key steps toward our mission: ensuring that every patient in need has a second chance.
We thank all participants and partners for making this milestone possible. The journey continues, along with our commitment to the health and lives of patients around the world.
DTI FOUNDATION & SCOT in Tabuk: setting new benchmarks for donation quality
DTI Foundation & SCOT elevate organ donation quality in Tabuk
DTI Foundation continues its strategic partnership with the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) in a multi-year effort to standardize and scale deceased donation systems nationwide. In collaboration with Tabuk Health Cluster, DTI experts joined SCOT delegates to visit King Fahd Specialized Hospital and King Khalid Hospital in Tabuk—conducting thorough hospital audits, implementing quality indicators, and offering structured guidance for in-hospital donation programs.
This initiative builds on previous phases implemented across key centers and is rooted in a comprehensive quality management framework designed to accelerate donor identification and operational excellence.
🚀 Key benefits and outcomes:
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Improved donor detection rates and initial performance gains from pilot sites
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Launch of in‑hospital Organ Donation Units as part of a scalable, sustainable model
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Training and capacity‑building support that empowers local teams to adopt international best practices
🌟 Strategic significance for DTI and SCOT
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Scalable model: Early results show promising potential for expansion across additional hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
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Evidence-based approach: Data-driven results and structured processes demonstrate clear impact.
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Capacity building: Ongoing collaboration supports system-wide improvements aligned with global standards.
🔭 Looking forward
The program is progressing to new stages—scaling tools, training, and monitoring across hospitals aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 healthcare goals. Stay tuned as DTI and SCOT continue working to deliver measurable, nationwide improvements in organ donation quality.
DTI Foundation drives organ donation and transplantation forward from Cairo
From 18 to 20 June 2025, the Tolip Golden Plaza Hotel in Cairo hosted the 4th Congress of the African Society of Transplantation (ASOT), a flagship event for transplant professionals across Africa. DTI Foundation was honoured to participate as a collaborating society, underscoring our commitment to building sustainable donation and transplantation systems on the continent. ccg-eg.org
1. Global expertise, local impact
Dr Chloë Ballesté (Medical Director) and Dr David Paredes (Advisor for Organ Donation and Transplantation) delivered lectures on topics such as the rollout of DCD programmes, hospital workflow optimisation and innovative training frameworks for multidisciplinary teams. Their sessions illustrated how DTI Foundation’s capacity-building model can be tailored to Africa’s diverse healthcare realities.
2. Strategic partnerships
Our experts held bilateral meetings with Congress President Dr Gamal Saadi, Dr May Hassaballa, and delegations from Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana to explore collaboration opportunities:
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developing national donation plans in Egyptian university hospitals;
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strengthening renal transplant coordination networks in East Africa;
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launching regional mentoring programmes on organ preservation.
3. Looking ahead
DTI Foundation will continue to work hand in hand with ASOT to reinforce technical and regulatory capacity across Africa, united by one mission: saving more lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. A joint training calendar and a best-practice exchange hub between African and European teams will be announced shortly.
🌍 Advancing Transplant Innovation: DTI Co-Hosts the First “DCD in Action” Advanced NRP Training Course in San Diego
Barcelona / San Diego, June 2025 – Shared knowledge drives progress, and in the field of donation and transplantation, every technical advancement can translate into lives saved. With this in mind, DTI Foundation had the privilege of co-hosting the inaugural “DCD in Action: Advanced Training in Normothermic Regional Perfusion” course, held at the UC San Diego Center for the Future of Surgery.
Organized in collaboration with the REIMAGINE Center at UC San Diego, and with key support from Paragonix Technologies, this groundbreaking course marked a significant milestone in advanced training on Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) in the context of Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD). This emerging technique holds great promise for optimizing organ viability and improving clinical outcomes in transplantation.
A Space for Global Exchange and Clinical Excellence
During the training, experts from around the world came together to share insights, analyze clinical cases, and deepen their understanding of NRP. Representing DTI Foundation, our team actively contributed to the course’s development, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to global transplant innovation.
“These encounters not only raise the technical bar but also strengthen international cooperation in an area where each improvement can make the difference between life and death,” remarked one of DTI’s participants.
A Partnership for the Future
We extend our sincere gratitude to Aleah Brubaker, Gabriel Schnickel, Anji Wall, and Martin Sellers for their vision and dedication in making this initiative possible—and for joining our growing DTI international network.
This event is only the beginning. In a world where medical innovation knows no borders, collaboration remains key to transforming the future of transplantation.
🌍 Global collaboration in organ donation — from Saudi Arabia and Oman to Barcelona
We’re honored to welcome Dr. Muaath Al Fraih (Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation – SCOT) and Fatma AlRahbi (National Transplant Program, Ministry of Health – Oman), who are currently completing a one-month observership in Barcelona.
🧑⚕️ Dr. AlFraih is training with the transplant coordination team at Hospital Clínic.
👩⚕️ AlRahbi is collaborating with the transplant unit at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge.
Both are also visiting OCATT to gain deeper insights into the catalan organ donation system.
These international exchanges, facilitated by DTI Foundation, promote knowledge sharing and long-term impact in organ donation and transplantation worldwide. A heartfelt thanks to our colleagues Dr. Brian Alvarez and Carles Garcia Escuder for their support and guidance during the visit.
📸 In the picture: Dr. AlFraih, AlRahbi, Dr. Brian Alvarez and Carles Garcia.
Dr. Wade Stedman visits DTI Foundation as part of Churchill Fellowship
DTI Foundation recently welcomed Dr. Wade Stedman, an intensive care specialist from Sydney, Australia, who is currently undertaking a Churchill Fellowship to explore how different countries manage organ donation after voluntary assisted dying.
During his visit to Barcelona, Dr. Stedman met with Dr. Gabriel Moreno at Hospital de Bellvitge, and held meetings with Dr. Jaume Tort and Dr. Aurora Navarro at OCATT. He concluded his visit at DTI Foundation, exchanging insights with Chloë Ballesté, Mauricio Galvão, and Maria Barros, project manager at DTI.
Prior to visiting Catalonia, Dr. Stedman had conducted field visits in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Madrid, learning from different institutional approaches and ethical frameworks around this complex area of clinical practice.
At DTI Foundation, we are proud to support international knowledge exchange and actively contribute to initiatives that strengthen organ donation and transplantation systems worldwide.
🔗 Read more about Dr. Stedman’s Churchill Fellowship
DTI Foundation participates in the Saudi Transplant Congress 2025 – 1st SCOT Annual Meeting
DTI Foundation proudly took part in the Saudi Transplant Congress 2025 – 1st SCOT Annual Meeting, a landmark event for the transplant community in the Middle East.
Our colleagues Dr. Brian Álvarez, Dr. David Paredes-Zapata, and Dr. Marco Sacchi represented the foundation at this international congress, sharing their expertise and commitment to improving global organ donation and transplantation systems.
The discussions held — particularly around Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) — reflect the growing momentum in the region to strengthen transplant programs. The event served as a clear example of how international collaboration and knowledge sharing can drive real progress in global health.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our representatives for their leadership and dedication, and we congratulate the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) and Dr. Talal Al Goufi for the outstanding organization of a congress that fostered innovation, collaboration, and shared action.
Together, we make organ donation possible — everywhere.
New strategic alliance: DTI Foundation, Haier and Grifols unite to transform Organ Donation and Transplantation
DTI Foundation takes a bold step forward by forging a new alliance with Haier and Grifols, two leaders in healthcare innovation and technology. Representatives from both companies recently visited our headquarters in Barcelona to lay the foundations of a collaboration that promises to drive global progress in organ donation and transplantation.
This new partnership aims to combine technological excellence, clinical expertise and educational leadership to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing donation and transplantation systems worldwide.
"We believe that joining forces with Haier and Grifols will allow us to accelerate innovation and save more lives," stated Dr. Chloë Ballesté, DTI Medical's Director. "Our shared commitment to improving patient care will translate into real, impactful projects in the near future."
Among the first initiatives under discussion are programs to enhance organ and tissue preservation, optimize hospital donation protocols, and deliver specialized training for healthcare professionals across multiple countries.
Haier, known for its smart healthcare solutions, and Grifols, a global reference in plasma-derived therapies and hospital technology, are the perfect allies for DTI Foundation’s long-standing mission: building a world where organ donation and transplantation are accessible, efficient and life-saving for everyone who needs it.
This collaboration reaffirms DTI Foundation’s commitment to innovation, international cooperation, and improving healthcare systems for the benefit of patients worldwide.
🌍 Strengthening international cooperation in organ donation and transplantation: Visit from Oman’s National Organ Transplant Program
This week, DTI Foundation had the honor of welcoming a delegation from the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Health, formed by Dr. Qasim Al-Jahdhami, Head of the Organ Donation Department, and Mr. Sami Al-Nuumani, nurse and organ donation coordinator.
During their visit to Catalonia, the delegation had the opportunity to learn first-hand about Spain’s internationally acclaimed transplant coordination model. They visited OCATT (Catalan Transplant Organization), where they were welcomed by Dr. Aurora Navarro, Head of Biovigilance. They also visited the Transplant Coordination Unit at Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, hosted by Dr. Belén Garcés and her team.
This visit is part of Oman’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its national transplant program. For years, DTI Foundation has been collaborating with the Sultanate of Oman through specialized training programs, technical guidance, and the exchange of best practices in organ donation and transplantation.
At DTI Foundation, we believe that international collaboration is essential to ensure that organ donation and transplantation become a universal and sustainable reality. Our partnership with Oman reflects the impact of shared commitment, knowledge, and solidarity.
