🌍 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.
IRODaT releases preliminary 2024 data: tracking global progress in organ donation and transplantation 🌍
The International Registry in Organ Donation and Transplantation (IRODaT), coordinated by DTI Foundation, has just published its first preliminary data for 2024. These figures offer a valuable early snapshot of the current state of organ donation and transplantation across more than 80 countries.
📈 Why does this matter?
The data collected by IRODaT helps to:
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Understand global trends and emerging challenges
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Highlight success stories and best practices
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Support evidence-based strategies in health policy and clinical care
As a global benchmark, IRODaT empowers healthcare professionals, institutions, and decision-makers to learn from one another and improve outcomes for patients waiting for a life-saving transplant.
“Transparency and collaboration are essential to saving more lives. IRODaT makes this possible by offering a global view based on real data,”
– Dr. Martí Manyalich, President of DTI Foundation
🗓️ The registry is updated regularly throughout the year, providing a dynamic and evolving picture of the field.
🔗 Explore the 2024 preliminary data here: https://www.irodat.org
DTI Foundation strengthens commitment to Organ Donation and Transplantation in Sri Lanka
In alignment with National Organ Donation Day, DTI Foundation has reinforced its dedication to advancing organ donation and transplantation efforts in Sri Lanka, marking four years of collaborative initiatives aimed at enhancing the country's transplant system.
A pivotal element of this collaboration was the participation of Dr. Chloë Ballesté, Medical Director of DTI Foundation, in a special interview on the program "At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte," broadcasted on Ada Derana. Joined by Dr. Niroshan Seneviratne, a urological and transplant surgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Dr. Ballesté discussed the global significance of organ donation and its positive impact. This interview, aired on February 22 with a rebroadcast on February 23, served as a crucial platform to raise public awareness about the importance of improving transplant systems.
Furthermore, this week, a team of experts from DTI Foundation, including Dr. Chloë Ballesté and Dr. Brian Álvarez, along with Dr. Pedro Ventura from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, visited Sri Lanka to continue efforts in strengthening the organ donation and transplantation framework. With support from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and The Transplantation Society (TTS), the team conducted training sessions and engaged with local healthcare professionals to enhance process efficiency and expand access to transplants in the region.
A significant milestone of this visit was DTI Foundation's involvement in an institutional event with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, emphasizing the political and healthcare commitment to developing a more robust and sustainable organ donation system.
Each initiative, partnership, and training session brings us closer to a future where more individuals have access to life-saving transplants. DTI Foundation remains steadfast in the belief that education, cooperation, and public awareness are essential to saving lives through organ donation.
Training Case Managers for Organ and Tissue Transplants: An International Health Innovation Project
As part of the MODHS-MOT Case Managers Development Program, DTI Foundation has launched an international initiative aimed at transforming the military hospitals of the Saudi Ministry of Defense into centers of excellence for organ and tissue transplants.
This one-year training program began in September 2024 and will run until September 2025. The main focus is to train healthcare professionals (such as nurses and radiology technicians), while also involving non-healthcare professionals, ensuring an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the care of transplant patients.
Currently, the program is in its second phase, which includes specialized sessions on immunological aspects, psychosocial care, patient education, and organ-specific care. These modules are designed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge of the various aspects of the transplant process, from patient evaluation to postoperative follow-up.
This program is the result of a strategic collaboration between DTI Foundation, the Saudi Ministry of Defense, and Eight Eye of Training, and is aimed at significantly improving the quality of organ transplant care, both in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
The training of Case Managers in this field is essential to improve the coordination and follow-up of transplant patients, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the transplant system. As we advance in this project, our goal remains the same: to continue working to improve organ donation and transplantation globally.
With initiatives like this, DTI Foundation reaffirms its commitment to healthcare education, knowledge exchange, and the continuous improvement of transplant systems worldwide.
A New Era in the Collaboration Between Oman and DTI Foundation for Organ Donation
As part of the collaboration project between the Ministry of Health of Oman and DTI Foundation, a delegation of international organ donation experts recently visited the country to provide consulting to hospitals with the aim of improving organ donation practices. This visit focused on key hospitals such as Medical City for Military and Security Services, Khowla Hospital, and Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.
A significant breakthrough was achieved this year, as the number of organ donations in Oman doubled compared to 2023, marking a major step forward in organ donation practices. The experts also had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Ahmed bin Salim Al-Mandhari, Secretary General of Health Planning and Regulations, in a meeting that fostered the exchange of experiences and highlighted the improvements made through the National Organ Donation Program.
This progress is complemented by the success of the second edition of the TPM course in Oman, which has concluded with a total of 43 new TPMs trained. Big things are expected to come to Oman in the future, with continuous improvements in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
To continue this growth and collaboration, DTI Foundation has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health of Oman to ensure ongoing collaboration in the future. The signing ceremony took place during Omani Organ Donation Day, a day that highlighted the shared commitment to strengthen organ donation practices in the Sultanate of Oman.
These actions mark the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Oman and DTI Foundation, with the common goal of saving lives and improving healthcare systems.
