Pump Priming Research Awards

Below are the names of recipients together with a brief description of their research projects.  Each project will last approximately 12 months at the end of which the recipient will write a report on their research and the outcome.  These reports will be available on our website as soon as they become available. 

2023 

Amy Cross 

Defining the histopathological features of subclinical and acute cellular rejection in liver transplantation using single 
cell in situ spatial profiling 

Liver transplantation is a life-saving treatment for liver failure.  Lifelong immunosuppression poses a significant challenge 
by increasing the risk of cancer, infection, and cardiovascular disease. The liver allows for minimizing immunosuppression 
without risking graft loss, and 30% of patients can discontinue treatment.  Most eligible recipients with normal liver 
function have subclinical injury in their transplants, and the implications of this for immunosuppression management are 
unclear.  This project will define subclinical rejection by advanced analysis of cell types and cellular interactions. 
Understanding subclinical rejection, its relationship with patient characteristics and immunosuppression withdrawal is 
important for patient care relying on histological analysis. 

Fungai Dengu and Sadik Hatem

Exploration of the role of circulating Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and their removal during porcine 
abdominal normothermic regional perfusion: a pilot study 

The paucity of donor livers of acceptable quality, results in many people dying or become too unwell to receive a life-saving transplant whilst on the waiting-list. The use of new technologies during organ donation can improve the quality of higher-risk livers and reduce complications associated with traditional preservation 
strategies. Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) is one such application, that is increasingly being adopted and is associated with improved outcomes. However, little is known about how inflammatory NRP is, or whether the additional integration of a filter/column to remove molecules that may drive injury/inflammation, 
could further improve the quality of donor livers  

Mohamed Elzawahry 

Development of a Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) model for preservation of pancreas grafts prior to transplantation

Diabetes can lead severe to complications including blindness, kidney failure, amputation and heart disease which can significantly shorten life. PTx is an effective treatment for patients with the most severe complications of Diabetes, however many donor pancreases are not transplanted. 
 
My aim is to develop and test a new method of preserving pancreases using a device that pumps fluid and oxygen through the organ prior to transplantation. This research has the potential of increasing the number of patients who can benefit from PTx and improving the safety profile of this treatment.

2021

Hussain Abbas
Global assessment of liver function during normothermic machine perfusion in high-risk donor livers

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) provides the opportunity to assess liver function outside the body prior to transplantation. Current tests only provide an idea of liver injury which may not represent the entire liver. A novel test (Maximal Liver Capacity, LiMAx) has been used to determine liver capacity in patients undergoing liver surgery and transplant in order to predict outcomes. This is particularly relevant for high-risk livers (those with excess fat within liver cells) that are associated with poor post-transplant outcomes. We will investigate if LiMAx could be useful in providing a global assessment of such livers for transplantation during NMP.

Mohammed Elzawahry
Using machine preservation to improve pancreas transplantation (PTx).

Diabetes results from insufficient insulin production by the pancreas. It leads to complications including blindness, kidney failure, amputation and heart disease which can significantly shorten life.

Pancreas transplantation can be an effective treatment option in diabetic patients with the most severe complications, however many donor pancreases are not used due to concerns about their quality. My aim is to test pancreases using a device that pumps fluid and oxygen
through the organ prior to transplantation. This research has the potential of increasing the number of patients who can benefit from PTx and improving the safety profile of this treatment.

Richard Dumbill and John Mulvey
Temperature manipulation during kidney preservation

Over 7000 patients in the UK begin regular dialysis each year due to kidney failure. A kidney transplant is usually preferable to dialysis as it offers significant benefit with respect to quality of life, and life expectancy. Prior to transplant, kidneys are usually stored on ice then transplanted as soon as possible. Normothermic machine perfusion is a novel method for preserving kidneys prior to transplantation that offers substantial potential benefits. This study looks at how best to rewarm kidneys ahead of transplantation to minimise damage and aims to closely examine the effects of temperature and oxygen availability on kidney metabolism.

Alexander Sagar
Prolonging Liver Preservation at Body Temperature 

Transplantation remains the main treatment for liver failure. There are 11,000 people with liver transplants in the UK. Unfortunately, 12% of patients on the waiting list either die, or are de-listed due to deterioration, whilst awaiting transplantation. Although traditionally organs have been stored on ice, storage at body temperature with a continuous supply of nutrients enables organ recovery during preservation. This increases the proportion of organs that can be transplanted. This proposal would extend the body-temperature preservation period from hours to days. This will improve organ assessment to maximise utilisation and facilitate treatments that enhance graft function prior to implantation.  

Rachel Thomas 
Novel technique to improve donor kidneys?

Demand for kidney transplants exceeds supply so research aims to improve the quality of marginal deceased kidneys. Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) is a novel retrieval technique used in two UK centres with a proven positive impact on donor livers. The consequences for NRP kidneys are less well established but may provide better quality organs and therefore, improve outcomes for the 5000 patients on the transplant waiting list. This innovative research will investigate whether NRP impacts on kidney tissue and, if there is evidence of an improved appearance, this could recommend expansion of NRP programmes. For full report click here

2020

Syed Hussain Abbas 
The utility of hand-held near infrared micro-spectrometry in predicting the severity of steatosis in human livers procured from deceased donors.  

The success of liver transplantation is limited by waiting list deaths of up to 20%. Donor shortages necessitate the need to
optimise high-risk fatty organs. However, current methods of estimating the liver fat content are not well validated. The utility of
technology based on spectrometry will enable greater identification donor fatty livers with more than 30% fat. These organs may
benefit from organ preservation outside the body on a machine with delivery of defatting agents due to their high risk.
Identification and optimisation of such organs will reduce discard rates and improve post-transplant outcomes. For full report click here

Matthew Bottomley  
Circulating Monocytes as a Predictor of Cancer Risk in Long-Term Renal Transplant Recipients. 

Up to a quarter of kidney transplant patients develop cancer within twenty years of transplant. Cancer after transplant may progress more rapidly and have poorer outcomes compared with cancer in non-transplant patients. 
We previously identified a marker in a type of white blood cell (‘monocyte’) which is associated with increased future risk of developing cancer in kidney transplant recipients. We will study this in more depth to understand how its presence is associated with elevated cancer risk. 
Better understanding of risk factors behind post-transplant cancer marker may identify new interventions to predict and prevent cancer in transplant patients. For full report click here

Tamsyn Clark 
Isolated liver chemoperfusion: For cancer and beyond
For every 100 patients whose bowel cancer has spread to the liver, only 14 will be alive five years after their diagnosis. Treatment options for these patients are limited and cause distressing side effects including nausea, tiredness and hair loss.  For full report click here

Richard Dumbill  
Effect of the age of blood in ex-vivo normothermic machine perfusion.  

Blood donations are stored for up to 35 days before being used for transfusion (for severe anaemia), or to preserve organs ahead of transplantation. Blood stored for longer periods of time may be a less effective treatment than blood stored for short periods of time. We plan to investigate whether older blood can provide enough oxygen to tissues by measuring tissue oxygenation in kidneys perfused with blood of various ages. This will help us understand which units of blood can be used for preserving organs for transplantation, for treating patients with anaemia, and how to prevent stored blood deteriorating. For full report click here

Georg Ebeling
Improving the Outcomes after Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. Ongoing shortages of donor organs 
result in accepting livers from older or multimorbid donors, which is associated with poorer outcomes. Therefore, marginal livers can 
be isolated and preserved on a perfusion machine, which provides nutrients and oxygen at body temperature, resulting in improved 
liver function. We aim to take advantage of this technique and to simultaneously deliver drugs such as nucleic acids prior to 
transplantation. This will probably lead to reduced organ damage, subsequently resulting in less complications and reduced treatment 
costs for the NHS

Fungai Dengu  and Sotiris Masoridis 
Therapeutic applications of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of livers: towards targeted immune modulation and organ reconditioning. 

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized ‘bubbles’ released by cells and carry ‘cargo’ such as proteins and genetic code, enabling communication between cells and the regulation of immune responses. Due to their stability and the ability to select which cargo to load them with, their potential as a therapeutic agent is enormous. Translation to patients has been hindered by an inability to get them where they need to act (donor organ) without being taken up in other sites. This study will explore the uptake and distribution of EVs delivered directly to isolated donor livers during machine perfusion. For final report 

Etohan Ann Ogbemudia 
Laboratory biomarkers to aid the diagnosis of pancreatitis and rejection in Pancreas Transplantation.

Pancreas transplantation (PT) is an established operation to treat type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. During the period of organ retrieval, pancreases are without a blood supply - this phenomenon is called ischemia. Ischemia predisposes pancreases to have pancreatitis and this can cause significant complications including an increased risk of rejection. 

Currently, there are no reliable investigations to diagnose pancreatitis or rejection until it is too late. 
We have identified some well-known blood tests successfully used in other conditions that we suspect could be diagnostic biomarkers. These tests would be vital to alert clinicians to provide necessary early interventions. to prolong the lifespan of PT. For full report click here

Sushma Shankar 
Analysis of longitudinal immunity in SARS-CoV-2-convalescent patients with a renal transplant or haemodialysis.  

66000 patients with end stage renal failure (ESRF) in the UK require renal replacement therapy (RRT) such as renal
transplantation or haemodialysis, to survive. However, ESRF and haemodialysis result in immune compromise whilst transplant
recipients need immunosuppression, leaving these patients vulnerable to severe infection and ineffective vaccination. Such
patients have an increased risk of death from COVID-19 compared to the general population. This work aims to determine
whether RRT patients who recover from COVID-19, develop sustained immune responses which offer protection from future reinfection.
Such findings may also inform vaccine strategies in these patients.  Final report click here

2019

S H Abbas
Clinical Research Fellow in Transplantation

The impact of normothermic machine perfusion and defatting on Hypoxia-­Inducible Factor (HIF) expression in human steatotic livers

HIF expression during normothermic machine perfusion
The success of liver transplantation is limited by waiting list deaths of up to 20%. Donor shortages necessitate the need to optimise high-­risk fatty organs. This can be achieved by organ preservation outside the body (normothermic machine perfusion) and delivery of defatting agents. Such organs are vulnerable to low oxygen levels resulting in activation of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) which have may have an acute protective effect. The research on HIF expression during normothermic machine perfusion in context of therapeutic defatting interventions is needed understand their expression, acute protective mechanisms and subsequent influence on post-­transplant outcomes.  For full report click here

J Branchereau
Researcher

Pancreas Perfusion Programme: Comparison of hypothermic preservation methods in donor pancreases

Pancreas Perfusion Program: a way to improve the donor pancreas during storage
Diabetes impacts the lives of 415 million people worldwide and is predicted to rise to 642 million by 2040. Pancreatic transplantation saves the lives of human patients suffering incontrollable and debilitating diabetes on a daily basis. There remains a shortage of donor organs which has created a driving pressure to achieve an optimal approach for organ preservation in the organs utilized for transplantation. Following cooling of organs in ice, introducing machine perfusion with oxygen could improve transplantation success rates. This study concludes the final step before this method of perfusion is introduced in human transplantation.  For full report click here

F Dengu
Clinical Research Fellow and DPhil Candidate

Determining the capacity of therapeutic cells delivered during normothermic perfusion of the liver to engraft within donor organs

Tracking cellular therapies given during NMP
Immunosuppression after transplantation is associated with a substantial personal and societal burden owing to their toxic effects which include cancer, infections and renal failure, as well as the high financial costs. Cellular therapies offer hope for minimization of these medications but often fail to reach the target organ when given systemically. Giving these new therapies during NMP may be a solution, however crucial work on the feasibility of delivering these cells is urgently required. We propose to label and track cells that are delivered during NMP to determine their capacity for engraftment within the target organ. For full report click here

F M Elgilani
Clinical Research Fellow

Safety and efficacy of Tofacitinib in ameliorating ischaemia reperfusion injury and allograft pancreatitis in solid organ transplantation – a pilot study

Medication to reduce transplant pancreatitis
40-50% of patients who have a pancreas transplant can develop an inflammatory life threatening condition called pancreatitis. This condition makes patients stay in hospital longer and remain more unwell. It also reduces graft survival. To prevent this complication, we want to use an anti inflammatory therapy, blocking a key molecular switch that drives the inflammation. We will be using a medication called Tofacitinib which has been used in patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. We believe we will be able to dampen the effect, which will improve patient's outcome and graft survival. For gull report click here

2018

Matthew Brook
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

Assessment of cell therapy in Transplantation

Approximately 5,000 patients received a kidney transplant in the UK last year and are required to take life-long anti-rejection medications. These are highly effective but have significant side effects.
We are using natural cells from the blood called Tregs, expand in number in the laboratory, to protect a kidney transplant from rejection and reduce the need for anti-rejection medications.
This ground-breaking study aims to discover whether, following Treg infusion into the kidney transplant recipients, we can identify these cells within the kidney transplant itself and prove that they are working to prevent rejection.  Full report click here

Ann Ogbemudia
Research and Clinical Fellow in Transplantation

Islets in skin to treat diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition where a person’s body loses the ability to adjust their blood sugar putting them at risk of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness, limb amputations or premature death.
There are currently 3.7million sufferers in the UK and that figure is rising exponentially.
We promise to take human islet cells that naturally regulate blood sugar from deceased donor pancreas where they reside and incorporate them in small pieces of skin which when transplanted would function as a pancreas. This procedure is easily performed, monitored and removed if necessary in this superficial position in the recipient’s forearm.  For full report click here

Fungai Dengu
Clinical Research Fellow in Transplant Surgery

Profiling the Liver during machine profusion

Donated livers can now be preserved on a machine that pumps blood and oxygen, medicines and nutrients through it at normal body temperature as opposed to storage ‘on-ice’ which is harmful to the organ, especially in marginal donor organs.
Clinical trials have shown excellent results with this new technology. Using samples collected from these studies, we will investigate what happens to immune cells within the liver during preservation with the machine and explore how we may be able to exploit this knowledge of the immune environment to deliver novel immune treatments that can improve patient outcomes. For full report click here

2017

Katarzyna Dagmara Bera 
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow (Core Training) in General Surgery, ST2 

Brain death duration in deceased organ donors

Kidney transplantation provides the ideal treatment for end-stage renal failure and worldwide the demand for organs by far
exceeds the available organ pool. It is thus important to optimise the long-term function and survival of donated kidneys from
deceased donors. This project is designed to characterise changes in the donor’s blood during brain death over time aiming to
understand the systemic stress affecting the kidney before procurement. We want to understand whether any serum biomarkers
can help us to predict which organs will have a good or poor outcome, and identify novel treatment targets to prevent further
injury or initiate repair prior to transplantation.  For full report click here

Travel Grants Information

2024 

Hannah Docker - British society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (BSHI) conference 2024

I am incredibly grateful to OTF for facilitating my attendance at this meeting, which has enabled me to continue my development as a clinical scientist. This year the BSHI annual conference was held in Manchester on the 24-25th September. The Oxford Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics laboratory submitted 3 abstracts to the organising committee. These have been published in the International Journal of Immunogenetics volume 51, issue S2. The titles ‘O9: Introducing a programme of HNA-3 genotyping and antibody screening for patients on the solid organ transplant list’ and ‘O12: First successful imlifidase-enabled kidney transplant in the UK: a case report’ were both selected to be presented at the conference in the best abstract category. ‘P22: Outcomes of delisting antibody specificities in highly sensitized transplant recipients: The Oxford experience’ was selected as a poster presentation.

The conference programme was extremely stimulating and featured talks including updates on OTDT and the H&I support required, improving access to HPC and solid organ transplantation, and transplanting highly sensitised patients. Additionally there were talks from guest speakers Professor Dan Davis on ‘The secret body’ and Dr Rob Liwski ‘From Halifax to AXE: Developing cutting edge protocols for HLA antibody detection’. My colleague Jeanette Ayers was due to attend the conference to present abstract O12, however unfortunately she was unwell and unable to attend. As I have been involved in the work on imlifidase-enabled transplantation in Oxford, I stepped in to give this talk at the conference, as well as my own abstract on HNA-3 genotyping and antibody screening: a non-HLA target that has been shown to be relevant in cases of kidney transplant rejection. This was my first time presenting scientific work at a conference and I felt privileged to be demonstrating the cutting-edge work that we are carrying out in the Oxford lab to facilitate the transplantation of highly sensitized patients and also our work to tackle unexpectedly positive crossmatches and subsequent negative outcomes for graft survival. 

It was very valuable to hear of the work carried out by other UK transplant laboratories and the collaboration and connections made at the conference are paramount to our development as a laboratory. Additionally, my role as a senior clinical scientist also involves being a BSHI diploma training manager and delivering content to our local BSHI diploma trainees (of which there are currently 5 members of staff). Hearing of the current work in our discipline helps me to remain abreast of the latest developments and deliver up-to-date training on current practice and scientific advances to our trainee clinical scientists.

2023

Mohamed Aly Mohamed Elshafei Elzawahry - IPITA-IXA-CTRMS congress

This was a particularly special event as it combined the three international associations of pancreas, islet, xenotransplantation, regenerative medicine and cell therapy.

I was in attendance as I was invited to present my work orally and I was awarded a scientific congress award for my work, which was generously funded by an OTF grant awarded in 2022.

The research I presented was to compare different modes of oxygenated cold machine preservation of the pancreas, which is a novel technique. This is a promising application for this technology and it is quite close to application in the clinical environment.

If this transition to the clinical environment is successful, this research has the potential to reduce preservation injury, increasing the number of pancreases safely and successfully used for transplant. Presenting at such an international platform was a well-timed valuable opportunity to publicise our work in the transplant community and gain invaluable feedback.

Irene Mosca - ESOT 23, Athens 17-20 September 2023 - "Transplantation at a crossroads"

 The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress occurs every two 
years and it aims to provide “state of the art” updates on the most relevant topics in 
Transplantation and to explore future avenues in the field. The mission of the Society is 
to “improve outcomes for patients with terminal organ disease through transplantation, 
organ regeneration and substitution.”
 The choice of Athens to host ESOT Congress 2023 seemed particularly befitting and 
dense of significance, for it is one of the birthplaces of occidental medicine and medical 
education, possibly the most cherished endeavours of this Society. It was an in-person 
event attended by approximately 2800 participants from over 80 countries. In addition 
to presentations and plenary sessions, there were many learning opportunities for 
young professionals, such as short courses, workshops and “hands-on” sessions on 
machine perfusion.
 ESOT has a long-standing tradition of focusing on ground-breaking discoveries in 
clinical, translational, and technological fields, whilst appraising and challenging 
standard practice, when appropriate. ESOT 2023 Congress met the above 
expectations, however there were a few novelties that placed this event in a league of 
its own.  In fact, it seemed as if, possibly as a response to recent challenging times, the 
Transplant Community has begun a journey to adapt to the needs of a rapidly changing 
world. Hence the meeting was organised with an inquisitive approach to new ways to 
deliver healthcare. 
More specifically, in addition to traditional topics (donor and recipients’ management- 
clinical outcomes- organ retrieval, preservation, optimisation and regeneration- surgical 
and immunological challenges- biomarkers of rejection- artificial organs and 
xenotransplantation), this congress focused on three emerging aspects of care: 
digitalisation, patient-centred approach and inclusivity. 
The meeting was structured around 5 domains to highlight what is most relevant in 
Transplantation and where the current challenges lie: “innovation and technology”, 
“regeneration and repair”, “realistic care”, “digital transformation” and “shared decision 
making.” This conceptual framework confirmed how we are shifting from “clinician-only” 
to “patient driven” health care delivery and how we are zooming out to gain a broader/
 more inclusive approach to tackle inequalities. 
The choice of keynote speakers for the Open Plenary “Transplantation at a crossroads” 
was a clear introduction to the new challenges ESOT intends to embrace: John Nosta, 
one of the most influential digital health thinkers and innovators; Donna Cryer, liver 
transplant recipient and champion of patient’s advocacy/centeredness; Tobias Degsell, 
world renowned expert in learning and creativity based on collaboration and inclusivity.
 One of the main take home messages of the meeting was how the pandemic has 
demonstrated the necessity of collaboration, the importance of technology and 
digitalisation and how the latter comes with a unique set of challenges.
 The second take home message was that the transplant community needs to develop 
strategies to address inequalities in access to transplantation, education, and 
digitalisation. Finally, it was underlined how inclusivity and diversity, fuelled by trust and 
collaboration, will be essential to use the opportunities offered by the new technologies 
and to tackle new challenges.
 The state-of-the-art session “delivering health care and transplantation in times of 
crisis” demonstrated how the above issues are essential in Transplantation.
 As underlined by the first speaker, Dr Matthew Weiss (Canada), a robust system of 
reliable digital data collection and international communication are key to swiftly create 
clinical guidance at a time of crisis. This approach seems essential in a population 
such as transplant recipients, who require highly specialised treatment, expertise, and 
infrastructure (Mehemet Sever, Turkey). Finally, the last speaker, Raymand Vanholder 
(Belgium) questioned the level of preparedness of health care systems for future crisis 
and highlighted the need for adequate planning and education to address the unique 
challenges related to transplantation.
 Indirect confirmation of the relevance of the above issues for ESOT is the creation of a 
specific project for “Building Resilience Against crisis: a systematic and global 
approach to adVancE organ Safety and supply in Transplantation (BRAVEST)” 
With regards to the scientific content, as expected, most presentations spun from the 
everlasting discrepancy between organ demand and availability. And indeed, research 
in transplantation is essentially focused on minimising this gap, by addressing every 
possible aspect and step of the donation/transplantation pathway: from optimising 
donation-donors-organs to predicting-minimising-treating rejection and improving long 
term patient and graft survival. 
Research on donation was focused on how to expand the donor pool. Exciting results 
on the impact of kidney exchange programs and non-directed altruistic donation were 
presented, as well as data on the use of technology and patient advocacy to increase 
awareness and equity of access to transplantation. 
Many presentations evolved around analysing outcomes of different type of donors, 
such as extended criteria, DCD/DBD, uncontrolled DCD, incompatible kidney 
transplantation and organs retrieved after normothermic regional perfusion. The data 
available clearly confirms how the careful broadening of donor’s selection criteria has 
yielded excellent results both in terms of increased activity and quality of transplanted 
organs. 
Variables related to donation have inevitably increased in time, hence researchers 
have been trying to develop algorithms capable of predicting quality of organs and 
outcomes based on big data, large databases and bioresources on donors, now 
available thanks to the visionary work of the Oxford based QUOD biobank. 
Projects on preservation techniques continues to be at the forefront of research in 
transplantation. The use of innovative organ perfusion strategies (normothermic 
regional perfusion, normothermic ex-vivo machine perfusion and hypothermic machine 
perfusion) has been increasing rapidly in the past decade. A lot of data is now available 
on their positive impact on organ reconditioning and, ultimately, in expanding the 
availability of transplantable organs. Moreover, interesting work was presented on their 
essential role in laboratory-based research on regenerative therapies. 
At recipient level, the most relevant areas of research were on early detection of 
rejection (algorithms for risk assessment, identification of reliable and easily detectable 
biomarkers, monitoring), treatment of complications and finding new ways to safely 
minimise immunosuppression.  With regards to the latter, one of the most promising 
avenues is the pursue of immunological tolerance by means CAR T-regulatory cells.
 Unsurprisingly, the winner of this year’s clinical arm of the prestigious Leonardo da 
Vinci transplant research innovation award was a presentation on an automated assay 
to assess kidney transplant rejection with urinary chemokine (Elizabeth Van Loon, 
Leuven, Belgium).
 The basic science prize was awarded to a work on engineered t cells to overcome 
antibody mediated rejection (Anna C. Dragon, Hannover, Germany), however, 
research on CAR-Tregs featured again amongst the shortlisted, confirming how cell 
engineering will provide new ways to increase the lifespan of transplanted organs. 
Moreover, genetic manipulation has proven instrumental in the progress of research on 
Xenotransplantation. US data on genetically modified minipigs kidneys into macaque 
monkeys seems to have brought us one step closer to such target, by demonstrating 
how gene-editing can improve xenograft survival (Ahmad Karadagi, Boston, USA). 
Finally, the rationale behind ESOT manifesto for 2024-2029- eliminating inequalities in 
organ transplantation across Europe- was highlighted in the state-of-the-art session on 
policy making. The three main EU policy objectives are currently improving safety and 
quality, increasing efficiency and accessibility, and increasing organ availability. Again, 
patient’s role in shaping the future in transplantation was deemed essential, with 
patients’ associations identified as one of the most effective ways to rapidly implement 
meaningful change. 
In conclusion, the ESOT Congress 2023 wasn’t just an update on the most relevant 
innovations in transplantation, but most of all, it offered the opportunity to understand 
how the transplant community is changing to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving 
society and how stakeholders can contribute to reach our shared goals.
 

Rebecca Spiers - IPITA-IXA-CTRMS Joint Congress (San Diego) 26th -29th October 2023

I am grateful to the OTF for supporting me to travel to the IPITA-IXA-CTRMS Joint Congress, which took place in San Diego from the 26th -29th October 2023. IPITA is a high impact conference within the islet isolation and transplantation community and is of international standing within this field. The conference offered us an opportunity to witness the very latest cutting edge research occurring within the international islet community, which has been instrumental in underpinning the next phase of our research project planning. The conference offered many fantastic networking opportunities with colleagues, which we are hopeful will lay foundation for future collaboration. I was grateful to have an opportunity to present my accepted oral abstract, which was entitled “Reducing Neutral Protease Dose During Islet Isolation Does Not Impair Islet Recovery from Pancreases Retrieved for Autologous Use”. The abstract was well received and resulted in several key discussion topics.

Laura Wingfield - British Transplantation Society 2023 

By attending the British Transplant Society annual conference it provided me with multiple benefits.  I was able to present my research at the conference as a finalist for the Medawar Medal for my research focused on Artificial Intelligent (AI) methodology to help predict kidney transplant survival at up to 10 years.  This work also highlighted the importance of working with transplant patients to determine their information needs during the transplant process.  I have been working with both patient and clinicians at the Oxford Transplant Centre to find out what they would specifically want from an AI-based tool to help provide further information about the transplant process.  This separate research was presented as a poster at the conference.

In addition to presenting my own research, I was able to see several presentations from researchers throughout Europe.  By attending these presentations, not only did I learn about techniques in transplantation which may be beneficial in my clinical practice, but it also helped me further enhance my own research by providing me with different ideas on how to conduct my patient, qualitative research as well as mathematical methodology that is being used by the NHS Blood and Transplant team to assess the utility of organ transplantation.  This particular area of research is directly translatable to the Artificial Intelligence models trialled by our research team.  Ultimately, the conference was an incredibly useful educational experience that both allowed me to share my own research with the transplant community as well as gain invaluable insights into cutting edge research in the field.  I am extremely grateful to the Oxford Transplant Foundation for their support that allowed me to attend. 

2022

Mohamed Aly Mohamed Elshafei Elzawahry - British Transplantation Society 

This was the annual congress for the British Transplant Society of the year 2022. This was a particularly special event as it celebrated the society’s 50th anniversary and it was the first in person meeting of the society since COVID lockdowns had begun.

I was in attendance as I was shortlisted for a scientific competition which intends to foster new research ideas and develop clinical trials. I presented my proposal for a clinical trial of novel machine perfusion technology in preservation of pancreas organs prior to transplantation. We are currently seeking funding for this specific trial and the feedback from the audience and the judges was critical in such a process.

If successful, this research has the potential to reduce preservation injury, increasing the number of pancreases safely and successfully used for transplant. Presenting at such a national platform was a well-timed valuable opportunity to publicise our work in the transplant community and gain invaluable feedback.

Lisa Vokes - 12th International Paediatric Intestinal Failure and Rehabilitation Symposium, Toronto, Canada

Networking with the international faculty; harnessing support for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) AHP team, linking with research dieticians and AHPs, sharing practice with other specialist dieticians (we have only three other such dieticians in the UK).

Expanding knowledge towards paediatric experience, relevant from the point of view of transition patients whom we see in Oxford. 

Specifically learning re sarcopenia and feed shortage experience of the healthcare professional over recent years.

Increasing knowledge of challenges faced in healthcare in other countries and also increasing knowledge of products available in different countries.  

Increasing the profile of the OUH team by being present.

2018

Hannah Kenworthy BSHI Conference 2018 (5-6 September 2018)

My attendance at the BSHI conference 2018 has greatly enhanced my experience as a trainee of the British Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics diploma by allowing me to attend talks on the latest research in the field, including talks on the impact of the introduction of the 'soft opt-out' organ donation system in Wales and controversies with Organ donation attitudes. I was also able to meet company representatives supplying the laboratory with consumables and the latest technologies and meet the BSHI training representative to discuss training progress and updates. The poster research session gave me a good opportunity to talk to current trainees and qualified Clinical Scientists about the projects they carried out as part of their diploma, giving me insight into the process and scope for a project that I will have to carry out in the future as part of my diploma.

Mohammed Ali Rafique BSHI Conference 2018 (5-6 September 2018)

I have been working as a Biomedical Scientist in H&I since April 2009, and registered as a BSHI trainee in September 2016. I have never attended a BSHI AGM before, despite haveing a poster displayed at the 2016 conference in Oxford. I have once again been successful in writing an abstract for this conference, which has been accepted as a poster; this year I was able to attend and defend my poster. A variety of speakers on many topics gave a broad understanding of the areas in which research is being carried out, and the Terasaki and Festenstein speakers were extremely interesting.

2019

Alice Hayward BTS Annual Congress 2019 (6-8 March 2019)

The congress included 3 full days of inspirational talks. These were all extremely educational and I feel that I learnt a great deal, which will help towards my career progression. I learnt about current research and new technologies to improve organ donation and transplantation. In particular, the predictions of how the new opt-out system will effect organ donation in the UK. This will be extremely helpful moving forward for how this may affect mine and my team's workload and how to cope with this potential, additional pressure. I also had the chance to meet scientists from other H&I labs and found it particularly interesting to discuss the different techniques their labs use, information which I can relay back to my colleagues at the Oxford lab.

BTS Annual Congress 2019 (6-8 March 2019)

The British Transplant Society annual conference showcases the latest clinical and translational research in UK organ donation and transplantation. It was beneficial to see presentations on the latest advancements in transplant research and biobanks, and provides a platform to present your own work. I was chosen to present a moderated poster for my work on deceased donor exosome proteomics and subsequently won a poster prize.

Honglei Huang BTS Annual Congress 2019 (6-8 March 2019)

I present my work "Remote ischemic conditioning dampens acute inflammation in kidney transplantation", it contribute to the understanding of molecular mechanism of remote ischaemic conditioning. The project I proposed "Identification of Exosome Proteins Associated with Transplant Outcome from Donor Serum" was presented as poster by my research assistant Adam Thorne and was awarded as one of the 10 best poster in the meeting.

Fundraisers news and updates:

A skydive is always something that I have wanted to challenge myself to do, My mum attends the renal outpatients at churchhill hospital oxford on a regular basis and is supported by the doctors and nurses,  I thought what better way to say thank you to the departments by raising money for the transplant unit. 

I raised a total of £350 and would like to continuously say thank you for all their great work. “The skydive was an amazing experience jumping from 10,000 feet”

Sasha

The Magnolia Golf Club held its’ annual Charity Day on Friday 19th July 2019.

After days of wonderful sunshine, the rain decided to fall just as everyone headed out onto the course.  It continued to be gusty and wet all morning only clearing a bit at lunchtime. Brian took his Captain’s drive earlier in the morning and as each team came round to the first hole they bought a flag to place where they thought the ball had landed. At the end of the day the person who came closest won a bottle of Champagne. When everyone came in from the golf both wet and windswept we sat down to dinner followed by the prize giving and auction. We were very privileged to have a variety of items to auction for the charity.

I’m still waiting on the final figure for the day but at the last count we were up to £4913.00 which is an amazing amount and we still have 8 months ahead to increase the funds more. 

Brian Nobbs (Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club Captain 2019/20)