Join your colleagues and the entire transplant community for the 2025 AST Virtual Run and Fitness Challenge, taking place April 1 – June 15!

Together, we’re aiming to complete 48,149 miles—one for every organ transplant performed in the U.S. last year. Whether you walk, run, bike, swim, or choose any other form of exercise, every mile counts toward our shared goal.

Together, it is our goal to complete a mile for every organ transplanted last year. Can we count on you to help us reach this goal? All funds raised will support a transplant research grant.

Immerse yourself in the latest research and breakthroughs in the field of transplantation at WTC 2025, hosted in the dynamic city of San Francisco. This global congress draws experts, healthcare practitioners, and researchers and provides them with an opportunity to explore in-depth the sector’s newest developments.

Join your colleagues in sharing innovative approaches to clinical practice, gaining insight into transplant finance, and expanding your leadership skills at the AST Medical Directors Forum.

The WTC Student Ambassador Program aims to promote transplantation as an exciting and rewarding field of specialization for 3rd and 4th-year medical students. By engaging future medical professionals, this program will foster awareness and enthusiasm for organ donation and transplantation while enhancing participation at the WTC 2025 Congress. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2025.
 

We’re thrilled to kick off AST’s 2025 Member Referral Campaign, where you can grow our vibrant transplant community and win exciting prizes! This year, there’s even more to look forward to with the World Transplant Congress (WTC) happening this August in San Francisco. By referring your colleagues, you're helping them access AST’s exclusive resources and connecting them with an incredible global community ahead of this must-attend event.

The AST continues to engage strategically with the new Congress, White House, and stakeholder community regarding the Society’s priorities. As we enter the second quarter of 2025, we have all witnessed significant policy and personnel changes within the new White House Administration and 119th U.S. Congress. These advocacy efforts continue to focus on OPTN Modernization for the future of our patients and the field of transplantation.  

Funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) put critical transplant research at risk. NIH-funded studies have driven advancements in transplantation, improving patient outcomes and paving the way for innovations like new immunosuppressants, immune tolerance strategies, and even organ regeneration. Without this support, progress in the field could slow, affecting countless patients and families.

We need your help to ensure that transplant research remains a priority. Use our advocacy page to contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect NIH funding. Together, we can make a difference. Take action today!

April is Donate Life Month, and we’re inviting YOU to join the AST transplant community in a meaningful way! We’d love to hear your story and see the memento that makes your transplant journey special. Whether it’s a photo or a short video, sharing what matters to you will help build a stronger connection within our community.

The Trainee and Young Faculty Community of Practice (TYF COP) and the Women’s Health Community of Practice (WHCOP), with the support of the AST, are excited to offer the WTC 2025 Travel Grant—an opportunity to support the next generation of transplant professionals. This grant provides up to $1,000 in reimbursable expenses for medical students and residents to attend the World Transplant Congress (WTC) 2025 in San Francisco (August 2–6, 2025). 

We are also looking for application reviewers and mentors to help guide and support future leaders in transplantation. If you know colleagues who would be a great fit, please share this opportunity with them! 

The AST developed a survey aimed at soliciting your perspectives on legislative and regulatory issues that significantly influence both patient care and professional practice. Our goal is to establish a platform for our membership to share their invaluable ideas and perspectives and actively engage with the Public Policy Committee and AST leadership. We look forward to your input as we navigate the dynamics of our ever-evolving landscape of transplant care and practice.

Source: American Journal of Transplantation
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) significantly impact morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), but their effect on allograft function remains poorly defined. This retrospective study examined adult KTRs transplanted at Johns Hopkins from 2012 to 2018, with follow-up through 2023. The association of IFIs with a composite outcome of graft failure and mortality was assessed using negative binomial regression. 

Source: Transplantation
Brain death (BD) and cold storage (CS) are critical factors that induce inflammation in donor kidneys, compromising organ quality. We investigated whether treating kidneys from BD rats with an inflammasome Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inhibitor (MCC950) followed by CS could reduce kidney inflammation.

Source: Clinical Transplantation
Use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) to recover donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs demonstrates increased heart utilization with favorable outcomes. Conversely, DCD lung allograft use when NRP was employed remains controversial. This is a contemporary analysis of DCD lung recipient outcomes in which NRP was used.