On behalf of the AST, the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), and The Transplantation Society (TTS), we are excited to announce that registration is officially open for the International Transplantation Science Meeting 2025. 

 

ITS 2025 marks the fourth tri-society event in this global collaboration, bringing together top experts, early-career researchers, and transplant professionals worldwide. This meeting offers an exciting forum to explore cutting-edge basic and translational science in and beyond the field of transplantation.

The AST is now accepting applications for its 2026 Career Development Grant cycle! These grants promote the careers of early career investigators whose research relates to solid organ transplantation (and/or immunology relating to solid organ transplant).

The Living Kidney Donor Medical Provider Toolkit has been fully updated! First published in 2018, the toolkit now includes revisions to all chapters and five new topics: genetic testing, international donor evaluation, GFR considerations, older donors, and tobacco/cannabis use.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has formally approved a pilot program offering a pathway to ABIM Board Eligibility in Internal Medicine for international medical graduates who complete an ACGME-accredited fellowship either as an ‘exceptionally qualified candidate’ or as a graduate of an internal medicine training program with ACGME-International advanced specialty accreditation.

• The structure and goals of the mandatory IOTA model
• Key performance metrics, scoring, and payment methodologies
• Strategic approaches for successful participation
• A detailed look at MS-DRGs specific to kidney transplantation
• Critical data on hospital costs and CMS reimbursement
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Whether you're a clinician, administrator, or healthcare policy leader, this session will deliver the knowledge you need to stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.

This "Understanding the Impact of the Pre-Transplant Mortality Ratio Metric Implementation" survey focuses on how transplant professionals perceive and respond to the recently implemented pre-transplant mortality ratio metric by UNOS. The goal is to assess how the metric has influenced transplant center practices, particularly in patient listing and organ utilization.

Source: Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network
The OPTN summer public comment period began on August 27 and will run through October 1. You can find the proposals the OPTN released for comment this cycle on the OPTN website.

This 10-minute survey is part of an ongoing AST Women’s Health Community of Practice (WHCOP) effort to better understand and improve support for transplant professionals when it comes to family leave and childrearing. The survey is expected to take less than 10 minutes to complete and will help with understanding the current practices and beliefs surrounding pregnancy and parental leave for transplant professionals. Responses will be used in research to identify gaps, inform best practices, and guide future policy and institutional recommendations to better support the transplant workforce.

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.

In the United States, a severe organ shortage precipitates an extensive transplant waitlist. Living donor kidneys are functionally superior to those from deceased donors and offer an alternative to close the supply-demand gap.

Fontan-associated liver disease can progress to advanced fibrosis, raising the potential need for combined heart–liver transplantation (CHLT) in selected patients. However, the benefits of CHLT over isolated orthotopic heart transplantation (HT), particularly in terms of mortality, remain uncertain. In this systematic review, we compared mortality outcomes following CHLT versus HT in patients with Fontan circulation, with the aim of supporting clinical decision-making.

The 7th World Symposium for Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) defined PH as a resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) of >20 mm Hg, as confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC).1 PH is divided into 5 clinical subgroups; pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), PH associated with left-sided heart disease, PH associated with chronic lung disease and/or hypoxia, PH associated with pulmonary artery obstructions, and PH with unclear or multifactorial etiologies.1 Presently, an estimated 1% of the global population is affected by PH, including up to 10% of individuals older than 65 years 2. The higher incidence among those > 65 years is attributed to the increased presence of cardiac and pulmonary etiologies of PH.3–5 Regardless of etiology, PH is a complex pathophysiologic disorder that may involve multiple conditions and is frequently associated with deteriorating symptoms and increased mortality.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) have implications for transplant access and outcomes. Inequities in transplantation have been identified over the years for minoritized groups based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and other sociocultural identities. While DEIB initiatives have demonstrated success in improving transplant outcomes for some minoritized groups, many gaps still exist, and additional work is needed. Concerns about these practices have also been raised, and they may create barriers to achieving DEIB goals. This underscores the importance of transplant organizational commitment to practices that uphold the values of DEIB, as such efforts are effective in reducing transplant inequities and fostering an inclusive community. From this viewpoint, we reviewed the existing inequalities in transplant, importance of DEIB, common concerns about DEIB initiatives, and commitment of the American Society of Transplant to DEIB initiatives, including the foundation of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to Life (IDEAL) committee. Recommendations for cultivating DEIB practices, as well as tips for managing backlash against DEIB initiatives, are also provided. All professionals within the field of transplantation should carefully consider these recommendations to help promote an inclusive community for patients, providers, and all key stakeholders.