WTC 2025 - Early Registration Deadline and Final Plenary Spotlight

Early Registration Ends Soon!

May 28 is the last chance to take advantage of the early registration discount for WTC 2025 and secure your spot at a reduced rate!


With the full scientific program available on the WTC 2025 website, now is a great time to dive in and start mapping out your personalized WTC 2025 schedule!

Final Plenary Spotlight
Charting the Future with Emerging Leaders

As the Congress comes to a close, join us on Wednesday, August 6 from 11:30 to 12:30 for a powerful Final Plenary Session featuring three rising stars in transplantation: Ala Ali (TTS), Dempsey Hughes (AST) and Yanik Bababekov (ASTS)

Transplantation Journal Highlights

Transplantation Journal - Social Media Content

Pregnancy After Solid Organ Transplantation: Review of the Evidence and Recommendations
Solid organ transplantation (SOT) offers people with end-stage organ disease an increased quality of life, which includes the return of fertility and the potential for pregnancy. Although the number of pregnancies has increased, definitive recommendations have been lacking.
HLA-EP-RESOLVER: A Novel Web-based Bioinformatic Tool to Determine the Presence or Absence of DSA Against Rare HLA Alleles in the Era of Rapid High-resolution Deceased Donor HLA Genotyping
Patients awaiting a solid organ transplant require pretransplant testing including high-resolution HLA typing and screening of HLA antibodies. However, the standard HLA antibody testing cannot encompass all the HLA alleles available in the Australian donor pool. With the advent of high-resolution HLA typing for organ allocation, there is an increased prevalence of detecting uncommon HLA alleles. It is challenging to manually determine whether patients have donor-specific HLA antibodies against these antigens. To address this issue, a bioinformatic pipeline, HLA-EP-RESOLVER, was developed to assess eplet reactivity for rare HLA unacceptable antigens (UAs).

Transplantation Direct - Social Media Content

Kidney-derived Urinary Extracellular Vesicles are Increased During Acute Rejection after Kidney Transplantation: A Pilot Study
Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) are nanosized particles primarily excreted by the kidney. Kidney-derived uEVs (kd-uEVs) are promising noninvasive biomarkers for assessing kidney allograft health and diseases such as acute rejection (AR) after kidney transplantation. However, their release dynamics posttransplant are unclear. This pilot study investigates kd-uEV dynamics and their potential to distinguish AR from acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and nonbiopsied controls.
Clinical Outcomes and Donor-specific Antibody Rebound 5 y After Kidney Transplant Enabled by Imlifidase Desensitization
Imlifidase is an IgG-cleaving endopeptidase conditionally approved in Europe for desensitization of highly sensitized patients before kidney transplantation. We present 5-y outcomes and donor-specific antibody (DSA) levels for clinical trial participants from a single site who received imlifidase for desensitization before incompatible transplantation (NCT02790437).

Special CTRMS Feature

As part of the on-going collaboration between TTS and our official Sections, and in order to provide TTS members with an update on areas of the field represented by TTS Sections, content for this issue of the Pulse has been submitted by the Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society.

Introduction from the 2025 Congress Board

The Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society (CTRMS), established in 1992, is the oldest academic society dedicated to the field of cell transplantation. As one of the official Sections of The Transplantation Society (TTS), CTRMS uniquely bridges fundamental biomedical science and translational medicine, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue at the interface of basic research, regenerative technologies, and clinical application.

The 18th CTRMS International Congress (CTRMS2025) will take place October 22–25, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan, at the Toranomon Hills Forum. The scientific program is shaping up to be an exceptionally dynamic and timely one. A highlight of this year’s congress will be a joint symposium with the Japan Society for Transplantation. We are also proud to welcome internationally renowned speakers in regenerative medicine, including Prof. Jun Takahashi (CiRA, Kyoto University), Prof. Takayuki Anazawa (Kyoto University), and Prof. Hideyuki Okano (Keio University), who will present on first-in-human applications of iPS cell therapies, several of which have achieved major clinical milestones in recent months.

Another groundbreaking keynote session will feature the world’s first clinical trial of porcine islet transplantation, launched this April at the University of Illinois. Furthermore, a special interdisciplinary session will explore the intersection of robotics and medicine, with invited talks by Dr. Toru Natsume (AIST, Japan) and Dr. Wei Gao (Caltech, USA).

CTRMS2025 is also strongly committed to supporting early-career investigators, with dedicated networking events and opportunities for international exchange.

With official support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, CTRMS2025 welcomes international attendees with dedicated airport desks and special tours. October is a perfect time to visit Japan, offering pleasant weather and breathtaking fall scenery.

CTRMS2025 offers an exceptional opportunity for scientific exchange, cultural experience, and international collaboration.

We look forward to welcoming you to Tokyo!

- The CTRMS2025 Congress Board


Call for Abstracts – Share Your Science with a Global Community

CTRMS 2025 invites you to contribute to one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking gatherings in the field of cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Abstract submissions are open until June 1, 2025. This is your opportunity to share your latest research and clinical advancements with an international audience of experts and peers. Topics span a broad scientific spectrum — from islet and stem cell transplantation, immune tolerance and xenotransplantation, to tissue engineering, organoids, and cell-based immunotherapies. Abstracts exploring translational models, organ preservation, imaging technologies, and ethical or regulatory frameworks are also highly encouraged. Whether your work is fundamental science, clinical innovation, or bioengineering breakthrough, CTRMS 2025 provides a global platform to spark collaboration, visibility, and impact.

Publication of Abstracts

All accepted abstracts will be published in a special supplement of Transplantation, the official journal of The Transplantation Society, ensuring your work reaches a broad international audience. In addition, authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit full manuscripts for potential publication in Transplantation Direct, offering further opportunities for visibility and peer-reviewed recognition.

Keynote Speakers & Scientific Program

CTRMS 2025 is proud to present two outstanding keynote speakers who are shaping the future of regenerative medicine and cellular therapy.

Dr. Wei Gao
Professor of Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Dr. Gao is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of bioengineering, nanotechnology, and wearable diagnostics. His work focuses on smart biosensing platforms and microrobots for real-time health monitoring and precision medicine. At CTRMS 2025, he will present cutting-edge innovations in microrobotics and their applications in cell therapy — from minimally invasive delivery systems to intelligent surgical tools capable of navigating complex biological environments.


Dr. Shinichi Matsumoto
A globally recognized leader in islet transplantation, Dr. Matsumoto has been at the forefront of clinical cell therapy for diabetes. His groundbreaking work includes some of the earliest successful islet transplants in humans and has shaped treatment protocols worldwide. At CTRMS 2025, he will share the latest developments in immune modulation, encapsulation techniques, and combination therapies aimed at improving long-term graft survival.


CTRMS 2025 will feature a rich scientific program filled with plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, and networking events designed to catalyze discovery and collaboration.

Travel Grants

CTRMS 2025 is committed to supporting the next generation of scientists and fostering global participation. A number of travel grants are available for eligible participants, particularly students, early-career investigators, and researchers from underrepresented regions. These grants are designed to help reduce financial barriers and enable a diverse and inclusive exchange of knowledge at the congress. The application deadline is June 30, 2025.

YIC Program for Early Career Scientists at CTRMS 2025

As the Young Investigators Committee (YIC), we are pleased to share our plans for a dedicated program for early career scientists at this year’s CTRMS congress. The program will include an Icebreaker Session for orientation, a YIC Session with invited speakers from academia and industry highlighting diverse career paths, and discussions on topics such as work-life balance and parenthood in science. To support scientific exchange, we are also preparing parallel sessions where young investigators can present their work, with the opportunity to apply for scientific awards. Morning sports activities and a concluding social event are also being planned to encourage informal networking and community building. With this initiative, we aim to actively support the next generation of researchers and foster lasting scientific connections.

As the slogan of this year’s conference says – Connect–Tokyo – we hope to contribute to that spirit by empowering early career scientists to build meaningful networks from the very beginning.

Experience Tokyo and Japan

CTRMS 2025 is more than a scientific meeting — it's an invitation to experience one of the world’s most vibrant cities at its very best. With full support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, attendees will be welcomed upon arrival by CTRMS-exclusive airport welcome desks, ready to guide you smoothly to the congress venue and official hotels. For those traveling with family, complimentary sightseeing bus tours will be available, offering a safe and enriching way for your loved ones to explore the city.

October is an ideal time to visit Tokyo, with mild temperatures, crisp skies, and a perfect blend of tradition and innovation on full display — from serene temples and lush gardens to dazzling urban life and world-class cuisine. Take advantage of Japan’s exceptional rail network to extend your journey with day trips or overnight visits to iconic destinations such as Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, or Hiroshima.


Recent Webinar Presentations from CTRMS

Transplantation Direct is now the Official Journal of CTRMS

Transplantation Direct is an open access portal for international transplantation with rapid electronic publication of peer-reviewed, high-quality basic research and clinical studies related to the field of transplantation. The journal provides both scientific innovation and educational material, disseminates vital registry database information and highlights key scientific advances presented at meetings held by global transplantation associations.

ITS 2025 Abstracts and Registration

Join us for the 2025 International Transplantation Science meeting (ITS 2025) and connect with the leading global transplantation community!

On behalf of AST, ESOT and TTS, we wish to extend to you a warm welcome to the 2025 International Transplant Science meeting in San Diego, California USA.

This is the fourth of the ITS tri-society meeting series in collaboration with ESOT and TTS. This meeting will provide a wonderful opportunity for transplant researchers to learn from outstanding international speakers while visiting this stunningly beautiful region of the world.

The ITS 2025 will provide a forum for presentations and discussions of cutting-edge basic and translational science in and beyond transplantation. This meeting will not only serve as an international platform for scientific discussions on the latest ground-breaking discoveries in the field but will also provide an excellent opportunity to present your own work to the scientific community. We hope this will allow for the exchange of new ideas and establishment of collaborative work between senior scientists, young professionals and early-stage researchers.

Abstract Submission Deadline: June 15, 2025

Women in Transplantation Research Grant for Indigenous Populations

This grant will provide funding of up to $20,000 USD per grant to support research focused on sex and gender equity, advocacy, and health in solid organ transplantation amongst Indigenous peoples globally. This may include basic, clinical, or translational research. The recipient must be a clinician, health policy administrator, social scientist, clinical and/or basic science researcher in solid organ transplantation or donation, and/or Indigenous health relating to solid organ transplant.

Extended Application Deadline: June 1, 2025


In Case You Missed It...

TTS Education Committee Spotlight

Xenotransplantation: Updates from the Transplantation Journal

See our panel of experts discuss important topics in Xenotransplantation. This panel discussion was complemented by a series of related articles recently published in Transplantation Journal.

Bridging the Gap in Translational Regenerative Medicine:

From Genomic Inclusion and iPSC Innovation to Clinical Testing. This webinar featured Janine Scholefield from South Africa and Hongkui Deng from China who is going to be one of our Keynote Speakers at WTC 2025


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Contact

Staff Directory
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info@tts.org

Address

The Transplantation Society
International Headquarters
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Montréal, QC, H3C 3X6
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