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Women in Transplantation Awards – Nominations Now Open!

Women in Transplantation is delighted to announce that nominations for the Women in Transplantation (WIT) Awards are now open! These awards are presented at the 30th Congress of The Transplantation Society (TTS), September 22-25, 2024, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Women in Transplantation @ ISHLT 2024 Congress

Women in Transplantation (WIT), a Special Initiative of The Transplantation Society, is delighted to announce a Networking Event in collaboration with the Women in Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support group (WITMCS) at the 44th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Meeting. This meeting will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, at the Prague Congress Centre, from April 10-13, 2024.
Read more
Women in Transplantation (WIT) and Women in Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support group (WITMCS) Joint Networking Event - Pathways to Professional Success: Navigating Career Options in Medicine - Career Choices, Transitions in Career Options and Leadership Growth

On Friday April 12th at 18:00-19:15 local time, all registered for this event and attending ISHLT are invited to a special networking event, introduced by Dr. Lori West (ISHLT Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 winner and WIT Past Chair 2019-2022, University of Edmonton, AB, Canada); and Dr. Shelley Hall (Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA).

The session ‘Pathways to Professional Success: Navigating Career Options in Medicine - Career Choices, Transitions in Career Options and Leadership Growth’ will be moderated by Dr. Samantha Anthony (The Hospital For Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada); and Dr. Hannah Copeland (Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, USA).

Speakers include Dr. Yael Peled-Potashnik (Sheba Medical Centre, Israel); Dr. Phyllis Billia (University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada); and Dr. Sangeeta Bhorade (Natero CMO Organ Health, University of Chicago, IL, USA).

A panel Q&A will follow

There is no separate registration fee for this event for all who are registered for the ISHLT meeting, and all are welcome.

If you are registered for ISHLT and are interested in attending this special event, please click the link below to register by Thursday March 28th, 2024.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Dr. Lori West Bio

University of Alberta
Calgary, AB, Canada

Dr. Shelley Hall

Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas, TX, USA

Dr. Samantha Anthony

Sickkids
Toronto, ON, Canada

Dr. Hannah Copeland

Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN, USA

Dr. Yael Peled-Potashnik

Sheba Medical Centre
Tel Aviv, Israel

Dr. Phyllis Billia

University Health Network
Toronto, ON, Canada

Dr. Sangeeta Bhorade

CMO, Organ Health, Natera
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN, USA

Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Transplantation: A Global Perspective

It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend the new Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Transplantation: A Global Perspective Conference, taking place  September 13 - 14, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.

This is a first international conference of its kind that will provide a unique opportunity to understand the key challenges faced by transplant providers and patients by gathering International Transplant Leaders, across organ groups, as well as clinicians, surgeons, nurses, researchers, policy makers, and representatives from academic and community-based organizations. Most importantly, it places patients and caregivers at the center of our focus.


Women in Transplantation 2024 Research Grants

WIT is delighted to announce that requests for applications are now open for the 2024-2026 Research Fellowship Grants for Research in Gender and Sex in Transplantation.
This will be the fourth year that we are offering research fellowships in sex and gender in solid organ transplantation. These fellowships will support the next generation of scientists, furthering our understanding of the importance of sex and gender in transplantation. This is a growing field of interest and the more we learn the closer we are to applying these findings to clinical care to benefit patients and donors.

Read more

We are delighted to announce that we will continue to offer a grant to faculty working in low or middle income countries. This grant will allow transplant professionals working in low and middle income countries to work with an experienced mentor from among the WIT membership to address an important question within their own unique context. We hope that this award will spur exciting international collaborations and build more research capacity in lower resource settings.

Requests for Applications for all grants are now open and are being considered.

The 2024 WIT Research Fellowship in Gender and Sex will fund research focusing on sex and gender issues in solid organ transplantation and immunology. The spectrum of studies includes basic, clinical and translational.

  • Women in Transplantation (WIT) will provide funding of up to $50,000 USD per grant to a trainee undertaking research training (pursing MSc, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in solid organ transplantation (and/or immunology relating to solid organ transplant) focusing on sex and gender issues relevant to solid organ transplantation. The spectrum of studies includes basic, clinical and translational.
  • The WIT Fellowship will support one research grant for two years at $25,000 per year. Research must commence on July 1st 2024 and conclude by June 30th 2026. The grant is intended to provide salary support for the trainee and supplies/materials. No other costs are permitted, including institutional overhead or travel.
  • Applicants must be supervised by a mentor with expertise in transplantation or immunology, but the mentor need not have prior expertise in gender or sex in transplantation.
  • This work may represent a continuation of current research or a novel aspect of work.

The 2024 WIT Research Grant for Projects on Gender and Sex in Transplantation (LMIC) will provide funding of up to $30,000 USD per grant to a transplant professional from an LMIC country (as defined by the OECD) to support research focusing on sex and gender issues relevant to solid organ transplantation.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The spectrum of studies includes basic, clinical and translational. The applicant must identify a research mentor from within the WIT membership who has a track record of expertise in transplantation and/ or immunology research (assistance can be given to identify a suitable mentor).

  • Research must commence on July 1st 2024 and conclude by June 30th 2026. The grant is intended to support costs related to the research project including study personnel, salary support for the researcher and supplies/materials. No other costs are permitted, including institutional overhead or travel.
  • This work may represent a continuation of current research or a novel aspect of work.

Important Dates and Review Process:

  • Completed Proposals are due by April 1st 2024.
  • Funding decisions will be made by an expert review committee from the WIT peer members. Grants will be scored based on novelty, research approach, feasibility of obtaining relevant data, prior work, and engagement of the mentor.
  • All applicants will be notified of final decision in May 2024.

For further information on eligibility criteria and specific application requirements, please follow the links below.

If you have any further questions and for information on how to apply, please contact Katie Tait (WIT Manager) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request more information.

We welcome all applications and look forward to an exciting competition!



Women in Transplantation - Showcase of WIT Members

WIT is proud to feature individuals who contribute to WIT’s mission of: (1) Advancing and inspiring women transplant professionals (Pillar 1), (2) Championing issues of sex and gender in transplantation (Pillar 2), and (3) Advocacy to address sex and gender-related disparities in transplantation (Pillar 3). Learn more about clinicians, researchers, and patients who shed light on disparities and try to overcome them to improve patient outcomes.

Our first member to be featured is Dr. Brenda Rosales, University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Rosales is one of the Women in Transplantation Fellowship Award winners.
Dr. Brenda Maria Rosales
University of Sydney, Australia
Bio
Read showcased article by Dr. Rosales
The Impact of Sex & Gender on Equity and Access to Cancer Care for Kidney Transplant Recipients

Cancer mortality in kidney transplant recipients differs by age and sex. This indicates possible systemic biases in the delivery of cancer care. There is a need to evaluate current clinical practice to identify points of sex and gender inequity in and healthcare delivery for cancer management in kidney transplant recipients.

Cancer disproportionally impacts kidney transplant recipients, but it affects men and women differently. Male kidney transplant recipients have higher absolute cancer incidence and mortality compared to females; however, female kidney transplant recipients experience greater excess cancer death(1,2). Sex and gender differences have also been described in access to healthcare and consequently there has been an increase of gender-based health plans, particularly in cardiovascular disease(3,4).

Investigation of how sex impact access to cancer care may identify systemic biases in cancer care delivery to kidney transplant recipients.

Using existing health data and survey of kidney transplant recipients, our work asks, how do sex and gender impact access and equity in cancer care for kidney transplant recipients?

What does the data say?
We will use evidence integration and population data to investigate the impact of sex on access to cancer screening, efficacy of cancer treatment and, relative survival in kidney transplant recipients with cancer.

What do our patients say?
We will explore gender-based experiences of cancer care in kidney transplant recipients using focus-group interviews and online preferences surveys to identify barriers in access and elicit patient preferences for treatment.

What does it mean for our patients?
Our work will provide a better understanding of the varied needs of males, females and people of nonbinary gender and, how current cancer prevention and treatment strategies differ by sex & gender. Our findings will inform strategies to deliver more equitable cancer care for kidney transplant recipients to balance its benefits and harms.

Literature

  1. Rosales et al. 2020, IntJCancer (doi:10.1002/ijc.32585)
  2. Rosales et al. 2022, AJKD (doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2022.03.010)
  3. De La Mata et al. 2021, BMJ (doi:10.1136/BMJ-2021-068247)
  4. Wyld et al. 2020, Transplantation (DOI: 10.1097/TP.0000000000003224)

Frontiers in Transplantation "Women in Transplantation"

Women in Transplantation encourage all members to submit abstracts and manuscripts to the inaugural Frontiers in Transplantation "Women in Immunosuppression” series of article collections.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 07 November 2023
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 11 March 2024

Announcement of Award Winners!



RECENT PAST EVENTS AND RECORDINGS


Women's Barrier to Transplant

In partnership with the Women in Transplantation Advocacy Pillar, we invite you to share your perspectives and experiences as a female kidney recipient. We hope this project will help improve the lives and experiences of women with kidney transplants. Your insights will help us create health literacy tailored to female recipients, as well as expand future studies to all organ recipients.
Details

Who can take part?
• Women over 18 years of age

What will be involved in participating?
• Global interviews are taking place
• Held at a time that suits you
• Face-to-face via telephone or video conference

What will be asked?
How accessible your treatment has been and some of the hurdles you may have faced living with your transplanted kidney.

If you are interested in participating, please contact:
Nicole Scholes-Robertson
Research Fellow and Transplant recipient
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



The Transplantation Society

International Headquarters

740 Notre-Dame St. West, Suite 1245
Montréal, QC, QC, H3C 3X6 Canada

Phone: 514-874-1717
Fax: 514-874-1716
E-Mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
E-Mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.