TTS Pulse Podcast

Original Air Date: Friday, March 14, 2025

Moderators

John W. Baddley, United States

Stephanie Pouch, United States

Speakers

Ricardo La Hoz, United States

Camille N. Kotton, United States

Lara Danziger-Isakov, United States

📑 Outline

Multiple measles cases have recently been reported globally, representing a unique threat to transplant patients. This webinar plans to describe clinical features of measles in the immunosuppressed, current epidemiology and prevention and treatment options available

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- Understand risk of exposure to measles

-- Consider best timing for measles vaccination (pediatric and adults)

-- Review post exposure prophylaxis approaches

📖 Further Reading

-- Measles Symptoms and Complications (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-sym...)

-- Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps, 2013: Summary Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwr...)

-- Ayman Al Jurdi, Camille N Kotton The Next Outbreak Looms on the Horizon: Measles and Potential Impacts on Transplant Recipients. Transplantation 2024 Oct 1;108(10):2012-2014. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000005083. Epub 2024 May 17. (https://journals.lww.com/transplantjo...)

-- Patient facing webinar ( • Update in Transplantation: Measles Prevent... )

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Moderators

Jennifer Li, Australia

Jonathan Bromberg, United States

Muhammad Mohiuddin, United States

Speakers

Wayne J. Hawthorne, Australia

Raphael Meier, United States

Jay Fishman, United States

Robin K. Avery, United States

Leo Bühler, Switzerland

📑 Overview

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

🎯 Outline

Wayne J. Hawthorne, Australia

International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) Position Paper on the History, Current Status, and Regulation of Xenotransplantation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40198...)

-- How xenotransplant research started and what are the major barriers to success.

-- Research and innovation – haem & immunological barriers, genetic engineering etc.

Raphael Meier, United States

International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) Position Paper on Kidney Xenotransplantation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40197...)

-- Key clinical trials in xenotransplantation.

-- Issues with rejection and infection.

-- Promise and what are the questions still to be answered moving forward.

Jay Fishman, United States

International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) Position Paper on Infectious Disease Considerations in Xenotransplantation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40198...)

-- What are the major zoonotic infections which have been encountered so far?

-- What challenges exist in diagnosis/treatment of these?

-- What are the current tools and research pipelines to help address this problem?

Robin K. Avery, United States

Optimizing IVIg in Xenotransplantation: A Call to Action (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40164...)

-- What role does IVIG have in xenotransplantation?

-- What is the concern about using IVIG and what can be done to address these?

Leo Bühler, Switzerland

The International Human Xenotransplantation Inventory: Current Data and Future Directions (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40197...)

-- How can global efforts be best focused to moving the field forward?

-- Discussion around key aspects of a xenotransplantation inventory and data harmonisation.

-- Development of guidance, regulatory oversight and ethics in the field.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025

Moderators

Cameron Wolfe, United States

Peter Chiodini, United Kingdom

Wanessa Trindade Clemente, Brazil

Speakers

Michele I. Morris, United States

Oriol Manuel, Switzerland

Siriorn Watcharananan, Thailand

📑 Outline

The number of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients continues to grow and as their overall health improves, they are increasingly traveling to areas with endemic and tropical infections. SOT recipients remain at increased risk of developing opportunistic and non-opportunistic infections, and are less likely to develop a robust response to vaccines against routine and travel related pathogens. In the webinar, the approach and evidence for prevention and treatment of travel related infections for adult and pediatric SOT patients will be discussed.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- Provide participants with updated background information and a practical approach to the emerging problem of infections in mobile populations, including travel and migration, with a special focus on SOT recipients.

-- Through interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to discuss different practical problems with leading experts in the field.

-- Education of healthcare workers from different backgrounds

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Moderators

Germaine Wong, Australia

Bianca Davidson, South Africa

Speakers

Zibya Barday, South Africa

Nicole Scholes-Robertson, Australia

Maleeka Ladhani, Australia

📑 Overview

This webinar will provide an overview of the qualitative multinational study that was conducted by WIT Pillar Ill and will include some personal stories of women with transplants.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- To disseminate findings of the qualitative study conducted by WIT Pillar 3 looking at perspectives and experiences of women with kidney transplants (see reference in further reading).

-- To gain greater understanding of the journey through transplantation, specifically from the lens of being a woman (ie pregnancy, fertility, motherhood and hormonal changes) from the patients perspectives.

-- Share multinational strategies to improve access and quality of multidisciplinary care for women.

📖 Supporting Material

Ladhani M, Jaure A, Davidson B, Barday Z, Lerminiaux L, Bandolo NV, Gomez MP, Matus-Gonzalez A, Narasimhan G, Sapir-Pichhadze R, Soki K.

A multinational qualitative study examined the perspectives and experiences of women with a kidney transplant on access to healthcare.

Kidney International. 2025 Aug 25.

https://kidney-international.org/arti...

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Moderators

Camille N. Kotton, United States

Stefan G. Tullius, United States

Speaker

Bradley J. Gardiner, Australia

📑 Overview

Presentation of recently published manuscript in Transplantation

Gardiner, B. J., et al. (2025).

Global Immune Biomarkers and Donor Serostatus Can Predict Cytomegalovirus Infection Within Seropositive Lung Transplant Recipients.

Transplantation.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- Discuss the role of immune biomarkers in the prediction of CMV and other infections in lung transplant recipients

-- Explore the advantages and disadvantages of the absolute lymphocyte count as a predictor

-- Review the data from a recently published study by Gardiner et al. exploring ALC and mitogen values as predictors of CMV in R+ lung transplant recipients

-- Highlight recent TTS CMV guidelines on this topic

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Moderator

Wanessa Clemente, Brazil

Speakers

Shahid Husain, Canada

Monica Slavin, Australia

Emily Eichenberger, USA

John Baddley, USA

📑 Overview

The number of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients continues to increase, and these patients remain at heightened risk for invasive and endemic fungal infections. This webinar will review current approaches and available evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections in the transplant setting.

The presentations and discussions will primarily focus on the management of transplant recipients. However, given that the risk of fungal transmission may involve both donors and recipients, speakers are encouraged to also address donor-related considerations where relevant.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- Recognize common clinical scenarios of fungal infections in transplant recipients.

-- Apply a structured diagnostic approach based on clinical presentation, epidemiology, and risk factors.

-- Select appropriate antifungal therapy, considering efficacy, toxicity, and drug–drug interactions.

-- Integrate regional epidemiology into clinical decision-making.

-- Avoid common diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls in daily practice.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Moderators

Estephan Arredondo Córdova, Spain

Anne Floden, Sweden

Speakers

Carmen Blanco, Spain

Jon Boyd, United States

📑 Overview

Educational webinar highlighting the essential role of Allied Health Professionals in organ, tissue and cell donation and transplantation, showcasing best practices and established international training programs.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- To enhance the knowledge and competencies of Allied Health Professionals involved in organ, tissue, and cell donation and transplantation through structured, practice-oriented education.

-- To present and analyze established educational programs from different countries, highlighting best practices, outcomes, and transferable models for capacity building.

-- To promote international collaboration and professional recognition of Allied Health Professionals, fostering multidisciplinary engagement and sustainable donation and transplant systems.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

Original Air Date: Friday, July 31, 2026

Moderators

Jennifer Li, Australia

Harry Robertson, Australia

Speakers

Artem Trotsyuk, United States

Wisit Cheungpasitporn, United States

Mamatha Bhat, Canada

📑 Overview

The growing field of AI and its influence on the medical field is important to understand. A reasonable understanding of the AI framework is needed to harness the opportunities provided by LLM and generative AI for future use.

🎯 Learning Objectives

-- Key concepts that medical professionals should understand about AI

-- -- Buzzwords – AI vs machine learning etc

-- -- How this differs from traditional statistical methods

-- -- What goes on ‘under the hood’ for example when using LLM

-- -- Advantages and limitations of using AI models

-- Application(s) of artificial intelligence towards clinical transplantation

-- Responsible and ethical considerations for responsible use of AI

-- Framework for AI use in solid organ transplantation – does it exist?

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the TTS channel for more education content.

ℹ️ About The Transplantation Society (https://www.tts.org): The Transplantation Society is a non-profit NGO providing global leadership in transplantation. Our core mission includes the development of the science and clinical practice, scientific communication, continuing education and guidance on the ethical practice.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society. Transplantation (https://transplantjournal.com) is published monthly and is a highly cited and influential journal in the field, with more than 25,000 citations per year.

-

Twitter: https://x.com/ttsorg

Linkedin: / thetransplantationsociety

In this episode of Behind the Paper, host Macey Levan, Social Media Editor, speaks with Dr. Robert J. Rolfe of Duke University and Dr. Camille N. Kotton of Harvard Medical School, authors of the perspective article “Navigating Hantavirus Risk in Transplantation: Implications for Clinical Practice,” published in Transplantation.

The discussion explores how hantaviruses are transmitted, why Andes virus is unique among hantaviruses, and the diagnostic and clinical challenges these infections may present in immunocompromised transplant recipients.

Topics include:

- Rodent exposure and hantavirus transmission

- Person-to-person transmission of Andes virus

- Nonspecific or atypical symptoms in transplant recipients

- Diagnostic limitations, including potentially unreliable serologic testing

- Distinguishing infection from rejection and other conditions

- Pre-travel counseling and practical prevention strategies

- Collaboration between transplant clinicians and travel medicine specialists

Although hantavirus infections remain rare, the guests emphasize the importance of awareness, careful exposure histories, pre-travel counseling, and early clinical evaluation. Transplant recipients should not necessarily avoid travel, but they should understand destination-specific risks and take appropriate preventive measures.

Resources

CDC Yellow Book: Immunocompromised Travelers

https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travelers-with-additional-considerations/immunocompromised-travelers.html

CDC Travelers’ Health: Destinations

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

In this episode of Behind the Paper, Macey Levan, Social Media Editor for the Transplantation journals, speaks with Robert Freercks and Kathryn Manning about their article:

Transplantation Improves Patient Survival in a PD-first Program in South Africa

The discussion focuses on kidney replacement therapy and transplantation access in a public sector renal program in South Africa. The study followed patients with kidney failure referred to a public sector renal unit and highlights the major impact of resource constraints, strict selection criteria, and limited transplantation capacity.

The episode explores South Africa’s PD-first model, the challenges faced by patients who need kidney replacement therapy, and the barriers that remain even for patients who are accepted into dialysis care. The authors emphasize that transplantation dramatically improves survival when patients are able to access it, but that broader system-level improvements are needed to expand treatment capacity and improve equity.

The conversation also highlights the importance of primary prevention, stronger data collection systems, policy advocacy, and increased funding in resource-constrained settings.

Read the article:

https://journals.lww.com/transplantationdirect/fulltext/10.1097/txd.0000000000001914~transplantation-improves-patient-survival-in-a-pd-first

Presented by Transplantation Direct and the Transplantation journals.

Powered by the PULSE Podcast.

#TransplantationDirect #KidneyTransplantation #SouthAfrica