ESOT Congress Daily Recap
Sunday 29 June 2025
Welcome to the ESOT Congress 2025!
It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome delegates to London for the ESOT Congress 2025.
Under the core congress theme, ‘Nurturing a sustainable transplantation journey’, we reflect on our commitment to considerate practices and long-term sustainability in both transplantation methods and associated environmental impacts. Over the coming days, we will delve into this concept and acknowledge the intersection of environmental stewardship alongside the advancement of transplant care.
With a truly international line-up of experts and thought-leaders, we will not only fine-tune our knowledge on the latest medical breakthroughs, but also forge a path towards a greener and more sustainable future for organ transplantation.
Tune into these Daily Recaps, which will be published over the next four days, for a round-up of the most exciting breakthroughs, news and developments from our congress.
Thank you for joining us – we look forward to nurturing a sustainable transplantation journey, together.
Be a LonDonor: An ESOT Legacy Project
There’s a serious shortage of organ donors in East London. While the waiting list continues to grow, the number of donors remains far too low. To raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and transplantation, ESOT has undertaken a series of activities in East London to coincide with the ESOT Congress 2025. In doing so, we hope to leave behind a meaningful legacy - one that continues to save lives and strengthen communities well into the future - encouraging locals to ‘Be a LonDonor’ and join the organ donor list.
Yesterday, as part of the pre-congress satellite activities, we were proud to host a Community Open Day in Royal Victoria Square – located outside the congress centre – inviting members of the public to come and discover more about how organ donation can save lives. With a range of charities and local organisations taking part, it was a great opportunity for attendees to ask questions, hear stories, and find out more about how they can make a difference.
We’d like to extend a huge thanks to our Community Open Day partners for joining us:
Kidney Care UK
Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance (JHOD)
LiveLifeGiveLife
Diabetes UK
Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN)
NHS Blood and Transplant
Donor Family Network
There are more legacy initiatives taking place, including an Open Call Design Competition and the ESOT Congress Student Programme.
Find out more about the ESOT Legacy Project
ESOT would also like to thank Lucy Dames, Andrew Fisher, Krishna Menon, and Raj Thuraisingham for their support in organising this inspiring project.
Scientific Programme Highlights: Researchers create functional human islets in 3D printing breakthrough
A team of international scientists has made a major leap forward in diabetes research by successfully 3D printing functional human islets using a novel bioink. The breakthrough involved printing human islets using a customised bioink made from alginate and decellularised human pancreatic tissue. This approach produced durable, high-density islet structures that remained alive and functional for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use.
Traditional islet transplants are typically infused into the liver, a process that can result in significant loss of cells and limited long-term success. In contrast, the 3D-printed islets in this study were designed to be implanted just under the skin, a simple procedure requiring only local anaesthesia and a small incision.
“Our goal was to recreate the natural environment of the pancreas so that transplanted cells would survive and function better,” explained lead author Quentin Perrier. “We used a special bioink that mimics the support structure of the pancreas, giving islets the oxygen and nutrients they need to thrive.”
To keep the fragile human islets safe during printing, the team created a gentler way to print by fine-tuning key settings – using low pressure (30 kPa) and a slow print speed (20 mm per minute). This careful approach reduced physical stress on the islets and helped keep their natural shape, solving a major problem that had held back earlier bioprinting attempts.
In laboratory tests, the bioprinted islets stayed alive and healthy, with over 90% cell survival. They also responded better to glucose than standard islet preparations, releasing more insulin when it was needed. By day 21, the bioprinted islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels. Importantly, the constructs maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down, overcoming a common hurdle in earlier approaches.
“While there is still work to be done, this new bioprinting method marks a critical step toward personalised, implantable therapies for diabetes. If clinical trials confirm its effectiveness, it could transform treatment and quality of life for millions of people worldwide,” Dr. Perrier concluded.
Explore the ESOT Congress tracks
Science lies at the centre of the ESOT Congress 2025, driving meaningful discussions, dynamic debates, and collaborative innovations.
The event will take attendees on a journey through five distinct tracks, each presenting fresh insights and solutions tailored to the evolving transplantation landscape.
Access to Transplantation
Donation, Preservation & Regeneration
Current Challenges in Transplantation Procedures
Transplant Immunology and Immunosuppression
Infectious Diseases, Malignancies and Long-term Challenges
Browse the full interactive Scientific Programme, where you can filter by track to map out your congress journey!
ETAHP Transplant Care Management Award
The European Transplant Allied Healthcare Professional (ETAHP) Transplant Care Management Award was presented today at the ESOT Congress 2025.
Introduced at the previous ESOT Congress in Athens, this award recognises excellence among nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) in the field of transplantation.
This year’s winner was Karin Weststrate for her project titled ‘Digizorg app: a mobile app for liver transplant recipients.’
The award was presented by Marleen van Buren during today’s session, ‘Supporting transplant recipients in optimising their health: Needs and preferences.’ The award was collected by Stephanie de Jager on behalf of Karin, who was unable to attend in person.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Karin, who will receive €5,000 and is invited to submit the project for publication in Transplant International.
Get practical in our congress workshops!
Education Workshops
Over the next two days, three expert-led Education Workshops will provide transplant professionals with the perfect space to challenge their thinking and sharpen their skills. Whether it’s deepening expertise or exploring new approaches, the sessions are designed to inspire:
The future of transplantation: Recruiting the next generation of transplant professionals, Monday 30 June │ 08:00 – 09:00 BST│ ESOT Meetings Room
Person-centred transplantation: The clinical perspective, Tuesday 1 July │ 08:00 – 09:00 BST│ ESOT Meetings Room
Mentorship unmasked: Navigating challenges and building bonds, Tuesday 1 July │ 13:00 – 14:00 BST│ ESOT Meetings Room
Ultrasound & Pathology Workshops
Roll up your sleeves for these practical, hands-on sessions offering a unique opportunity to practise ultrasound-guided procedures and pathology techniques, guided by expert facilitators.
Pancreas Workshop, Monday 30 June │ 15:30 – 17:00 BST │ Registration fee: €50
Kidney Workshop, Monday 30 June │ 17:45 – 19:15 BST │ Registration fee: €50
Liver Workshop, Tuesday 1 July │ 15:30 – 17:00 BST │ Registration fee: €50
Machine Perfusion Courses
Looking to enhance your clinical or research practice with practical, device-specific training? Join our Machine Perfusion Courses to gain hands-on experience, from essential concepts to advanced, real-world applications.
Machine Perfusion Initiation Course, Monday 30 June │ 11:00 – 12:30 BST, and Tuesday 1 July │ 11:00 – 12:30 BST
Machine Perfusion Immersive Course, Monday 30 June │ 15:30 – 17:00 BST, and Tuesday 1 July │ 15:30 – 17:00
Thank you to our partners
ESOT would like to thank its partners for supporting the ESOT Congress and for working together to improve outcomes for patients with terminal organ disease by means of transplantation, organ regeneration and substitution.
