The clinical science postgraduate course is designed for emerging transplant leaders and established transplant clinicians seeking a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of contemporary transplantation. The program brings together internationally recognized experts to explore state-of-the-art advances across the field of clinical transplantation, including xenotransplantation, machine perfusion advances, recipient-focused challenges, and evolving therapeutic and policy approaches to increasing transplantation. Through a combination of cutting-edge science, clinical case discussions, and practical updates for everyday practice, this course aims to equip participants with the knowledge needed to lead in modern transplant care.

The fundamental and translational science postgraduate course is designed to give new researchers an overview of fundamental concepts in transplantation and to provide, to all attendees, an update on the biggest scientific breakthroughs from the last two years. The half-day program, presented by internationally recognized experts, will cover recent insights into how the body recognizes transplanted tissues, and how cell therapies, biomaterials and precision medicine are shaping the future of transplantation. The course also aims to help participants in their own research by highlighting unanswered questions in the field and providing practical advice for involving patients and stakeholders in fundamental and translational research.

The program brings together international experts for state-of-the-art lectures, case-based discussions, and interactive panels, with a strong emphasis on practical clinical decision-making and global perspectives.

The agenda is structured into four complementary sessions, covering donor-derived and unexpected transmissions; complex infections in vulnerable transplant recipients; major controversies in transplant infectious diseases; and TID education, research networks, and global collaboration. Across these sessions, key topics encompass viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and mycobacterial infections, antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens in the context of climate change, advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, and the interface between infection and novel immunosuppressive strategies.

We warmly invite the global transplant community: clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals—to join this interactive pre-congress program, share experiences across regions, and engage in collaborative discussions aimed at improving patient safety and outcomes in transplantation.

This dynamic half-day program brings together global Nursing and Allied Health Professional (AHP) leaders and clinicians to describe the breadth of expertise required to support donors, patients and families through their organ donation or transplantation journeys.

The first session focuses on Organ Donation with presentations including describing the evolving role of AHPs; international perspectives and best-practice models in donation nursing; nursing management of deceased donors to optimize quality of organs, tissues and cells; exploring nursing responsibilities in living donor evaluation and follow-up care, as well as optimising communication with donor families to address important ethical, cultural and emotional aspects of care. This session concludes by discussing how nurse-led research and education initiatives are vital to strengthening donation systems globally.

The focus shifts to Transplantation after a short break. Presentations will explore the development of transplant nursing roles over the past three decades; the complex coordination required to manage the Australian and New Zealand paired kidney exchange program and the impact of nurse practitioner-led clinics on thoracic transplant patient outcomes. Additional talks focus on the pharmacist’s role in medication adherence and the important, but often under-discussed, topics of sexual health and pregnancy throughout the transplant journey. The session concludes with a personal leadership perspective on how transplant nurses can progress from clinical roles to building and shaping transplant programs and systems.

This session is designed for:

• Transplant and donation nurses (all experience levels)
• Advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners
• Allied health professionals working in donation and transplantation
• Transplant coordinators and clinical nurse consultants
• Pharmacists involved in transplant care
• Researchers and educators in organ donation and transplantation
• Healthcare leaders involved in workforce planning and service development

Whether you are new to the field or an experienced transplant professional, this comprehensive program offers practical knowledge, contemporary perspectives, and strategic insights to enhance clinical practice and strengthen donation and transplant systems.

The WIT-TTS 2026 workshop aims to address sex and gender inequities in transplantation through a robust methodological and policy-focused program. Session 1 highlights innovative scientific methods, including bridging immunology in pregnancy-related sensitization to causal inference, equitable clinical trial designs, implementation science, and translating basic and clinical evidence into practice. Session 2 extends the sex and gender inequity lens to intersectionality, examining the structural inequities in research leadership, surgical services, particularly in low-resource settings and transplantation access among the Indigenous Populations. The WIT workshop offers an actionable roadmap to inform policy reforms and close persistent equity gaps for women and underrepresented communities worldwide, grounded in the best evidence.

Stay tuned for more details.

The next generation of Australian and New Zealand transplant researchers compete for a chance to take home one of two $10,000 cash grants. Eight innovative projects. One expert panel. Let the pitches begin!

For more information on this activity and for ANZ participants to submit their work for this showcase, visit the TSANZ website.