On 26 January 2026, during the 15th EPITA Symposium in Igls-Innsbruck, the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) officially launched the European Pancreas and Islet Transplant Registry (EPITR).
The launch marks the culmination of several years of collaborative work and a significant milestone for pancreas and islet transplantation in Europe. EPITR is a pan-European registry designed to transform routine clinical practice into real-world evidence, supporting better outcomes for people living with diabetes who receive a pancreas or islet transplant.
Developed under the leadership of the EPITR Steering Committee, with Helmut Arbogast (Germany), Thierry Berney (Switzerland), John Casey (UK), Joana Ferrer (Spain), Eelco de Koning (The Netherlands), Torbjörn Lundgren (Norway), Vassilios Papalois (UK), Lorenzo Piemonti (Italy), František Saudek (Czech Republic), Steven White (UK) and chaired by Diego Cantarovich (France), the registry captures the full patient journey. This includes donor and graft characteristics, transplant procedures, complications, long-term graft function, and quality of life. During the launch ceremony, Steering Committee members were formally pledged and acknowledged by Olivier Thaunat, ESOT President, with Certificates of Appreciation, recognising their long-standing commitment to the project.
EPITR is built on a robust technical and governance framework. Data standards have been harmonised across diverse European healthcare systems, with strong safeguards in place to ensure scientific integrity and full protection of patient privacy. The registry platform was developed in close collaboration with Dendrite Clinical Systems, while Privacy Company ensured full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
ESOT also recognised the individuals who played key roles in bringing EPITR to life, including Vincent Hassan Karam, ESOT Registries General Manager, Daniele Roppolo, Scientific Advisor, Ketevan Rukhadze, Scientific Project Manager, and Devi Mey, ESOT Chief Executive Officer, whose leadership and support were instrumental throughout the project.
With the launch complete, EPITR now enters its operational phase. Several major European pancreas and islet transplant centres have already joined or committed to participate, demonstrating strong momentum across the community. As Diego Cantarovich noted at the launch, “EPITR now belongs to the entire pancreas and islet transplant community. Its future depends on your commitment to contribute data and keep the registry alive.”
By contributing to EPITR, transplant centres help build a shared evidence base that informs practice, advances research, and ultimately improves the lives of transplant recipients across Europe.