A new editorial published in Transplant International presents the scientific highlights and lasting legacy of ESOT Congress 2025.
Entitled “Nurturing a Sustainable Transplantation Journey: the best of ESOT Congress 2025”, the article was written by Olivier Thaunat, ESOT President and Congress Chair and Colin Wilson, Congress co-chair on behalf of the Scientific Programme Committee. It introduces a special issue featuring 17 contributions selected from the Congress, held in London from 29 June to 2 July 2025.
The Congress brought together 3,192 delegates from 91 countries and received 1,655 abstract submissions, reflecting the strength, diversity and international reach of the transplantation community.
Sustainability across the transplantation journey
The editorial expands the meaning of sustainable transplantation beyond the environmental impact of healthcare.
It describes sustainability as a principle that should guide the entire transplant pathway, including:
- equitable access to waiting lists and transplantation;
- responsible allocation of donated organs;
- better organ preservation, assessment and repair;
- more precise monitoring of immune responses;
- and lifelong support for transplant recipients.
A central concept introduced in the article is robustness: the capacity of transplantation systems to remain reliable and adaptable despite demographic change, biological complexity, workforce pressures and organisational constraints.
Seventeen contributions, one shared vision
The special issue follows the five scientific tracks of the “Transplantation Journey” framework used at ESOT Congress 2025.
The selected research includes studies on improving access for patients outside conventional transplant criteria, innovative kidney exchange strategies, machine perfusion, organ repair, desensitisation, rejection monitoring, cytomegalovirus management and transplantation in older recipients.
Among the highlighted findings:
- a centralised kidney assessment and repair centre successfully recovered 142 of 158 kidneys initially considered unsuitable for transplantation;
- nationwide machine perfusion in Belgium increased the use of kidneys donated after circulatory death while generating healthcare savings;
- novel allocation models could improve access for highly sensitised and blood group O patients;
- and carefully selected liver transplant recipients over the age of 70 achieved outcomes comparable to younger patients.
Innovation aligned with responsibility
The editorial describes a field moving towards active organ management, regenerative medicine, precision immunology and data-informed care. However, it also emphasises that innovation must remain aligned with equity, responsible resource use and long-term patient benefit. The authors conclude that the future of transplantation will not be defined only by what can be achieved scientifically, but by how wisely and sustainably those advances are applied.
Read the full editorial: https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/transplant-international/articles/10.3389/ti.2026.17127/full
Additional resources:
Abstract book: https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/research-topics/184/abstract-book-22nd-congress-of-the-european-society-for-organ-transplantation
The “Best of ESOT Congress 2025” slide deck: https://esot.org/the-best-of-esot-congress-2025/
The “Best of ESOT Congress 2025” webinar Volume 1: https://virtual.esot.org/esot/2025/webinars/4190227/faculty.presenters.best.of.esot.congress.2025.vol.1.html?f=menu%3D24%2Ac_id%3D4190227%2Afeatured%3D19873%2Ashow_banner_in_top_panel%3D1
The “Best of ESOT Congress 2025” webinar Volume 2: https://virtual.esot.org/esot/2025/webinars/4190229/faculty.presenters.best.of.esot.congress.2025.vol.2.html?f=menu%3D24%2Ac_id%3D4190229%2Afeatured%3D19875%2Ashow_banner_in_top_panel%3D1