Andrea Zajacova

“I am truly grateful for being awarded an ESOT Fellowship! I am a pulmonologist trained
in the Prague Lung Transplant Program (founded in 1997, 67 LuTx performed in 2023),
with expertise in both clinical practise and research in lung transplantation, specifically
focusing on chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), the main limitation of long-term
survival in lung transplant recipients.

The fellowship under the supervision of prof. Robin Vos in the Leuven Lung Transplant
Program will provide me with a unique opportunity to focus on state-of-the-art CLAD
and chronic pulmonary graft versus host disease (pGvHD) research, diagnostics and
treatment. A better understanding of the etiology and underlying mechanisms of both
CLAD and pGvHD is crucial, to allow adequate early diagnosis and implementation of
preventive measures for either of these devastating conditions. Centralisation of
affected patients into specialised care programs to accumulate multidisciplinary
expertise is the only viable solution to further improve survival of affected patients.
The primary objectives of this fellowship include assessing determinants of clinical
outcomes, identifying knowledge gaps resulting from practice variations, and defining
priorities for clinical research. This effort aims to address the identified knowledge gaps
and ultimately lead to development of personalised CLAD and pGvHD care and therapy
– a pressing unmet need in the field.

Upon the return to Prague, one of the main goals is to establish centralised care for
pGvHD patients in the Czech Republic.”