WEBSITE

We continue to update and include all of our new and developed initiatives. Information about Intestinal Failure and Rehabilitation Centers, registries, surveys, joint educational activities, awards and winners are available. Our page is also linked to the Lift-Echo page.

REGISTRIES

• IITR: Eric Pahl and Robert Venick are finalizing the analysis of the fresh data loaded in our Red-Cap database by the participating members as requested, in order to have the presentation ready for CIRTA 2023.
  

  I would like to thank both Eric and Robert for the concept of developing Data Collaboration Agreements to facilitate the individual centers IRB approval, and also for sharing the information with other National and International services, after SRTR and NHS, Eurotransplant and Argentina were initiated, reducing the workload for the participating members, and increasing compliance to our data base.

• IFR: The preliminary report of the registry was presented at PIFRS by Dr. Yaron Avitzur. The project continues to evolve with 25 centers now participating worldwide, with 345 children enrolled. Starting at CIRTA 2023, the Peds IFR will become one of the major highlights of coming meetings.

  The Adult IF registry is evolving and conversations are in place with ESPEN in order to work on a joint project. Advances will be reported at CIRTA.

• Intestinal failure centers will be identified, contacted to become members and will be added to the web page.

EDUCATION

Webinars have become a major interest for our young faculties and AHP worldwide. Six new topics were chosen with the participation of world-renowned experts. More are being planned after CIRTA.

During CIRTA 2023, 3 workshops have been developed in order to finalize the first IRTA guidelines/position statements on:

1. Current Indications and Worldwide Priority Listing Criteria for Patients Needing Intestine-containing grafts, led by Dr. Rodrigo Vianna;
2. Guideline Development for Medical and Surgical Intestinal Rehabilitation, led by Dr. Alan Buchman and;
3. Allied Health Guideline Development, led by Christina Belza and Beverly Kosmach-Park.

On May 22nd, we will have the first scientific and educational activity as a result of the Chapters initiative (see below). Dr. Gustaf Herlenius and Dr. Mihai Oltean prepared a 2 days scientific program, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Visceral Transplantation program and first “Sweden and Norway IRTA chapter” activity for the region. Thanks for inviting me.

In collaboration with “Transplant Unwrapped”, by request of its president Michele Pfab, the book “Elpis the Elephant gets an Intestinal Transplant”, was translated to Spanish by Florencia Gondolesi, and the new version will be presented at CIRTA 2023. I would like to thank Michele for the work done to educate patients and families, and for being interested to reach out countries with different languages, we will continue working together.

COMMITTEES

In order to organize and continue promoting the activities with, among and between the current IRTA Chapters, a new “Chapters Committee” has been created and I have the honor to have been elected as the chair.

A “Past Presidents Committee” was also approved by council. The idea was to recognize our past leaders, to maintain their engagement with IRTA, to serve as a consultant group, and to facilitate fundraising for the association. Dr. Simon Horslen, will be the first leader of this prestigious committee.

If you are interested in being involved in our committees and have some expertise to share, we welcome you. Please contact our Manager, Suzanne Landis at Suzanne.Landis@tts.org.

IRTA CHAPTERS

A total number of 12 IRTA Chapters, have applied and have been approved. Some Chapters were single country applications like New Zealand, Uruguay, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Colombia, United Kingdom, Spain; others joint efforts like Sweden and Norway, and we are pleased by having additional countries that never belonged to our association like Iran, Singapore and China.

Twenty-five new members have joined our association as result of this initiative.

Plaques will be awarded at CIRTA 2023 for the new ones, and starting at CIRTA 2025, we will have a dedicated educational session, to learn about the different realities we face worldwide, in the management of Intestinal Failure, Rehabilitation and Transplant.

CIRTA 2023

Despite the impact of the post-pandemic effects which are now being realized, and a significant and worsening worldwide economic crisis looming, our Congress team promises to bring you wonderful event.

172 abstracts have been submitted. IPTA and IRTA will have a common session. Surgical aspects of rehabilitation surgery and transplantation will have separate and dedicated sessions and there will be a video session for surgeons, complemented with classical surgical debates.

Physicians and AHP, will enjoy presentations on current management of intestinal failure, PN and its complications, microbiome, hormonal regulation of intestinal adaptation, immunology and immunosuppression, the challenge of the re-transplantation, the burden of chronic care, telemedicine, and outcomes after intestinal transplant.

For the first time, we will have an activity organized by Women in Transplantation (WIT).

Scientists will be delighted with the advances on intestinal bioengineering, and tolerance. On the last day, we will all enjoy the results of the workshops, and latest analysis of our registries. Alan, Enrico and Chicago are waiting for us!!!

INITIATIVES TO BE FOLLOWED

Business Meeting - CIRTA 2023 - Monday, July 3 at 8AM
We will need the support of your vote, during CIRTA 2023. Your participation at the Business Meeting which will take place on Monday, July 3 at 8AM (local time) will be very important, because our council would like to propose 2 modifications to the IRTA bylaws:

1. Name change of the Incorporation
2. Change to the bylaws - Section 2, Selection of Members

Please click the links below to review official voting documents which all members attending the Business meeting will receive and be asked to vote on.

Name/Member Change

Certificate of Amendment

Amended Bylaws

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I joined this association as a young fellow back in 2001, and the first meeting I attended was ISBTS 2003 in Miami. Since then, I have found the participants as the most collegial, caring and inspirational, compared to many other societies I have been part of.

The fact of having the chance to discuss the issues that you observed in your own patients directly with the world experts, was unique. But more unique was the chance of having encouraging feedback, even in the worst-case scenarios.

ISBTS members at that time, helped promote young members, motivating us with passion to interact between centers, to evolve multicenter studies, and to develop basic science research. New procedures and all novel initiatives were always received with high empathy and enthusiasm.

After returning to Argentina and starting our program, we aimed to bring the event for the first time to Latin America. The memories of ISBTS 2015, and the Tango, are still present in many of our minds. The impact of the meeting at a local and regional level was incredible and the development was invigorated after the meeting.

Twenty years after joining the society, I had the pleasure of becoming the IRTA President. The last two years, went extremely fast, and now it is time for me to thank you all.

Thanks for the opportunity.
Thanks for your commitment.
Thanks for your willingness to adapt to new proposals.
Thanks for being patient.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Thanks for the productive and passionate discussions.
Thanks for maintaining the spirit of the association throughout the years.
Thanks for allowing me to dream together about the future of our association.

Very special thank you to the entire IRTA council (Jonathan, Simon, Yaron, Helen, Beverly, Palle, Rodrigo, Taizo and Lisa) They never had this many monthly meetings on project updates and tasks to do as long as 2 hrs each, for 24 months. For that… many, many thanks.

Sincere appreciation to Alan and Enrico for all the work done for CIRTA 2023. I’m looking forward to enjoying the event together.

Special thanks to Suzanne Landis, the heart and soul of the association. I will miss the long Zoom meetings to address all different tasks.

Last, but not least, my life appreciation to Carolina, Ignacio, Manuel and Florencia (“The Gondoletta”). Without their support, I could never have achieved that much.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - The Buddha

It was a pleasure for me, sharing part of my life with you, learning with you and serving you all.

Sincerely,

Prof. Gabriel E. Gondolesi MD, MAAC, FACS
President, IRTA

P.S. Relax… re-elections are not allowed in the by-laws!!!