On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that thirteen research grants have been awarded to scientists around the world following the fifth cycle of grant review. A total of 2 million Swiss Francs (CHF) has been awarded in this funding cycle.

The ROTRF was established by the Roche Group in 1998 as a charitable, autonomous and legally independent organisation. At that time, the Roche Group indicated its commitment to the international transplant community by providing funding of CHF 5 million annually for 5 years from inception to a total of CHF 25 million. The Foundation has two funding cycles per year and therefore the original funding from the Roche Group will cover ten funding cycles. Having just completed the fifth funding cycle, half of the original available funding has now been allocated. In this relatively short time, the ROTRF has firmly established itself as a unique grant-awarding body in the field of solid organ transplantation. In each cycle, many letters of intent are submitted from established scientists and clinicians from around the world, though principally from North America and Europe. The Trustees and the Scientific Advisory Committee have in general been very impressed with the level of scientific quality and originality shown by the applicants.

The Progress Reports published in this and previous Biannual Reports demonstrate the quality of work that has been carried out on ROTRF grants. Many high-quality papers have already been published in respected international journals, and it is to be expected that the number of papers will grow considerably over the next few years. Thus ROTRF is clearly fulfilling its mission to advance the science of solid organ transplantation.

Special credit goes to the investigators who have come to us with their projects, and to the outstanding work of the scientific advisory board who have ranked the letters of intent and the full-length applications. This is a unique process – an international competition with an international review, and much of the credit for the success goes to these individuals.

Finally, as we pass the midpoint of our mandate, we thank the Roche Group for their generosity in making the ROTRF possible. The transplant community has benefited and is grateful for this special gift.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Phil Halloran