On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that eleven research grants have been awarded to scientists around the world following the seventh cycle of grant review. A total of 2.1 million Swiss Francs (CHF) has been awarded in this funding cycle.

The Progress Reports published in this and previous Biannual Reports demonstrate the quality of work that has been carried out on ROTRF grants. Many 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, the ROTRF is fulfilling its mission to advance the science of solid organ transplantation.

The standard of research that has already been carried out with ROTRF funds was also demonstrated in a satellite symposium entitled “Highlights of Projects Supported by the Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation (ROTRF)” that took place at the Fifth International Congress on New Trends in Immunosuppression in Geneva in February of this year. The symposium was sponsored by the ROTRF and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and was the first symposium that dealt solely with research projects funded by the ROTRF.

The symposium was chaired by Prof. Pekka Häyry and myself. Eight international scientists presented the results of their work that has been supported by the ROTRF. The data presented highlighted the originality and diversity of work supported by the ROTRF and demonstrated to an international audience the beneficial role that the ROTRF plays in transplantation research worldwide. We were particularly pleased that many of the presenters, and indeed the recipients of ROTRF funds, are young investigators, and that the ROTRF funds were important not only in supporting their projects but also in establishing their investigative careers.

In summary, the Foundation is a great and unique achievement, and all involved can be proud of it. All those who have been involved in supporting the ROTRF to accomplish its mission, especially Roche by funding this independent Foundation, deserve the Foundation’s gratitude.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Phil Halloran