We are pleased to announce that F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd has decided to extend its support to the Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation (ROTRF) for another 2 years, with the donation of a further CHF 10 million. This brings the total amount of support to CHF 50 million over 10 years. Through this generous support from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, the ROTRF has been able to and will continue to distribute research grants of up to CHF 300 000 to scientists around the world.

In this latest cycle of funding, almost half of the Letters of Intent were received from European scientists (49% of the applicants), while over a third came from the USA. Grants totalling CHF 2.1 million were awarded to nine scientists from the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK and Germany.

Funding from the ROTRF helps scientists to explore the science of solid organ transplantation and the excellent work carried out by the investigators is demonstrated by the papers published in respected international journals. We are confident that, with the continued support of the ROTRF, scientists will continue to make further important progress in the science of solid organ transplantation, with the goal of improving the care of transplant recipients around the world.

Some of the outstanding research funded by the ROTRF will be presented during a satellite symposium in September this year at the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress in Venice. The symposium, entitled "Advancing the Science of Solid Organ Transplantation", will provide five scientists from Europe and the USA with the opportunity to present their findings from research projects funded by ROTRF.

To conclude, we would like to express our gratitude to F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd for its continuous support of the Foundation and to all the people involved, including the scientists who have served as Trustees and Advisors, the applicants, and the ROTRF office staff. The ROTRF remains a unique achievement in the field of organ transplantation, and a credit to the sponsor whose generous gift makes it possible.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Philip Halloran