Reflections and Comments from Attendees at the 9th ALABAT Congress in Bogotá
The 9th ALABAT Congress was held in Bogotá, Colombia, from November 6 to 8. WUTBA was able to support some of the speakers with travel grants through DGFG fundraising. In this article, the travel grant recipients share their individual experiences of the conference, its significance, and their hopes for the future of tissue donation.
Dr. Leyla Melendez
"I consider conferences like ALABAT indispensable because they provide the unique opportunity for those of us in tissue donation and processing to exchange experiences and explore solutions. Before attending ALABAT, I didn't know anyone in Peru working at a tissue bank—ours is the only one. But after my first ALABAT event, I realized that the challenges I faced were also common in other countries like Mexico and Chile. We started connecting, sharing ideas, and learning from each other. For me, as someone who’s been in this field for just two years, ALABAT has been essential."
Technical Coordinator of the Tissue Bank at the National Institute for Child Health San Borja, Peru.
Edil Vidal de Souza, CEO of Sorocaba Eye-Bank, Brazil.
“I am very happy that I was able to participate in this congress because, on one hand, I learned a lot, and on the other, I had the opportunity to share the solutions we have with people who are facing the same challenges as we are. I was also able to build a network at this congress—connecting with people in the same field is invaluable, both now and for future challenges. Every part of this congress was more rewarding than I expected.“
Edil Vidal de Souza, CEO of Sorocaba Eye-Bank, Brazil.
“ I hope ALABAT becomes a strong and well-supported entity, with expert backing that governments can consult on tissue-related issues, regulations, and standards.”
Dr. Winston Jaramillo
"Representing my hospital at ALABAT is essential, as our region is still very weak in the field of tissue donation and processing. We rely entirely on imports, face challenges in promoting donation, and need local resources for sustainability to better support those in need in our communities. I hope ALABAT becomes a strong and well-supported entity, with expert backing that governments can consult on tissue-related issues, regulations, and standards."
Head of the Tissue Bank and Transplant Coordinator at the Luis Vernaza Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Dr. Aline Moriyama, Medical Director of the Cornea Bank in Sorocaba, Brazil.
"In Brazil, the public health system fully covers reimbursement for all donation procedures, as required by law. However, these reimbursement rates have remained unchanged since 2009. With inflation and the rising dollar, managing costs is becoming increasingly difficult, especially since many products, like nutrient solutions for preserving corneas, are imported. This poses a growing challenge for our countries as these costs continue to rise each year."
Dr. Aline Moriyama, Medical Director of the Cornea Bank in Sorocaba, Brazil.
“While each nation has its own laws, we all share the same mission: to ensure everyone has access to safe, high-quality tissues for their health needs.”
Dr. João Batista Da Silva
"The Alabat Congress was a valuable opportunity to learn from countries outside our region and share best practices that we can apply in Brazil. With diverse participants from banks, regulatory bodies, health ministries, and organized associations, the event was key in addressing challenges and finding solutions tailored to each country’s needs. While each nation has its own laws, we all share the same mission: to ensure everyone has access to safe, high-quality tissues for their health needs. This shared mission is what unites us."
Head of the Institute for Blood, Tissues, Cells, Organs, and Innovative Therapeutic Products at the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).
Dr. Marcia Salamao, Coordinator of the Tissue Transplantation Department at the Brazilian Association for Organ Transplantation (APTO).
"We’ve seen improvements in tissue donation in Latin America in recent years, but there is still much to be done. Many issues are common across nearly all countries, while others vary from one country to another. One of the most important challenges in tissue transplantation in Latin America is donation. Without donors, we cannot perform transplants. I am confident that there are ways to increase the number of donors in each country. Furthermore, if we have donors and effective processing, we can not only increase the number of donors but also improve the quality of the work done in tissue banks, allowing us to provide high-quality tissues that can significantly improve the quality of life for many patients."
Dr. Marcia Salamao, Coordinator of the Tissue Transplantation Department at the Brazilian Association for Organ Transplantation (APTO).
“Meetings like ALABAT are essential because they create shared experiences and foster connections that cannot be achieved through scientific publications alone.”
Dr. Gustavo Abraham
"Regardless of the identity and independence of each country in Latin America, we share socioeconomic and cultural realities that translate into common health challenges. Developing joint solutions strengthens healthcare systems and enhances our ability to provide effective solutions to the population. These challenges are typical of countries with limited healthcare budgets, the absence or gradual development of regulations, and the need to work together to improve quality of life. Meetings like ALABAT are essential because they create shared experiences and foster connections that cannot be achieved through scientific publications alone. They promote collaboration, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and show how the progress made by each group can benefit everyone."
Principal Investigator, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) - Argentina.
Monica Manthor, Researcher at the Institute for Nuclear and Energy Research Brazil (IPEN), co-funder of ALBAT.
“It’s really important that, despite the exchanges that already exist, people who work in similar fields come together to share their challenges. From there, the congress can help form working groups to find solutions. During this conference, we’ve seen that the problems are almost the same in every country. That’s why it’s important to create discussion groups to tackle and improve these challenges. Some countries already have more advanced solutions than others, and sharing those experiences can help everyone improve even further."
Monica Manthor, Researcher at the Institute for Nuclear and Energy Research Brazil (IPEN), co-funder of ALBAT.
“This gathering not only allows us to identify common issues but also to explore solutions and opportunities to address them together. ”
Dr. Alicia Lorenti
"This meeting has made it clear that, while some countries are more advanced than others, all of Latin America faces the same challenges in the field of donation and tissue banking. This gathering not only allows us to identify common issues but also to explore solutions and opportunities to address them together. When it comes to advanced therapies, we are still in the early stages, with no clear regulations in place. That’s why this space is invaluable for discussing, sharing experiences, and building a collective vision for the future."
Expert in Tissue Banking and Tissue Engineering
“The exchange of experiences contributes to progress in improving the health of tissue recipients. While I’ve seen growth over the past 18 years working in tissue banks, we still need to make progress in key areas like biovigilance and the harmonization of tissue coding. It’s essential to advance in post-implant traceability and strengthen biovigilance to ensure the safety and quality of tissues.”
Dr. Adriana Fano, Technical Director of the Tissue Bank at the Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. Adriana Fano, Technical Director of the Tissue Bank at the Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina.