Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation

Talking Spaces: finding new places to talk about organ donation and transplantation
2023-05-20 10:00 - 14:00 UTC
Let’s be honest it can be tricky to talk about organ donation and transplantation research. Everyone has a different view, there may be cultural, religious or ethical concerns.
The Talking Spaces project, a new initiative from the Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation at Cambridge and Newcastle Universities, is about finding new informal environments around sports or hobbies, where people can feel at ease discussing organ donation and transplantation, research and exploring their own experiences, values, and concerns.
Join us on Saturday 20th May (10 am–2 pm) for a walk along the coast from Whitley Bay to North Shields, followed by a free lunch at the Linskill Centre, games and a chat about organ donation and transplantation. Places are limited and if you attend using public transport your costs will be covered (conditions do apply).
Book your place today!
To register, or for further information visit: shorturl.at/apABN or contact Hannah.Murray@newcastle.ac.uk

Kidney Transplantation: A Cambridge Festival Talk
2023-03-30 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Lecture Theatre A, New Museums Site, Bene’t Street, CB2 3PT, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3PT, United Kingdom
Kidney transplantation – why we still need research even after decades of success
The first kidney transplant took place in 1954. Nearly seven decades later it is one of modern medicine’s great triumphs, a highly successful operation that has saved and improved countless lives worldwide. Despite that success, there’s still a global shortage of donor organs. More people are waiting for a kidney transplant than there are organs available, so research in this area is still vitally important.
Professor Mike Nicholson has been a transplant surgeon for over 30 years. He’s also a researcher and has dedicated the last 35 years to research to improve kidney transplantation. Join us as he looks back on his career and explains why he chose a path that combines clinical work with research.
We’ll also hear from Serena MacMillan, a PhD student in Prof Nicholson’s research group who is working on changing the blood group of donor kidneys. She’ll talk about her research and how this could have a big impact on kidney transplantation in the future.
Professor Nicholson is Director of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Organ Donation and Transplantation which funds much of his research.
This event is free but please book a place.
Our talk follows one given at 18:00–19:00 by our colleagues at the NIHR BTRU in Donor Health and Behaviour who work closely with NHS Blood and Transplant to maintain stocks of blood whilst looking after donor health. This event is also free but booking is again required.
See the Cambridge Festival website for details of all festival events.

BTRU @ Big Biology Day 2022!
2022-10-15 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Hills Road Sixth Form College, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PE, United Kingdom
Saturday 15th October sees the return of Big Biology Day, one of the UK’s largest free biology public engagement events involving hands-on science fun for all the family and we’re delighted once again to be part of it all. We’ll be joining a host of other organisations, companies and institutes at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge to get hands-on with biology.
Come and see BTRU researchers talk about the latest organ perfusion technology which can revive donor organs outside the body before they are transplanted, plus try our awesome organs hands-on activities. Please join us for what promises to be the biggest Big Biology Day yet! No booking required.

Research Explained Webinar
2022-09-27 13:00 - 14:15 UTC
Please see below for details of our forthcoming Research Explained webinar. For more details or to register, please contact PPIE Lead Hannah Murray hannah.murray@newcastle.ac.uk

Transforming Transplantation: a Cambridge Festival talk
2022-03-31 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Lecture Theatre A, New Museums Site, University of Cambridge Admissions Office, New Museums site, Bene't Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PT, United Kingdom
The success of organ transplantation in the last 70 years is one of modern medicine’s great stories. Despite that success, right across the globe there remains a mismatch between the number of people waiting for a transplant and the number of organs available. Join transplant surgeon and research director Professor Mike Nicholson as he introduces talks from two young researchers working to solve this problem.
PhD student Serena MacMillan will present: As easy as ABO: towards universal donor kidneys. Her work focuses on efforts to convert all donor kidneys to blood group O, thus circumventing the perpetual issue of blood group matching in transplantation. She uses special substances called enzymes that work as tiny ‘biological scissors’ to make the changes to the donor kidney.
Academic Clinical Fellow James Ashcroft will present: Small but mighty: exosomes explained. He works on extremely small particles called ‘exosomes’ released by cells, which may be able to predict how well a donated kidney will perform in its new owner before it is transplanted. This will potentially enable us to transplant kidneys previously considered unsuitable because of doubts over quality.
Professor Nicholson is Director of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Organ Donation and Transplantation which funds this research.
This event is free but please book a place
Our talk will be followed by one given at 19:00–20:00 by our colleagues at the NIHR BTRU in Donor Health and Genomics who work closely with NHS Blood and Transplant to maintain stocks of blood whilst looking after donor health. This event is also free but booking is again required.
See the Cambridge Festival website for details of all festival events.

The horrible history (and the bright future) of organ preservation
2021-04-01 19:00 - 19:45 (Europe/London) | Zoom
BTRU researchers are delighted to be involved in the all new Cambridge Festival taking place from 26 March to 4 April 2021. They’ll be giving a talk via Zoom looking at the history and future of organ preservation.
Organ transplantation is one of the major success stories of modern medicine, transforming the lives of organ recipients and their families. Behind that success, advances in organ preservation techniques have played a pivotal role. Join surgeons Professor Mike Nicholson and Mr Paul Gibbs for a whistle-stop tour of the history of organ transplantation and preservation. They’ll start way back in the 1800s, with some of the earliest attempts to preserve organs, and journey right up to today to explain some of the latest research. This medical research is crucial as we try and close the gap between the number of people waiting for a transplant and the number of organs available. Professor Nicholson is Director of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Organ Donation and Transplantation which funds some of the research discussed. A short Q&A session will follow the talk.
This event is free but please book a place via Eventbrite. Bookings open on 22 February.
For details of all festival events, see the Cambridge Festival website.
Follow events on Twitter: @Cambridge_Fest Facebook: @CambridgeFestival and Instagram: @CamUniFestivals

Every drop counts: blood donors of the future
2021-03-30 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Zoom
A Cambridge Festival talk by the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics
What happens when you pair innovative research with NHS Blood and Transplant policy? Professor Emanuele Di Angelantonio, Director of the Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Donor Health and Genomics, Dr Lois Kim (Dept. of Public Health & Primary Care) and Nick Gleadall (Dept. of Haematology) talk about using blood samples given for research purposes to more efficiently recruit and retain blood donors; to better understand the effects on the body of frequent donation; and to more accurately identify blood type.
This research is conducted by the National Institute for Health Research BTRU in Donor Health and Genomics, in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (Give Blood), to advance the field of blood donor health. A short discussion (Q&A period) will follow the talk.
Booking details and registration.
For details of all festival events, see the Cambridge Festival website.
Follow events on Twitter: @Cambridge_Fest Facebook: @CambridgeFestival and Instagram: @CamUniFestivals

Life continues - film screening by South Asian Health Action
2020-08-15 14:00 - 17:30 (Europe/London)
South Asian Health Action are hosting their final partnership event for South Asian heritage month to raise awareness of organ donation in the UK and India. Join to hear real life experiences of how organ donation saves lives, gives life and helps to create lives. For the Zoom link please email southasianhealthaction@gmail.com to register.

CANCELLED Awesome organs: BTRU @ Cambridge Science Festival 2020 Hands-on Day
2020-03-22 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

CANCELLED Cambridge Science Festival talk: The Horrible History (and the Bright Future) of Organ Preservation
2020-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, Cambridge, CB2 1RW

Patient and Public Research Panel: Festive coffee and mince pies
2019-12-09 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Newcastle University main campus, NE1 7RU
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss warmly invites all panel members and BTRU staff for an informal get together over coffee and mince pies, plus a festive quiz (prize for the winner). A great opportunity to catch up and share all the latest news. Venue: Newcastle University main campus, room: tbc.

BTRU Biannual Progress Update and Management Meeting
2019-10-17 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | Royal Station Hotel, Neville Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 5DH, United Kingdom
The second of the two progress update and management meetings of the BTRU in ODT in 2019, which will be held in at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne. All BTRU colleagues are invited to attend. The agenda will be sent out via email in advance.

BTRU @ Big Biology Day 2019
2019-10-05 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Hills Road Sixth Form College, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PE, United Kingdom
Saturday 5 October sees the return of Big Biology Day, one of the UK’s largest free biology public engagement events involving hands-on science fun for all the family and we’re delighted once again to be part of it all. We’ll be joining a host of other organisations, companies and institutes at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge to get hands-on with biology.
Come and see BTRU researchers demonstrate the latest organ perfusion technology which can revive donor organs outside the body before they are transplanted, plus try our awesome organs hands-on activities. Please join us for what promises to be the biggest Big Biology Day yet! No booking required.

BTRU @ European Researchers' Night: World Wide Webs
2019-09-27 18:00 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne, Great North Museum, Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT, United Kingdom
The BTRU is delighted once again to be running a public science stall as part of Great North Nights at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle. Meet some of the BTRU team, play our quiz, have a go at Japanese poetry, help us make some bunting. Hear about the transplantation research being undertaken at Newcastle University to develop and evaluate novel approaches that will increase the suitability of donor organs.
Great North Museum is open late and will be filled with some of the North East’s sharpest minds: scientists, thinkers, doers and fun-lovers. Grab a drink at the bar and chat with one about the burning issues of the day. Explore the museum. See Dippy on Tour. Meet a curator. Do something different with your Friday night! No booking required.

Patient and Public Research Panel meeting
2019-09-27 13:30 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Newcastle University main campus, NE1 7RU
All members of the BTRU’s Patient and Public Research Panel are warmly invited to join Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss for this panel meeting. A great opportunity to catch up with Jenny, share the latest BTRU news and find out about new opportunities to get involved in the work of the unit. Specific items for this meeting will include: discussion on future opportunities for the BTRU in ODT and a project application review. Venue: Newcastle University main campus, room tbc.

ECTORS inaugural meeting
2019-09-14 - 2019-09-15 | Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) has recently established a new section, the European Cell Therapy and Organ Regeneration Section (ECTORS). The aim of the section is to provide a forum for discussing and stimulating novel developments in the fields of cellular therapies in organ transplantation, organ regeneration and generation of new organs from stem cells and biomaterials. The first ECTORS meeting will be held in Copenhagen on 14 and 15 September 2019, ahead of the main ESOT meeting. Abstract submission is open for the ECTORS meeting and will close on 1 June 2019. Visit the ECTORS meeting website for further details.

BTRUs @ World Transplant Games and Newcastle University Sports Science event
2019-08-17 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | The Boiler House, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
Student Forum Space outside the Boiler House
BTRU team members from Newcastle University are delivering interactive public engagement stalls at two large scale events for this summer’s World Transplant Games.
In the first of these, researchers, clinicians and members of our Public and Patient Research Panel will be running a joint stall with colleagues and Public Panel members from one of our sister units, the BTRU in Donor Health and Genomics (based in Cambridge). Home for the day will be the Boiler House (and outside courtyard space weather permitting), Newcastle University main campus, and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Leads Jenny Hasenfuss and Sarah Fahle will be on hand throughout to oversee activities.
We’ll have interactive displays (including playdough for younger visitors), balloons and leaflets to promote the research of both BTRUs. There’ll also be the opportunity to share our brand new co-created poetry collection and even write your own poem! Please pop by and join us in Newcastle before the World Transplant Games officially opens that evening!
This event forms part of the wider Newcastle University sports science public event which promises to be great fun. People of all ages are invited to take part in (or just watch!) a huge range of different activities designed to test and measure your body’s strength and fitness! Meet experts in Sports and Exercise Science from Newcastle University and learn about how fitness is measured and optimised. Help us celebrate the impact that organ donation has on the life of transplant recipients and see how exercise can assist their recovery after surgery.
This is the day before the games formally starts and promises to be a busy and lively day in Newcastle city centre.
No admission fee. No booking required.

Soapbox Science Newcastle
2019-06-15 12:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | Greys Monument, Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5AF, United Kingdom
Come along to this free drop-in public science event – fun and inspiring for all! BTRU PhD student Georgina Wilkins and PPIE Lead Jenny Hasenfuss will be attending all day to support the scientists who are doing public talks and demonstrations. Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women scientists and the science they do. With Soapbox Science, the goal is to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, question and be inspired by some of our leading scientists.

Patient and Public Research Panel Meeting
2019-05-22 13:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
All members of the BTRU’s Patient and Public Research Panel are warmly invited to join Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss for this panel meeting. A great opportunity to catch up with Jenny, share the latest BTRU news and find out about new opportunities to get involved in the work of the unit. Venue: Newcastle University main campus, room tbc.

Patient and Public Research Panel: Easter coffee morning
2019-04-15 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Newcastle University main campus, NE1 7RU
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss warmly invites all members of the BTRU’s Patient and Public Research Panel to join her for an informal Easter get together over coffee. A great opportunity to catch up with Jenny and share all the latest news. Venue: Newcastle University main campus, specific location tbc.

Awesome organs: BTRU @ Cambridge Science Festival Hands-on Day
2019-03-24 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, United Kingdom
We’re delighted once again to be part of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus Day at this year’s Cambridge Science Festival. Our home for the day will be the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology and we’ll be joining many other organisations, companies and institutes, which together will give you a real insight into how life-changing research is developing new treatments and medicines to benefit society. In particular we’re delighted this year to be exhibiting alongside the BTRU in Donor Health and Genomics.
Our Awesome organs event will see researchers from our BTRU explaining how their work can improve the quality and quantity of organs available for transplantation in the future. Come and join us to find our more, plus try your hand as a surgeon and get your brain cells buzzing with our awesome organs quiz.
No booking required for this event.

Cambridge Science Festival talk - Organ transplantation: past successes, future challenges
2019-03-14 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/London) | Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, Cambridge, CB2 1RW
BTRU researchers are once again giving a lecture at the Cambridge Science Festival, this year looking at organ transplantation past and future.
Organ transplantation is one of the major success stories of modern medicine. Although more than 50,000 people in the UK are alive today because of this success, the severe shortage of donor organs remains the biggest single challenge facing transplant clinicians today. The goal of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Organ Donation and Transplantation is to address this challenge. Join BTRU Director and transplant surgeon Professor Mike Nicholson and his colleagues Dr Dominic Summers and Mr Foad Rouhani for a talk on the evolution of organ transplantation, highlighting notable developments of the past and new technologies that might solve the organ shortage in the future.
We’ll be followed on the night by a talk from our colleagues at the BTRU in Donor Health and Genomics who work closely with NHS Blood and Transplant to maintain stocks of blood whilst looking after donor health.
Booking required. See the Cambridge Science Festival website for details. Bookings open 11am on 11 February 2019.

BTRU Biannual Progress Update and Management Meeting
2019-03-14 10:30 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | St Catharine’s College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RL, United Kingdom
The first progress update and management meeting of the BTRU in Organ Donation and Transplantation in 2019 will be held in the McGrath Auditorium, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. All BTRU colleagues are invited to attend. Details and agenda will be sent out via email in advance.

Patient and Public Research Panel Meeting
2019-03-06 13:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Newcastle University main campus, NE1 7RU

Patient and Public Research Panel: Christmas coffee
2018-12-13 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Devonshire Buliding Newcastle University, Room G27, Devonshire Building, Newcastle University,, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss warmly invites all members of the BTRU’s Patient and Public Research Panel to join her for an informal get together over Christmas coffee and mince pies. A great opportunity to catch up with Jenny and share all the latest news. Venue: Room G27, Ground floor, Devonshire Building on the main University campus (near Claremont Road).

Patient and Public Research Panel: Christmas coffee
2018-12-03 11:30 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | Courtyard Lounge, Old Library Building, Newcastle University, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RG, United Kingdom
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead Jenny Hasenfuss warmly invites all members of the BTRU’s Patient and Public Research Panel to join her for an informal get together over Christmas coffee and mince pies. A great opportunity to catch up with Jenny and share all the latest news. Venue: Courtyard Lounge, Courtyard restaurant, sited in the Old Library Building on the main University campus.
This is the first of two such events Jenny will be hosting in early December (see separate details for the event on 13 December).

Joint BTRU Training Day
2018-10-30 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Filton, Bristol, Holiday Inn Filton, Filton Road, Hambrook, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1QX
Hosted by NHSBT, this event will bring together trainees and colleagues from all four of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Units (BTRUs). Programme and further details to follow.

BTRU @ Big Biology Day 2018
2018-10-13 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Hills Road Sixth Form College, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PE, United Kingdom
Saturday 13 October sees the return of Big Biology Day, one of the UK’s largest free biology public engagement events involving hands-on science fun for all the family and this year we’re delighted to be part of it all. We’ll be joining a host of other organisations, companies and institutes at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge to get hands-on with biology.
BTRU researchers will be demonstrating some of the latest organ perfusion technology which can revive donor organs outside the body before they are transplanted. This is one part of the solution to the current organ shortage. As well as seeing the technology in action, visitors will be able test their own knowledge about organ donation and transplantation, plus try their hand as a surgeon with our laparoscopic simulator. Please join us for what promises to be another excellent Big Biology Day! No booking required.

BTRU Biannual Progress and Management Meeting
2018-10-11
The second of the two progress update and management meetings of the BTRU in ODT in 2018, which will be held in Newcastle upon Tyne. All BTRU colleagues are invited to attend. Venue details and agenda will be sent out via email in advance.

BTRU Trainees' Day
2018-10-10 | Devonshire Buliding Newcastle University, Room G27, Devonshire Building, Newcastle University,, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
An event for all BTRU trainees from both Cambridge and Newcastle. The day will include invited speakers, oral presentations delivered by BTRU trainees and a poster session. Trainees will be involved throughout the day, from marking abstracts to having a nominated trainee chair for each session and a ‘hot-topic’ debate. The venue will be the Devonshire Building at Newcastle University. Further details will follow in due course.
