DTI Foundation is celebrating 30 years of its international TPM® (Transplant Procurement Management) course, now firmly established as a global benchmark in training professionals in organ, tissue and cell donation and transplantation. This year’s course brings together 66 participants from 17 countries across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. The welcome event, held this morning at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), where the Foundation is based, marked the start of a week of activities.

DTI Foundation’s TPM® programme offers intensive, up-to-date training covering the entire process of organ, tissue and cell donation and transplantation. From 13 to 17 October, participants will explore key topics such as donor identification and selection, the clinical and ethical management of donation, communication with families, organ preservation and allocation, and the different organisational models in place around the world. The sessions combine lectures, practical workshops and simulations led by an international faculty of 20 specialists recognised for their achievements in the field of donation and transplantation.

Beyond its academic content, the TPM® course stands out for its human approach and multicultural environment. The close interaction between participants and faculty encourages the exchange of experiences, the creation of professional networks, and a global perspective on the impact of donation. This unique experience turns the training into a transformative journey, guided by a shared purpose: saving lives through cooperation and shared knowledge.

To mark the course’s 30th anniversary, the welcome event at the PCB was attended by Raúl Ramos, vice-rector for Internationalisation Policy at the University of Barcelona (UB); María Terrades, director of the PCB; and Jaume Tort, director of the Catalan Transplant Organisation (OCATT). They were joined by DTI Foundation president Dr Martí Manyalich, medical director Chloë Ballesté, and head of training programmes Carmen Blanco. All paid tribute to the course’s long-standing success and international impact.

“When a system is well-organised, a single donation can save more than one life. Our job is to make sure that no opportunity is lost and that teams are trained with both rigour and humanity,” said Dr Manyalich, a pioneer in donation and transplantation in Spain. In 1985, he set up the country’s first transplant coordination team at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, launched both living and deceased donor programmes, and established the hospital’s Transplant Services Foundation (TSF) tissue bank. His vision professionalised coordination, brought teams together and laid the groundwork for multiple healthcare systems.

In her address, PCB director María Terrades highlighted the Foundation’s vital role: “DTI has helped to professionalise donation and transplantation networks across the globe, training thousands of professionals committed to carrying forward and expanding the spirit of the Foundation and of Dr Martí Manyalich. Having them here at the PCB strengthens the diversity and value of our ecosystem. Their presence adds an essential human and social dimension to an environment dedicated to advancing the life sciences.”

From Barcelona to the world: 30 years training leaders in donation and transplantation

The professionalisation of donation and transplantation is key to ensuring that every opportunity to save a life is fully realised. Having well-trained and well-coordinated teams can make the difference between a possibility and a reality, enabling swift, safe and sensitive action at every stage of the process. Each year, more than 150,000 organ transplants are performed worldwide, yet this represents less than 10% of the global demand estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO), which exceeds one million transplants. In this context, specialised training not only improves clinical outcomes but also fosters a culture of solidarity and excellence within healthcare systems, ensuring that donation is an efficient, ethical and sustainable act across the globe.

The TPM® training programme was launched in Barcelona in 1991 by a group of experts led by Dr Martí Manyalich, with the aim of professionalising donation and transplantation coordination on a global scale. A pioneer in its field, the course introduced a highly practical approach to the entire donation and transplantation process, from donor identification to clinical coordination. Since then, the programme has evolved to become an international benchmark in the training of healthcare professionals.

Over the course of thirty years, more than 20,000 specialists from over a hundred countries have trained through the programme. Many have gone on to become leaders in donation and transplantation in their respective countries, including Italy, Iran, Slovenia, Croatia, France and China, demonstrating its real impact on improving healthcare systems and transforming the lives of thousands of patients.

Since becoming part of DTI Foundation in 2008, TPM® has strengthened its international reach with the support of The Transplantation Society (TTS), which that same year presented it with the TTS–Genzyme Award for Education and Training in Transplantation, recognising it as a model of educational excellence.

Alongside the TPM® training programme, DTI Foundation also runs the UB-accredited International Master in Donation and Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells, a university pathway that further develops new leaders within hospitals and healthcare systems.