Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of BC

03/25/2026

Research needs to be relevant to patients. That’s why we fund projects that matter to the transplant community.

One such project, led by Providence Health Care Anja Webster and her team, is examining the use of natural health products (herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, traditional medicine etc.) among kidney transplant recipients. It also seeks to identify patients’ information needs when discussing these products with their care teams.

This study has seen remarkable engagement, with more than 300 patients enrolled to date—highlighting the importance and significance of this work. Stay tuned for insights from this important study when it concludes. In the meantime, learn more about this project: https://www.odtrf.org/research/research-challenge/past-grants-details/

(L to R: Erin Waters, Anja Webster and Casara Hong)

03/17/2026

In 2023, ODTRF supported a Providence Health Care Research Challenge project led by Bita Bateni to develop an educational video for patients awaiting kidney transplantation. The study also sought to evaluate how effective the video was in improving patient knowledge and satisfaction. Now complete, the project’s findings offer valuable insights to enhance both patient experience and clinical practice.

Results underscore the importance of using multiple approaches to patient education, including a combination of written materials, videos, and personal conversations all of which need to be tailored to a patient’s unique needs and situation, with a focus on communicating timelines. It was also apparent that gaps exist in patients’ understanding of post-transplant medications and coverage, identifying key opportunities to strengthen education and better support patients throughout their transplant journey.

Watch Bita’s team present on this project at Providence Research 2025 Research Challenge Celebration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i4AdZ1zLCI&t=931s

03/12/2026

On World Kidney Day, we recognize everyone involved in kidney transplantation—especially living kidney donors, whose generosity makes renewed health possible for people living with kidney disease.

We recently caught up with living kidney donor Aggie Black following her successful donation in 2023. As former Director of Health Services, Clinical Research and Knowledge Translation at Providence Health Care, Aggie now brings both lived experience as a patient and professional insight to research, helping improve care for future donors and championing more sustainable kidney care practices.

Learn more about Aggie’s experience with living donation: https://www.odtrf.org/beyond-donation-catching-up-with-aggie-black/

03/06/2026

March is Kidney Health Month!

At ODTRF, we fund research that improves care for everyone involved in kidney transplantation, including living donors. Through Providence Research Research Challenge program, we supported Florence Tsai, a Clinical Nurse Educator at St. Paul’s Hospital, whose team is exploring the postoperative experiences of living kidney donors to strengthen donor care, enhance staff training, and advance patient-centred improvements.

In our interview with Florence, she shares what inspired this work and how it could help shape organ donation and transplant care across Canada.

Co-investigators: Juna Kim and Alisa Sirois
Patient Partner: Reema Kandola

Read more: https://www.odtrf.org/supporting-living-kidney-donors-enhancing-care-through-research/

02/24/2026

In 2023, we funded a bold, innovative project led by Vancouver Coastal Health intensivist Dr. Myp Sekhon. Just three years later, that early support has helped expand scientific understanding of the dying process, increase both the number and quality of organs available for transplant, and leverage millions of dollars in external research funding.

Researchers map uncharted territory in the dying process, with potential implications for end-of-life, emergency care, and organ donation View this post on Instagram A post shared by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation () Despite being a natural part of the lifecycle, much is still unknown about th...

02/24/2026

It is our great pleasure to host Dr. Caroline Tait in our Seminar Series this Wednesday, February 25th.

Please check our website to register for their seminar:
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/alberta-transplant-institute/education/ati-seminars-series.html

02/20/2026

In a powerful act of generosity and remembrance, Dann Konkin, father of lung transplant recipient Ben, has donated $5,000 to support organ donation and transplant research. This marks the second time ODTRF has been selected as a beneficiary of the Founder’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament, in memory of Ben.

While Ben passed away not long after his transplant and did not have the opportunity to fully experience its impact, his family remains deeply grateful for the chance he was given and the hope his transplant made possible. Through this gift, they honour Ben’s legacy by supporting research that will help ensure more people receive a life-saving transplant. We are grateful to Dann, the Founders Cup and Ben’s family for their ongoing support. Read more about Ben’s legacy: https://www.odtrf.org/a-life-well-lived-a-legacy-that-gives-back-honouring-bens-journey-through-research/

(Dann featured with ODTRF Co-chair Rachael Durie)

02/11/2026

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re celebrating the brilliant women transforming transplant medicine.

Among them is researcher Reetinder Kaur, whose work is addressing racial and gender inequities in organ donation and transplantation. Learn more about her journey into science and what drives her to improve equitable access to transplant care: https://www.odtrf.org/women-in-science-spotlight-reetinder-kaur/

02/05/2026

Halfway there and making a difference! This Heart Month, we checked in with Wynne Chiu, project lead, on the Peer Mentorship Program in Practice as it moves into its next phase.

“We’re excited to share that we’re officially more than halfway through the Peer Mentorship Program in Practice (PMP‑IP) study for St. Paul’s Hospital’s provincial heart transplant program. Objective 1 of the study is now completed, with patients, caregivers, and clinicians contributing valuable insights through focus groups to help refine our implementation blueprint. These perspectives informed our thematic analysis and updates to the PMP outline-and now we’re moving ahead with the second half of the study-implementation and matching of mentors with mentees!

We anticipate this program will enhance clinical care by offering patients “beyond-the-clinic” peer support that is practical, realistic, and reassuring in a way only someone with lived experience can provide. One of the biggest (and most encouraging) surprises has been the enthusiasm exhibited by patients! Patients have displayed a real eagerness to give back as mentors, with just as many excited to connect as mentees. Stay tuned as we bring this next phase to life!

A new study will evaluate the implementation of a peer mentorship program (PMP) to improve patients’ experience of the journey of care to and after heart transplant.

01/28/2026

2025 was a remarkable year for organ donation and transplantation in B.C.

Behind every successful transplant is years of research. Research that improves donor and recipient matching, immunosuppression management, and patient outcomes. Research also ensures donation opportunities are maximized, so more people can give, and receive, the gift of life.

Today we take a moment to reflect back as we release BC’s organ donation and transplant statistics from 2025💚. 575 people received an organ transplant in 2025, that is 575 people who were gifted a second chance at life.

This is entirely thanks to the selfless decision of 146 deceased donors and 86 living donors. Throughout this week, we’ll be sharing stories, statistics, and key facts behind these numbers, all made possible because individuals and their families chose to give organ donation a chance. Their generosity, love, and hope leave a lasting impact on transplant recipients, their loved ones, and the healthcare professionals who support them every step of the way.

Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA, Providence Health Care, Interior Health, Island Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Northern Health, Fraser Health

01/27/2026

Dr. Vikas Sridhar, recipient of our 2025 Venture Grant, is exploring how combining certain medications could better protect the heart and kidneys of people living with a kidney transplant. By taking into account the perspective of both patients and doctors, this study aims to create more personalized care that improves the health and quality of life of patients after transplant.

Learn more: https://www.odtrf.org/research/organ-donation-and-transplant-research-foundation-of-bc-cdtrp-venture-grants/current-venture-grants/

01/21/2026

Attention BC-based researchers!

We’re excited to partner once again with the CDTRP - Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program for the Research Innovation Competition. The ODTRF will fund up to 2 Venture Grants focused on advancing organ donation and transplantation science.

For more info: https://cdtrp.ca/en/support-for-research/cdtrp-innovation-grant-competition/