Donation and Transplantation Plan 2021 to 2026: annual progress update - December 2025

9. Priority 6 – Research and innovation

9.1 Increase public awareness about the benefits of donating organs or tissue for research.

Work on this recommendation is ongoing. The Scottish Transplant Research Manager will identify initiatives, such as case studies, that can be promoted via social media or through highlighting information about transplant research to help raise awareness early 2026.

9.2 Monitor progress and consider if further action is needed to increase donation and utilisation of organs or tissue for research.

A Scottish Transplant Research Network (STRN) is now well established. The aim of the STRN is to facilitate research and collaboration in the field of organ transplantation and will serve as a platform for sharing knowledge and promoting research. Dr Angelica Callbelo Araujo was appointed as the Scottish Transplant Research Manager on 1 November 2023 and since then she has built up a substantial network of researchers, facilitated the first STRN webinar in August 2024, created a STRN webpage on the NHS Research Scotland website and set up various social media channels for the network.

The activities of the STRN during 2024/25 included continuing to build cross-Scotland collaboration in transplant research and the delivery of webinars, including a perfusion-focused session. The STRN Manager has also identified a number of research opportunities and has arranged an additional four webinars which will be scheduled until the end of the financial year. A patient and public engagement social media campaign is underway and the first pan-Scotland transplant annual meeting is being organised for January 2026 to bring researchers, clinicians, stakeholders, and key opinion leaders together to showcase research, foster collaboration, and set Scotland’s transplant priorities.