ANiNATH donates €10,000 to VHIR to boost research in pediatric liver transplantation

The Association of Children with Liver Transplantation (ANiNATH) has made a €10,000 donation to the Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic Surgery (HBP) and Liver Transplantation group at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR).

ANiNATH’s contribution has a broad scope, as it supports both clinical research and innovation. Thanks to its involvement, the group has been able to promote key studies that provide new insights into the long-term follow-up of pediatric transplant patients. Recently, this support was crucial for carrying out and securing acceptance of two studies analysing follow-up liver biopsies and subclinical rejection, as well as the feasibility of adapting immunosuppressive treatments to optimise them and reduce their long-term effects. The studies, accepted in Liver Transplantation and Transplantation, represent an important step forward in understanding the processes affecting transplanted children many years after surgery.

ANiNATH’s support has also promoted other research lines that have helped improve clinical practice. Notable among these initiatives are investigations on the use of biodegradable stents to treat biliary complications, published in Liver Transplantation, and studies on the use of sirolimus to address fibrosis associated with chronic or steroid-resistant rejection, featured in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. These projects have opened the door to new therapeutic strategies that are already having an impact on patient care.

Dr. Jesús Quintero, head of the Pediatric Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic Surgery (HBP) and Liver Transplantation group at VHIR, highlights that “ANiNATH’s support is essential for developing high-impact projects and advancing towards increasingly personalised medicine, tailored to the needs of each patient.”

In the words of Katia Verger, founding member of ANiNATH, “for us, it is essential to contribute to the continuous progress of research. Every step forward in knowledge has a real impact on the lives of transplanted children and on the peace of mind of their families. This donation reflects our strong commitment to the ongoing improvement of their care and their future.”

ANiNATH is a non-profit organisation founded in 2015 by families of transplanted children who identified the need for emotional, logistical and informational support beyond standard medical care. Since its creation, the association has grown to become a national reference in supporting families facing pediatric liver transplantation. Its work includes emotional support, guidance with administrative procedures, improvement of hospital spaces, awareness-raising on organ donation, and the promotion of research and innovation. Its team of mothers and volunteers works to ensure that no family faces this process alone and that transplanted children have access to the best possible resources.