Immunosuppressive drugs committee
Update March 2010.
Background/Purpose of the Committee
- To promote the knowledge and understanding of immunosuppressive drug analysis and interpretation of results.
- To enhance communication between scientists and physicians of all disciplines involved in therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs.
- To encourage the effective application of therapeutic drug monitoring in transplant medicine, with the aim of optimizing clinical drug use and maximizing the clinical and economic benefits.
Committee Membership List
Chair: Dr. Teun van Gelder, internist - nephrologist/clinical pharmacologist Erasmus Medical center Rotterdam - The Netherlands, t.vangelder@erasmusmc.nl
Vice-chair: Dr. Maria Shipkova, Department of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine, Klinikum-Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Members: E Billaud, D Cooper, D Holt, A Johnston, R Morris, K Napoli, M Oellerich, T Pawinski, R Schmid, L Shaw, P Taylor, T van Gelder, R Venkataramanan, P Wallemacq, P Kunicki, M Brunet, E Wieland, M Shipkova, D Hesselink, R van Schaik, P Marquet, S Vinks.
Members who would like to get actively involved in one of these projects or other members who would like to propose new projects are warmly welcome.
Minutes of Immunosuppressive Drugs Committee Meeting at the Montreal IATDMCT Congress (on October 5, 2009):During the meeting of the Immunosuppressive Drugs Committee Pierre Wallemacq (Brussels) stepped down as chair of this committee, and was succeeded by T van Gelder (Rotterdam). Chairs of this committee will serve for a 2 x 2 year term. Vice-chairs will serve as chair-elect, and MDs and analytical experts will alternate as chair. Pierre Wallemacq is commended for his outstanding leadership in this committee. Having been in the area of TDM for immunosuppressive drugs for about 30 years the extensive experience of Pierre both within the scientific field and within the Association has been proven to be of much value. Pierre is thanked for his important contributions.
During the meeting it was noted that the number of MDs within this committee, and also within the Association at large, is rather small. Attempts will be made to encourage membership among MDs, by advertising the Association at regional or national meetings. All members are encouraged to pro-actively approach MDs that may have an interest to join IATDMCT. This initiative nicely fits within the Member-Get-a-Member Campaign of the Council.
The Council has clearly asked the committees for deliverables. This committee aims to set up the following initiatives:
- a consensus meeting on mTOR inhibitors, possibly linked to the congress of The Transplantation Society in Vancouver in 08/2010.
- expand the biomarker working group, recently initiated by M Brunet, and aim for setting up new studies and apply for (European) grants
- organize regional meetings, in a format that fits with the proposal of the Council
Committee initiatives for 2010/2011.
- Realization of regional meeting in India in Feb 2011, organized by Clinical Pharmacology Unit of Vellore, India, supported by IATDMCT.
- Consensus meeting on mTOR inhibitors, during congress of The Transplantation Society in Vancouver in 08/2010
- Organize a symposium on TDM during congress of The Transplantation Society in Vancouver in 08/2010
In memoriam: Following the Montreal meeting Victor Armstrong, who was an active member of the Immunosuppressive Drugs Committee, passed away on Feb 27, 2010. Victor was an excellent scientist and a good friend, and he will be missed by all of us.
Biomarkers Working Group (BWG) within the ISD Committee.
Report from a Round Table Meeting held in Barcelona last March
