Aug 10 2018

Associate Professor Yuki Nakagawa of Uonuma Regional Medical Education Center, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital received at the WIT (Women in Transplantation) Unsung Hero Award of the International Congress of the Transplantation Society 2018 in Madrid, Spain from Saturday, June 30 to Thursday, July 5.

The Transplantation Society (TTS) is the world's largest conference in the field of transplantation medicine. WIT is the organization created under TTS to encourage all women working in the field of transplantation medicine including doctors, nurses, coordinators, clinical technicians and pharmacists to reach their full potential.

The WIT Unsung Hero Award, which Prof. Nakagawa received, is given to women who have contributed widely to transplantation medicine in past achievements, activities, basic research, clinical research and social contribution. One or two women from all over the world receive the award every two years. Prof. Nakagawa is the first woman in Japan to win this award.

Prof. Nakagawa was presented with the award in recognition of her activities to promote organ donation in Japan with small number of donors in addition to her achievements in clinical research trials of new immunosuppressive therapy in ABO incompatible kidney transplantation, promotion of preemptive kidney transplantation and investigation into marginal donor criteria. The award was given to recognize her contributions in transplantation medicine as a role model for a as a female transplant surgeon who gave birth to and raised a child while making these achievements.