The Society
More than 35,000 clinicians, scientists and allied health professionals from over 160 countries are part of the ERS community
Become an ERS member
Life-saving lung transplants: Walter Klepetko receives award for establishing EU-wide training and exchange programme.
Vienna, Austria: Each year the European Lung Foundation presents the ELF Award to recognise the outstanding achievements if an individual in the field of lung health. In 2024, the prestigious prize will be awarded to the physician and researcher Walter Klepetko, and will be presented during the ERS Congress (September 7–11 at the Messe Kongress Center Wien, attended by thousands of lung specialists from all over the world).
The internationally renowned lung disease specialist established one of the most successful EU-wide lung transplant programs with his team at the Medical University of Vienna, which has developed into Europe’s largest center for teaching and training in this field.
“The chances of receiving a lung transplant vary greatly across Europe. In some countries, lung transplantation has not been an option for a long time,” says Walter Klepetko, explaining the dramatic situation. By means of a twice-yearly lung transplant academy, and 6 to 12-month scholarships for intensive training at their department, the team has succeeded in strengthening international cooperation and thus saving the lives of many patients with severe lung diseases.
By offering transplantation to a limited number of patients, enabling the exchange of previously unused donor organs, and delivering structured training to colleagues, the department has helped the establishment of independent lung transplant programs in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and, most recently, Ukraine.
As a result of this work, patients across borders and nationalities have access to this life-saving treatment in countries where transplantation was previously not possible.
ELF Chairman Dimitris Kontopidis emphasises the importance of these transplant programmes: ‘Walter Klepetko’s commitment created the possibility of lung transplantation in Vienna and saved cystic fibrosis and other respiratory patients regardless of their nationality and place of residence. Supporting the establishment of national lung transplant programmes in countries with less experience and resources has enabled more patients to receive life-saving treatment and provided a sustainable national solution for a second chance at life. These actions can deeply inspire us to continue advocating for patients who need equal access to healthcare, without borders,’ said Dimitris Kontopidis
For this reason, transplantation is also at the centre of the ELF Chair’s Campaign.
Notes to editors
Video Link: https://europeanlung.org/en/people-and-partners/elf-award/
For further information contact: info@europeanlung.org