SHANGANG – In a significant milestone marking China’s ascent in global transplant medicine, Shanghai hosted the 7th Academic Congress of the International Living Donor Liver Transplantation Society (iLDLTG) from October 17-19. This is the first time a high-level international organ transplant congress of this caliber has been held in mainland China, bringing together over 800 leading experts from 34 countries to chart the future of the field.

The event, jointly held with the 7th Oriental Congress of Organ Transplantation (OCOT 2025), was chaired by Dr. Xia Qiang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Renji Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The congress signifies a historic leap for China’s international influence in organ transplantation, particularly in the complex field of living donor liver transplants.

A centerpiece of the congress was a live-streamed, high-stakes surgery on October 17. The team from Renji Hospital, led by Dr. Xia Qiang, performed a minimally invasive laparoscopic liver procurement on a mother and a subsequent living donor liver transplant on her 5-month-old infant suffering from biliary atresia. The surgical team’s masterful skill in critical areas, including donor evaluation and vascular reconstruction, earned enthusiastic applause and high praise from international peers attending the conference.

“We are witnessing a transformation,” said Dr. Xia in his opening remarks. “This gathering is not just about sharing knowledge; it’s about co-creating the future of transplant medicine. China is ready to move from being a participant to a leader.”

Renji Hospital’s rise to prominence provides the backdrop for this leadership role. Facing a domestic health crisis with nearly 400 million liver disease patients, Dr. Xia’s team began focusing on pediatric liver transplantation in 2006. They have since built the world’s largest pediatric liver transplant center, with its annual surgical volume ranking first globally for twelve consecutive years. The center’s advanced techniques have attracted medical professionals from over a dozen countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and South Korea, to travel to Shanghai for training.

Beyond showcasing surgical prowess, the congress was a platform for shaping global standards. A major outcome was the joint release of the Global Expert Consensus on Minimally Invasive Donor Hepatectomy by the International Laparoscopic Liver Society (ILLS) and the iLDLTG. This is the first systematic set of guidelines for laparoscopic and robotic donor liver procedures, covering indications, surgical standards, perioperative management, and quality control, all centered on the principle of “donor safety first.” Chinese experts played a key role in drafting the consensus, signaling the country’s evolution from sharing experience to co-authoring international standards.

iLDLTG President Dr. Kim M. Olthoff praised the comprehensive transplant ecosystem built by Renji Hospital, calling it “a benchmark that our global colleagues can learn from and replicate.” She highlighted the importance of the consensus in promoting safe and standardized practices worldwide.

The congress also fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration by integrating the OCOT, expanding discussions beyond liver transplantation to include kidney, heart, and lung transplants, as well as organ donation management and transplant nursing.

This landmark event in Shanghai is more than a display of China’s medical achievements; it serves as a bridge for global collaboration. As Chinese technology, protocols, and clinical outcomes continue to contribute to the world, the international organ transplant community is entering a new era, one with China playing a central and leading role.