Proceedings of the 13th international transplantation symposia: mTOR-inhibition: what have we learned and how so we best apply the learning.

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In Transplantation Research we have recently published a series of articles on the role of mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors [1–3]. This is a new departure for the Journal, on which we hope to build in the future, of publishing online conference supplements. The articles are based on the most recent of a long-running annual conference, supported initially by Wyeth and subsequently by Pfizer, following the introduction of sirolimus (Rapamune). For me, this meeting gave delegates a unique experience, and I doubt if any participant failed to learn something to change their clinical practice. Using a combination of didactic lectures, workshops and interactive sessions for around 300 clinicians and 20–30 faculty members, the design of the meeting promoted dialogue and exchange of information. Perhaps the key aspect of the meeting was to mix faculty, including some of the leading figures in transplantation, with transplant clinicians from a range of backgrounds in an informal atmosphere. Initially, the faculty members were those involved in the development of sirolimus (SRL) and early clinical trials, but later involved those with interests in infection, cardiovascular disease and cancer where there were specific issues or opportunities relating to the use of mTOR-inhibitors; and subsequently, to the developing role of mTOR on cellular function and cancer, intravascular stents, and other areas. The focus of the meeting also evolved with time: initially devoted to SRL, in later meetings this agent became the fulcrum for a meeting that covered other emerging immunosuppressants – including mTOR-inhibitors, such as everolimus, novel agents such as belatacept, and much broader aspects of transplant biology and management.