About the Custodian Group

The Mission of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) is to promote, implement and uphold the Declaration of Istanbul so as to combat organ trafficking, transplant tourism and transplant commercialism and to encourage adoption of effective and ethical transplantation practices around the world.

The Role of the Custodian Group

The role of the DICG is to develop a comprehensive strategy and implement plans to achieve its mission and to coordinate activities related to the Declaration of Istanbul. The DICG operates in the context of complementary documents, in particular the WHO Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation.
  • DEVELOPMENT
    The Steering Committee of the Istanbul Summit has worked to prepare for the creation of the DICG at a series of meetings following the 2008 Istanbul Summit. On September 30, 2009, the Steering Committee of the Declaration of Istanbul met in Beirut, Lebanon, in conjunction with the Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation, to formulate a strategy and plans for the continued implemention of the Declaration. A series of goals were developed to achieve the mission of the DICG and to coordinate activities related to the Declaration of Istanbul. These goals include measures to enhance compliance with the Principles of the Declaration by professional societies, pharmaceutical companies and other organizations funding transplantation research, and journals publishing reports of clinical and research activities in transplantation. These goals also emphasize the need for national governments, regulatory authorities and healthcare institutions to develop policies that put an end to commerce in human organs. The DICG was formally established in 2010.
  • ORGANIZATION
    The DICG is composed of a number of task force groups under the leadership of two chairs. Dr. Alejandro Nino-Murcia and Eric Rondeau.

Custodian Group Membership

All participants in the Istanbul Summit meeting are invited to play a continuing role in the work of the DICG.

DICG membership is open to all those who have actively participated in previous DICG meetings and activities, who are committed to the principles outlined in the Declaration itself, and who wish to assist in the ongoing mission of the DICG, namely, "to promote, implement and uphold the Declaration of Istanbul so as to combat organ trafficking, transplant tourism and transplant commercialism and to encourage adoption of effective and ethical transplantation practices around the world."

New members join the DICG through a process which requires them to commit to the Declaration's principles in their own practice, and to support the mission of the DICG. Prospective members must be nominated by an existing member, provide a brief CV and a statement detailing their experience, expertise and interests of relevance to the DICG mission. Nominations should be sent to the DICG Executive for review.

Custodian Group Board of Councillors

Co-Chairs
  • Sanjay Nagral (India)
  • Thomas Müller (Switzerland)
DICG Manager
  • Jennifer Groverman (USA)
Term ending in December 2023
  • Jagbir Gill* (Canada)
  • Yewondwossen Tadesse Mengistu (Ethiopia)
  • Thomas Müller* (Switzerland)
  • Sanjay Nagral* (India)
  • Adibul Rizvi (Pakistan)
  • Milagros Samaniego Picota (USA)
Term ending in December 2024
  • Debasish Banerjee (United Kingdom)
  • Marcelo Cantarovich (Canada)
  • Mehmet Haberal (Turkey)
  • Vivekanand Jha (India)
  • Benita Padila* (Philippines)
  • Zhai Xiao-mei (China)
Term ending in December 2025
  • Mohamad Hany Hafez (Egypt)
  • Nadey Hakim (United Kingdom)
  • Rümeyza Kazancıoğlu (Turkey)
  • Maria Amalia Matamoros* (Costa Rica)
  • Graham Paget (South Africa)
  • Khin Thida Thwin (Myanmar)
Honorary
  • Alejandro Niño-Murcia* (Colombia)
  • Eric Rondeau* (France)
Special Advisor
  • Francis Delmonico (USA)
  • Alexander Capron (USA)
*Executive Committee Members
If you are a DICG member, we ask that you notify us when your affiliation, position, and/or contact information changes.

Contact

Staff Directory: 1-514-874-1717
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Social Media

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Address

The Transplantation Society
International Headquarters
740 Notre-Dame Ouest, Suite 1245
Montréal, QC, H3C 3X6, Canada