{"id":34947,"date":"2026-09-29T21:28:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T01:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/?p=34947"},"modified":"2026-09-29T21:28:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T01:28:44","slug":"organ-donation-and-transplant-research-foundation-of-bc-cdtrp-venture-grants-dr-alice-virani-and-dr-jordan-hermiston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/organ-donation-and-transplant-research-foundation-of-bc-cdtrp-venture-grants-dr-alice-virani-and-dr-jordan-hermiston\/","title":{"rendered":"Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of BC\/CDTRP Venture Grants\u00a0: Dr. Alice Virani and Dr. Jordan Hermiston"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1216.8px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-dropshadow imageframe-1 hover-type-none\" style=\"-webkit-box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" title=\"2026 Innovation Grant_ODTRF2\" src=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2.png\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-34944\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271600%27%20height%3D%27900%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201600%20900%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271600%27%20height%3D%27900%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2-200x113.png 200w, https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-Innovation-Grant_ODTRF2.png 1600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:30px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\"><strong>CDTRP 2026 Research Innovation Grant Competition Results<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CDTRP is thrilled to announce the results of the <a class=\"ProsemirrorEditor-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/announcing-the-results-of-the-2026-cdtrp-research-innovation-grant-competition-7-new-projects-funded\/\">CDTRP 2026 Research Innovation Grant Competition<\/a>, made possible through our partnership with various esteemed organizations. We are proud to showcase all of the exciting projects that have been funded in this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n<p>We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to <strong>Dr. Alice Virani and Dr. Jordan Hermiston<\/strong> and their team for being awarded the <strong>Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of BC\/CDTRP Venture Grants.<\/strong> We wish them all the best as they embark on their innovative project!<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:30px;width:100%;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator-border sep-double sep-solid\" style=\"--awb-height:20px;--awb-amount:20px;border-color:#e0dede;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;\"><\/div><\/div><style type='text\/css'>.reading-box-container-1 .element-bottomshadow:before,.reading-box-container-1 .element-bottomshadow:after{opacity:0.7;}<\/style><div class=\"fusion-reading-box-container reading-box-container-1\" style=\"--awb-title-color:#333c4e;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:84px;\"><div class=\"reading-box\" style=\"background-color:#f6f6f6;border-width:1px;border-color:#f6f6f6;border-left-width:3px;border-left-color:var(--primary_color);border-style:solid;\"><div class=\"reading-box-additional\">\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\"><em>&#8220;Research is the driving force behind progress in organ donation and transplantation. These ODTRF-funded projects showcase the innovative thinking and collaboration needed to advance the field\u2014from improving outcomes for patients undergoing islet cell transplantation to deepening our understanding of the impact of direct contact between donor families and recipients. We are proud to support research that strengthens both the science and the human experience of organ donation and transplantation.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Rachael Durie, Co-Chair, Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of BC<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\"><strong>Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of BC\/CDTRP Venture Grants<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>: Dr. Alice Virani and Dr. Jordan Hermiston<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\"><strong>Project Title: <\/strong>The Experiences of Deceased Organ Donor Families and Transplant Recipients of Organ Donation Organization-Supported Direct Contact<\/p>\n<p><strong>Main affiliation: <\/strong>University of British Columbia<\/p>\n<p><strong>Theme: 2 \u2013 <\/strong>Inform Universal Practices for Donation<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lay Abstract<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><style type='text\/css'>.reading-box-container-2 .element-bottomshadow:before,.reading-box-container-2 .element-bottomshadow:after{opacity:0.7;}<\/style><div class=\"fusion-reading-box-container reading-box-container-2\" style=\"--awb-title-color:#333c4e;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:84px;\"><div class=\"reading-box\" style=\"background-color:#f6f6f6;border-width:1px;border-color:#f6f6f6;border-left-width:3px;border-left-color:var(--primary_color);border-style:solid;\"><div class=\"reading-box-additional\">\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\">When someone receives a life saving organ transplant, both the donor family and the transplant recipient may wish to connect with one another. For some people, this connection can help with healing, gratitude, and meaning making after a profound life event. In the past, strict rules required donor families and recipients to remain anonymous. More recently, some programs in Canada have begun to allow direct contact when both sides want it and are carefully supported. However, little research exists to guide how these direct connections should happen safely and respectfully.<\/p>\n<p>This study will explore the experiences of adult donor family members and adult transplant recipients who have taken part in a supported direct contact program in BC. The program includes preparation, consent, and support from trained social workers. By listening to people who have already participated, the study aims to understand what worked well, what was challenging, and what kinds of support helped people feel safe and prepared.<\/p>\n<p>Participants will take part in one on one interviews to share their experiences, including why they chose direct contact, how the process felt, and how the relationship developed over time. The study will pay close attention to emotional well being, expectations, boundaries, and any unexpected difficulties.<\/p>\n<p>The findings will help improve how direct contact programs are designed and delivered in British Columbia and provide guidance for other provinces considering similar approaches. By supporting donor families and transplant recipients thoughtfully and ethically, this research contributes to a donation system that respects people\u2019s wishes, builds public trust, and strengthens the culture of organ donation in Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:30px;width:100%;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator-border sep-double sep-solid\" style=\"--awb-height:20px;--awb-amount:20px;border-color:#e0dede;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/announcing-the-results-of-the-2026-cdtrp-research-innovation-grant-competition-7-new-projects-funded\/\"><strong>View the results of the 2026 CDTRP Research Innovation Grant Competition.<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n<h5 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-fontsize=\"20\" data-lineheight=\"30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/cdtrp-innovation-grant-winners\/\">View past CDTRP Innovation Grants recipients here.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":34944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34947"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34951,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34947\/revisions\/34951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdtrp.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}