We are pleased to announce that the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT) will be held at the Tokyo International Forum from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2026. Under the main theme, “Aiming for a Cure for Every Patient,” we are organizing the program around three major focus areas.

The first is “All-Japan Initiatives to Improve Transplant Outcomes.” Have you ever hesitated in making treatment decisions and wondered, “How do other institutions or countries handle this?” We hope to create opportunities for sharing information across institutions and between pediatric and adult departments through Pros and Cons sessions and panel discussions. Additionally, we are planning a session on “Easing Post-Transplant Dietary Restrictions” as part of transplant teams’ efforts to improve patients’ quality of life.

The second focus area is “Basic and Clinical Investigations Aiming for Breakthroughs.” Particularly important issues include monitoring minimal residual disease before and after transplantation, maintenance therapy using novel agents, optimal integration or sequencing of CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies with transplantation, and clinical application following approval of insurance-covered panel sequencing for hematological diseases.

The third is “Fostering the Next Generation of Multidisciplinary Professionals, Including Physicians, Nurses, and Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Coordinator (HCTC).” In addition to the existing educational programs, we are planning new initiatives for the next generation, such as hands-on training in bedside ultrasound techniques essential in transplant care, practical know-how for post-transplant outpatient management (including GVHD assessment and clinical decision-making) for physicians, practical LTFU outpatient care for nurses, workshops on designing, analyzing, and writing up clinical research, and communication strategies with patients and families based on behavioral economics. We are also preparing “Meet the Expert” sessions not only with international speakers but also with leading domestic experts, providing valuable opportunities for small-group dialogue.

The meeting will be held onsite at the Tokyo International Forum, mainly over the weekend. Please note that there will be no live streaming, but on-demand content will be available after the conference. We sincerely hope you will join us in person and take full advantage of the opportunity to engage with many colleagues.