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IX Congress of the Latin American Association of Tissue Banks
Bogota, Colombia 2024.
Day 1
Day 2
Dr. Francisco Martinez welcoming the congressmen.
From left to right
MsC Astrid Malagon
Dr. Gustavo Salguero
Dr. Martin Borgel
Dra. Celina Horak
MsC Astrid Malagon
Dr. Gustavo Salguero
Dr. Martin Borgel
Dra. Celina Horak
Dr. Gustavo Salguero
Dr. Salguero officially declared the IX ALABAT Congress open.
Claudia Marcela Vargas Pelaez
Director of Medicines and Health Technologies
Colombia
Pharmaceutical chemist and Master of Sciences – Pharmacology from the National University of Colombia. Doctor in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. She was the director of the Ifarma Foundation and a professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the National University of Colombia.
She has worked in two main lines of research: pharmacoepidemiology, including studies on pharmaceutical care, drug utilization and pharmacovigilance in Colombia and Brazil; and public policies, including activities in the design and evaluation of public policies related to drugs in aspects such as access, prices and intellectual property in Colombia and Latin America.
Colombia
Pharmaceutical chemist and Master of Sciences – Pharmacology from the National University of Colombia. Doctor in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. She was the director of the Ifarma Foundation and a professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the National University of Colombia.
She has worked in two main lines of research: pharmacoepidemiology, including studies on pharmaceutical care, drug utilization and pharmacovigilance in Colombia and Brazil; and public policies, including activities in the design and evaluation of public policies related to drugs in aspects such as access, prices and intellectual property in Colombia and Latin America.
Argentina present.
From left to right
Dr. Adiana Fano
Dr. Alicia Lorenti
Dr. Liliana Bisigniano
Dr. Adiana Fano
Dr. Alicia Lorenti
Dr. Liliana Bisigniano
Dr. Martin Borgel
WUTBA AWARDS ALABAT
Martin Borgel, Secretary General of the Union World of Tissue Banking Association, presented the WUTBA Award 2024 to the Latin American Association of Tissue Banks for its outstanding work and commitment in promoting tissue donation, scientific dissemination and the global exchange of scientific knowledge in the Americas region on tissue donation and transplantation activities.
The recognition was received by Dr. Francisco Martinez Flores, President of ALABAT and by Dr. Astrid Malagón, Vice President of ALABAT.
Dr. Martínez-Flores thanked the distinction and said “this recognition is for all ALABAT members, each of you makes it possible for our association to grow and strengthen every day.”
The recognition was received by Dr. Francisco Martinez Flores, President of ALABAT and by Dr. Astrid Malagón, Vice President of ALABAT.
Dr. Martínez-Flores thanked the distinction and said “this recognition is for all ALABAT members, each of you makes it possible for our association to grow and strengthen every day.”
WUTBA AWARDS ALABAT
Dr. Martin Borgel
President of the European Association of Tissue and Cell Banks (EATCB)
Secretary General of the World Union of Tissue Bank Associations (WUTBA). Germany
Secretary General of the World Union of Tissue Bank Associations (WUTBA). Germany
Marais Steyn MD
Production Manager
Vitanova Tissue Bank South Africa
Marais Steyn has extensive experience in tissue banking and a commitment to advancing the field through innovation and ethical practices. With over three decades of experience, Marais has developed a career marked by significant contributions to tissue procurement, processing and management.
Since February 2022, Marais has served as Production Manager at Vitanova Tissue Bank South Africa NPC. His responsibilities include overseeing production processes and ensuring the highest standards of tissue quality and safety. His leadership is based on a strong academic background and extensive practical experience in the tissue banking sector. Over the years, he has held key positions at the Tissue Engineering Centre at Tshwane University of Technology and the National Tissue Bank at the University of Pretoria, where he specialised in tissue procurement, product management and technological advancements in the field.
His academic training includes advanced certifications from prestigious institutions around the world, such as the University of Barcelona and the National University of Singapore. Marais’ dedication to his profession is further demonstrated through his active membership in various associations, such as the Asian Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banks and the South African Association of Tissue Banks.
Marcelo Fonseca PhD
Founding member
Tarapacá Skin and Tissue Bank, Chile
Plastic surgeon, MBA in Business Administration with a specialization in Health, Master in Public Health, Master in Major Burns, Diploma in Tissue Banks. He is currently part of the Skin and Tissue Bank of Tarapacá, Iquique, Chile and is pursuing a PhD in Surgery and Morphological Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Cynthia Nuñez Martinez
Medical director of the children's burn center, Dr. Thelma Rosario, Santiago.
Dominican Republic
Dr. Cinthia m. Núñez Martinez, general surgeon, graduate Hrujmcb/pucmm - Medical director of the children's burn center, Dr. Thelma Rosario, Santiago. - Clinical research/Harvard School of Public Health./National Research Program - Pre- and post-graduate professor, Pucmm.
Winston Jaramillo MD MSc PhD
Dr. Ximena Escobar Chaves
Executive Director of the Donar Colombia Foundation FUNDONAR
Physician and surgeon from the Nueva Granada Military University - Colombia
Master in Organ, Tissue and Cell Transplant Coordination from the University of Barcelona. Specialist in Business Management. Executive Director of the Donar Colombia Foundation. 18 years of experience in Donation Management in cities such as Bogotá, Medellín and Barranquilla. Teacher and speaker at different courses and conferences related to donation and transplantation.
Dr. Alberto Krupp
Dr. Astrid Malagon
Vice President of ALABAT / Director of the District Tissue Bank
Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud (IDCBIS) Colombia.
Dr. Astrid Malagón has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in the implementation of Good Practices for process validation and Quality Management Systems. Her experience also includes more than 9 years of experience in the Coordination, implementation, certification and Quality Management of Good Practices for Tissue Banks: ocular, skin, amniotic membrane, acellular dermis and osteomuscular. In addition to her role as Technical Director of the District Tissue Bank, Dr. Malagón is a leader in Research, Development and Innovation projects in the area of regenerative medicine and tissue therapies. Dr. Malagón is a Bacteriologist from the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, and has postgraduate degrees in Quality Management from the Universidad Santo Tomás (Colombia) and a Master of Science in Microbiology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. This has led her, among other things, to: i) Lead the District Tissue Bank to become a reference in training and coaching of professionals in Latin America for the implementation of tissue banks and good practices, ii) Implement certifications in Good Practices for tissue banks for the eye, skin, amniotic membrane, acellular dermis and osteomuscular tissues; iii) Provide international advice for good practice guidelines in tissue banks, among many others.
Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud (IDCBIS) Colombia.
Dr. Astrid Malagón has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in the implementation of Good Practices for process validation and Quality Management Systems. Her experience also includes more than 9 years of experience in the Coordination, implementation, certification and Quality Management of Good Practices for Tissue Banks: ocular, skin, amniotic membrane, acellular dermis and osteomuscular. In addition to her role as Technical Director of the District Tissue Bank, Dr. Malagón is a leader in Research, Development and Innovation projects in the area of regenerative medicine and tissue therapies. Dr. Malagón is a Bacteriologist from the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, and has postgraduate degrees in Quality Management from the Universidad Santo Tomás (Colombia) and a Master of Science in Microbiology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. This has led her, among other things, to: i) Lead the District Tissue Bank to become a reference in training and coaching of professionals in Latin America for the implementation of tissue banks and good practices, ii) Implement certifications in Good Practices for tissue banks for the eye, skin, amniotic membrane, acellular dermis and osteomuscular tissues; iii) Provide international advice for good practice guidelines in tissue banks, among many others.
Monica Freire
Standards Documentation Manager
International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation (ICCBBA) USA
Mónica Freire, B.S., has over 15 years of experience in blood banking and currently serves as the Document Management Manager at ICCBBA (International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation). Since joining ICCBBA in 2016, Monica has also provided support to several technical advisory groups that aim to maintain and advance the ISBT 128 Standard to strengthen traceability and biosurveillance of medical products of human origin internationally.
Dr. Adriana Fano
Technical Director of the Tissue Bank of the Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires. Member of the Official College of Pharmacists and Biochemists of the Federal Capital and Member of the Argentine Association of Microbiology. Professor of Microbiology at the Tissue Bank and director of the BASIC COURSE ON TISSUE BANK at the Garrahan Hospital.
Dr. Fano is a Biochemist from the University of Buenos Aires, and has trained in multiple scenarios, among which the following stand out: “IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR TISSUE BANK AND RADIATION STERILIZATION OF TISSUES FOR GRAFTS”, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy Lima - Peru, the Master Alliance in Barcelona, the 5th Course on Quality Control and Management of the Activities of Obtaining, Evaluation, Processing, and Storage, Distribution and Application of Human Tissue, in La Coruña, and the Postgraduate Course on Procurement and Transplantation of ISALUD, Buenos Aires-Argentina.
Dr. Fano is a Biochemist from the University of Buenos Aires, and has trained in multiple scenarios, among which the following stand out: “IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR TISSUE BANK AND RADIATION STERILIZATION OF TISSUES FOR GRAFTS”, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy Lima - Peru, the Master Alliance in Barcelona, the 5th Course on Quality Control and Management of the Activities of Obtaining, Evaluation, Processing, and Storage, Distribution and Application of Human Tissue, in La Coruña, and the Postgraduate Course on Procurement and Transplantation of ISALUD, Buenos Aires-Argentina.
Elizabeth Arce de la Vega Msc.
Administrative Coordinator of Donation and Transplants.
Luis Guillermo Ibarra National Rehabilitation Institute Ibarra Mexico
Graduated in Computer Science from the Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM in 1992 and Master's in Health Sciences from the Higher School of Medicine of the National Polytechnic Institute IPN, 2022. Deputy Director of Computer Science of the National Transplant Registry, of the Ministry of Health from 1991 to 1995. Ms. Arce de la Vega has served as an Associate Researcher in 2003 at the Hektoen Institute, Chicago IL, and as a Senior Researcher and Administrator of Medical Research Funds and Projects at the John H. Stroger Cook County Hospital, Chicago Illinois from 2003 to 2009.
She has also been an Internal Auditor certified by the City of Chicago and from 2011 to 2014 she served as a private assistant to the General Directorate of the National Transplant Center. From 2015 to date, Ms. Arce de la Vega has served as Administrative Coordinator of Donation and Transplants at the Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra National Rehabilitation Institute in Mexico and as assistant to the Head of the Skin and Tissue Bank of the same Institute, and is currently General Secretary of the Latin American Association of Tissue Banks ALABAT.
Day 3
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