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Lookup NU author(s): Dr George KourounisORCiD, Professor Colin Wilson
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Copyright © 2026 Kourounis, Gilbert, Knight, Leal, Scully, Loupy, Martin, Preka, Primc, Seoane Martinez, Webb, Oniscu and Wilson.Advances in AI hold considerable promise for organ transplantation. While every transformation brings change, not all change is transformative. Despite the rapid growth of AI in medicine, most applications remain in developmental or experimental stages, with relatively few having been successfully integrated into routine clinical practice. As a professional society, ESOT recognises that achieving meaningful impact will require more than technical progress. This position paper outlines five critical domains for successful implementation. (1) High-quality development: Coordinated collaboration and methodological rigour are prerequisites for trust; AI is only as robust as the data used to train it. (2) Ethical considerations: We must address risks to equity and access to care, and move from generic ethical principles to transplantation-specific ethical guidance. (3) Regulatory landscape: AI in transplantation is regulated under both EU medical device and AI legislation; compliance is central to stakeholder trust. (4) Responsible adoption: AI should augment, not replace, human expertise. Strengthening AI literacy is essential for meaningful adoption. (5) Participatory design: Active involvement of transplant professionals and patients is essential to address real clinical needs. These statements serve as a strategic framework to guide clinicians, researchers, and policymakers in making AI a genuine force multiplier for the transplant community.
Author(s): Kourounis G, Gilbert S, Knight SR, Leal A, Scully JL, Loupy A, Martin DE, Preka E, Primc N, Seoane Martinez F, Webb H, Oniscu GC, Wilson C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Transplant International
Year: 2026
Volume: 39
Online publication date: 20/04/2026
Acceptance date: 07/04/2026
Date deposited: 09/06/2026
ISSN (print): 0934-0874
ISSN (electronic): 1432-2277
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2026.16316
DOI: 10.3389/ti.2026.16316
Data Access Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
PubMed id: 42088540
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