KARACHI, July 2: The Felix T. Rapaport Memorial Award has been conferred upon Prof Adib-ul-Hasan Rizvi for his pioneering contribution and outstanding achievements in the field of organ transplantation, during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Turkish Transplantation Society (TTS).

Prof Adib received the award by the Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan, during an impressive ceremony jointly organised by TTS and Urotransplantation Society at Ankara on June 27, said an SIUT press release issued on Wednesday.

It was mentioned that the award was named after Dr Rapaport, a leading force in the emergence of organ transplantation. He was the founder of the World Transplantation Society. His untimely death in April 2001 was cited to be a loss to many.

“As Dr Rapaport was a great supporter of transplantation work in developing countries, where facilities are still lacking, an award has been declared in his memory,” the representative of Turkish Transplantation Society said, while paying tribute to the outstanding health care provider.

On the occasion, some known transplantologists, Prof Najarian from the University of Minnesota; Prof Gerhard Opelz from the University of Heidelberg, Germany; and Dr Bernard Cohen of the Urotransplant Foundation, Leiden Netherlands were also awarded for their work in the field.—APP