Co-Chair Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group
Senior Advisor Kidney SWT
Swisstransplant

Dr Mueller received his medical degree in Marburg, Germany. His postgraduate training included internal medicine, intensive care, nephrology and three postdoc years at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. From 2004 to 2013, he had a clinical appointment at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, with a research focus on gene expression in renal transplantation.

From 2014 to 2023, he was lead attending at the University Clinic in Zürich, with key responsibilities for the transplant program and national kidney paired exchange. In the last 2.5 years he served as interim Head of the Nephrology University Clinic. Currently he works as Co-Chair for the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian group, as Senior Advisor Kidney for Swiss Transplant and part-time in a private nephrology practice. His research includes molecular diagnostics in transplantation and renal functional reserve testing.

Clinical Director Parklands Kidney Centre
Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Ahmed Twahir is a distinguished Consultant Physician and Nephrologist with an extensive career in renal medicine, transplant ethics, and medical leadership, both nationally and internationally. He has played a pivotal role in shaping nephrology and ethical medical practice in Kenya and the broader African region.

Dr. Twahir has been an active member of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) since 2000. He served as the Regional Representative for the ISN African Sub-Committee from 2004 to 2012 and returned to a formal role with ISN between 2017 and 2021. He continues to contribute as a dedicated member of ISN to date.

n the field of peritoneal dialysis, Dr. Twahir is a member of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis, while his expertise in transplantation is reinforced through membership in The Transplant Society (TTS) since 2019. His contributions were further recognized when he was appointed to the World Health Organization’s Task Force on Organ Donation and Transplantation, reflecting his commitment to global ethical standards in transplantation.

Nationally, Dr. Twahir is a key figure in Kenya’s nephrology landscape. He has been serving as the Chairman of the Kenya Renal Association (KRA) from 2018 to 2022 and has also led the Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Professionals (KAMMP) as its President from 2022 to 2024, spearheading initiatives that integrate faith-based values with healthcare excellence.

His regulatory and disciplinary expertise is evident through his involvement with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). He served as a Co-opted Member of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee (2020–2022) and was appointed to the Panel of Experts in Internal Medicine/Nephrology from 2023 to the present, where he provides expert guidance on clinical governance and policy development.

Additionally, Dr. Twahir is a member of the African Association of Nephrology, further demonstrating his continental engagement in advancing nephrology.

TBA

Dr. Benita Padilla is a nephrologist who works at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Philippines’ leading center for transplantation. In 2008, she was president of the Philippine Society of Nephrology and was a participant in the Istanbul Summit. In the ensuing years, she has continued to advocate for the ethical practice of transplantation and fight against organ trafficking in the Philippines. She is currently a member of the executive committee of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group, a member of the WHO Task Force on Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues and co-chair of the Asian Society of Transplantation Ethics Committee.