Asia Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking

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In 1985, during a meeting of the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (WPOA) in Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Yongyudh Vajaradul together with Dr. Alain Patel (France) and Dr. Norberto R. Agcaoili (Philippines) invited a group of orthopaedic surgeons with special interest in tissue banking to organize the Pan Asiatic Tissue Banking project. They formed this association to promote the establishment of tissue banks in member countries, to encourage research on tissue banking and to promote scientific and social interaction among its members. The office of the secretariat was to be at the Biomaterial Laboratory at Siriraj hospital under Dr. Vajaradul.

In 1987, a World Locomotors Tissue Bank meeting was held in Marseilles, France, organized by Prof. Poitout. Dr. Moritoshi Itoman (Japan) attended this meeting together with Dr. Vajaradul. In 1988, the third meeting of the World Locomotors Tissue Bank was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. There were about 200 participants from Europe and Asia Pacific. In attendance during that meeting was Prof. Yamamuro of Kyoto, Japan. In that meeting it was decided that the Pan Asiatic Tissue Association should be renamed as Asia-Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking (APASTB). It was then decided that the founding members of Pan Asiatic Tissue Bank will be the founding members of the APASTB, together with all those present during that meeting on 27 October 1988. Appointed as office bearers of APASTB were Dr. Yongyudh Vajaradul (Thailand) as the first President, Dr. Aziz Nather (Singapore), Dr. Jiun Jer Wu (Taiwan) and Dr. Moritoshi Itoman (Japan) as the first, second and third Vice President respectively. Dr. Sommart Keorochana (Thailand) was also appointed Treasurer. Among the council members were Dr. Sun Shiquan (China) and Dr. R. Oareshott (Australia). The representatives from the Philippines ' Malaysia and other countries were to be finalized during the inaugural meeting of the APASTB in conjunction with the Eight Joint Congress of the Asian and Pacific Federations of the International College of Surgeons on November 14, 1989 at the Central Plaza Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dr. Aziz Nather in Singapore organized the second annual meeting of the APASTB in 1990. He was also elected as the next President of the APASTB that year for a term of 2 years (1990-1992). In 1991, the third annual meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan with Dr. Moritoshi Itoman as chairman of the organising committee. During that meeting a good number of scientific papers were presented, not only from the Asia Pacific region but also from the United States and Europe. The logo of the Association, designed by Prof. Itoman was then presented and approved by the body.

In 1991, the 3^rd APASTB annual meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan under the chairmanship of Prof. Moritoshi Itoman. In 1992, the 4^th  annual meeting of the APASTB was held in August in Manila, Philippines. Dr. Norberto R. Agcaoili (Philippines) organized this meeting. At this time Dr Moritoshi Itoman was elected President for the next 2 years (1992-1994). It was then decided during this meeting that the Association meet bi-annually instead of annually to give more time to prepare for more scientific papers among its members. The lifetime membership fee was reduced to $ 100 resulting in increasing membership and collection.

The 5^th APASTB was held in Suzhou, China, organized by Dr. Sun Shiquan and Tang Zhongyi, In this meeting, representatives of the European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) joined the APASTB. The International Atomic Energy Agency also organized a Regional Co-operative Agreement (RCA) for the drafting of a training manual Distance Learning Program on Tissue banking. Dr. Rudiger Von Versen, Dr. Winkler of Austria and Dr. Sallai of Israel represented EATB. Unfortunately the expected participation of representatives from the American Association of Tissue banks (AATB) did not materialize. During this meeting Dr. Norberto R. Agcaoili was elected as the 4th President of the Association.

Dr. David Morgan of Australia, the 2^nd Vice President was asked to be chairman of the Organising Committee for the 6^th APASTB meeting, which was held at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. This meeting was held in co-operation with EATB and AATB to form the first World Congress of Tissue Banks. This historical event happened on 3^rd October 1996 at the Marriott Hotel, Gold Coast, Australia. Dr. Sun Shiquan (China) was elected as the 5th President of APASTB.

The 7^th APASTB Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 24^th - 26^th November 1998, Dr. Hashim Mohammed was tasked as the chairman of the Organising Committee. The Conference was jointly organized under the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), APASTB, IAEA, Malaysian Ministry of Health and Malaysian National Tissue Bank. Dr. David Morgan from Australia was elected as the 8th President of APASTB.

Dr. Abdurrahman from Indonesia the 2^nd Vice-President was tasked to be the chairman of the Organising Committee for the 8^th APASTB Conference held in Bali, Indonesia. The Conference was held at Kartika Plaza Hotel, Tuban- Bali, Indonesia from 22 – 24 October 2000

All these meetings of the APASTB were in effect supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency by also having Agency sponsored Regional co-operative agreement (RCA) meetings represented by countries from the region. Dr. Ramen Mukherjee, the former Section Head of Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy of IAEA was very Instrumental in organising these meetings. He was awarded the first honorary membership of APASTB during the 5^th meeting in Suzhou, China.

In 2003 the IAEA/RCA project on Tissue Banking concluded and all APASTB Scientific Meetings held thereafter were sponsored by the host countries.

The APASTB recognizes Prof. Glyn Phillips of Clywd and Oswestry Tissue Banks together with Dr. Mukherjee as the moving spirits behind the organization without whose help many of the projects would not have materialized. Prof. Glyn Phillips was awarded the second honorary membership of APASTB during the 8th meeting in Bali.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS OF APASTB