It was with great sadness that we received the news of the sudden death of our esteemed colleague and friend, Prof. Dr. Dr. Frans Claas. He passed away on February 2, 2025 while on vacation in South Africa.

Prof. Claas was an important partner and supporter of the medical and scientific community for many years, especially in the field of transplantation and immunology. As a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Intergierten Forschungs- und Behandlungszentrum Transplantation (IFB-Tx) at Hannover Medical School, he has accompanied us throughout the entire term with his expertise and great commitment. With his knowledge of transplantation immunology and his passion for sharing knowledge, he helped us to always think about the aspects of research and treatment together and to use immunological diagnostics for this purpose.

His expert advice was always of great importance. Prof. Claas worked tirelessly for international cooperation and global exchange in transplantation medicine. This was reflected not only in his many years of collaboration with institutions such as Eurotransplant, Europdonor, ASHI and many others, but also in his tireless efforts to strengthen the scientific and clinical transplant community.

We will remember Prof. Claas not only as a brilliant scientist and dedicated advisor, but also as a warm-hearted person whose smile and passion were infectious. He will be sorely missed in the world of transplant medicine and beyond.

Our sincere condolences go to his family, colleagues and close friends at this difficult time.

Prof. Christine Falk on behalf of the MHH Transplant Centre