December 15, 2025
PIDetect Programme: Strengthening PID Diagnosis in the Dominican Republic
A new edition of IPOPI’s PIDetect Programme was recently carried out in Argentina, supporting the development of clinical expertise to improve the early diagnosis and management of Primary Immunodeficiencies (PIDs). PIDetect is an IPOPI initiative designed to equip clinicians from countries with limited diagnostic capacity with practical skills and knowledge that can directly improve patient outcomes.
As part of this latest programme, Dr Jenniffer Martínez, a paediatric immunologist from San Lorenzo de los Mina Maternity and Children’s Hospital in the Dominican Republic, completed a one-month intensive training in October 2025 at Hospital Garrahan in Buenos Aires. The training was led by Dr Matías Oleastro, Head of the Immunology Service, and his experienced team.
Quote from Dr Martínez: “For me, it was a unique experience. Being able to see everything it encompasses broadened my knowledge even further, and the learning I gained will undoubtedly allow me to continue my arduous work.”
Dr Martínez was fully integrated into the hospital’s clinical activities, gaining hands-on experience in evaluating suspected PID cases, participating in multidisciplinary discussions, and learning from genetics experts. These skills are critical for the Dominican Republic, where diagnostic tools for inborn errors of immunity are scarce, and many patients still face delays in receiving proper evaluation and treatment.
In 2026, the programme will move into its second phase, centred on a national implementation plan to share the knowledge acquired with healthcare professionals, strengthen diagnostic pathways, and ultimately ensure that more patients in the Dominican Republic receive timely diagnosis and appropriate care.
Through initiatives like this, IPOPI continues working to ensure that people living with PIDs have access to timely and accurate diagnosis—wherever they are in the world.
