Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

First heart transplant performed 35 years ago
Surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant on a human being at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Tuesday, December 3, 2002

Board revises kidney policy to boost minority transplants
Data suggest the policy change would allow more than 200 additional kidney transplants annually for minority patients.
Thursday, November 14, 2002

Status of investigation into West Nile infection in organ transplant recipients
Officials are vigorously investigating possible cases of West Nile viral infection among transplant recipients.
Friday, September 20, 2002

Possible West Nile Virus transmission through organ transplantation
This alert notice provides a summary of the current status of the ongoing investigation of this case.
Monday, September 9, 2002

Board endorses studies of incentives to increase donation
A joint working group of interetested committees will offer recommendations on the development of such demonstration projects.
Friday, June 28, 2002

Board approves liver allocation policy refinements
For most patients, priority for a transplant would be based primarily on a calculation of short-term risk of death without transplantation.
Thursday, November 15, 2001

More than 50 thousand US patients waiting for kidney transplant
As of October 1, 2001, 78,350 people were on the national organ transplantation waiting list and 50,004 were awaiting a kidney.
Friday, October 5, 2001

Board president statement about national organ transplantation activity on and after September 11
Summary goes here
Friday, September 21, 2001

HHS secretary adds new members to organ transplantation advisory committee
Committee membership expanded from 20 to 41 members and more responsibilities were added.
Friday, August 17, 2001

Board condemns organ brokering
The board also called for U.S. transplant organizations to avoid any activities that may support the buying or selling of organs.
Friday, June 29, 2001