Orlando, Fla. -- At its meeting November 16-17, the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors approved 236 living donor kidney transplant programs that met criteria for key personnel and enhancing living donor safety. Each of these programs had been approved previously under more general standards for kidney transplant programs.

Richmond, Va. -- The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, meeting June 22 and 23, adopted a policy to broaden access to donated livers for candidates at greatest short-term risk of dying without a transplant (Status 1A and 1B). At any given moment there are usually fewer than 10 of these candidates nationwide, with a life expectancy of seven days or less without a transplant.

Boston -- Researchers from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) authored and will present several studies at the American Transplant Congress (ATC), a joint meeting of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Society of Transplantation held at the John B. Hynes Veteran Convention Center May 30 through June 3.

Houston -- The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, at its meeting today, adopted a series of definitions differentiating between concepts such as organ trafficking, transplant tourism and travel for transplantation. These definitions stem from a 2008 international conference in Istanbul to seek consensus among transplant professionals regarding transplant tourism and organ trafficking.

Richmond, Va. -- Members of the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) have elected 18 members to its Board of Directors, including a new president, vice president/president elect and treasurer.

St. Louis, MO -- The OPTN/UNOS Kidney Transplantation Committee hosted a public forum today to discuss concepts for kidney allocation. More than 200 people participated, both in person and over an internet/telephone connection.

As part of an ongoing effort to identify emerging trends in the field of organ donation and transplantation, more than 50 experts from many areas of the transplant community have prepared the comprehensive 2008 Annual Report of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation (OPTN) and U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Transplant Management Forum is calling for sponsors and exhibitors to participate. These opportunities increase your organization's presence at the conference and can be tailored to meet your needs.

Selected feature articles from the September/October issue of the UNOS Update are now available in PDF format in the Resources section of the UNOS Web site.

The following information regarding H1N1 influenza preparedness has been updated. It includes more specific recommendations for donor evaluation and acceptance of donors with known or suspected H1N1 infection, as well as links to additional online resources.

Along with the life-saving and life-enhancing benefits of organ transplantation, there is always some risk that a disease present in the donor can be conveyed to recipients. The OPTN/UNOS Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) investigates reports of potential disease transmission from donor to recipient, both to better estimate the risk of transmission and to recommend measures either to reduce the future risk or to improve treatment of recipients with a donor-derived disease.

Selected feature articles from the July/August issue of the UNOS Update are now available in PDF format in the Resources section of the UNOS Web site.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), administered by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), is dedicated to providing assistance to transplant patients and facilitating lifesaving organ donation in the event of a natural disaster.

Selected feature articles from the May/June issue of the UNOS Update are now available in PDF format in the Resources section of the UNOS Web site.

Recent news regarding liver transplantation has raised public questions regarding how donated livers are allocated and potential variation in transplant waiting times. The national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), operated by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) under federal contract, cannot discuss details of individual transplant candidates subject to federal laws and regulations regarding patient confidentiality. The OPTN can address general questions about policy and process.

In November 2008, UNOS sent a questionnaire to nearly 8000 procurement and transplant professionals.

Recent news events have sparked public questions regarding directed donation. The following information is intended to address common questions about the practice.

The Greater Richmond Technology Council honored UNOS on May 13 with the Packet360 and Cisco Systems Technology Innovation Healthcare Award for contributions to the technology economy in the Richmond area.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Transplant Management Forum invites the submission of abstracts in the transplant administrative arena for presentation and award consideration. Contributions will be reviewed by the Transplant Administrators Committee and presented during the 18th Annual Transplant Management Forum on April 21-23, 2010 in Orlando, FL, in a plenary session, concurrent session, 15-minute oral presentation or poster presentation.

The OPTN shares in the worldwide concern over the public health risk posed by the newly discovered H1N1 influenza strain, commonly referred to as "swine flu." At this point, we are not aware that this flu strain has affected any U.S. transplant candidates or recipients.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) has changed its address and improved its Web site. The new site can now be found at http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov Although the www.optn.org address will include a redirect to the new site, we encourage you to check your links and bookmarks.

In one field -- organ transplantation -- the mid-1980s marked its transition from a rare treatment, often considered experimental, to a mainstream therapy able to help thousands of people with end-stage organ failure.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) today launched its expanded National Donor Memorial Web site (www.donormemorial.org). This tribute-driven site honors organ and tissue donors in this country, highlights the impact of their gift of life on the lives of so many others, and underscores the critical importance of increasing organ donation.

At its November meeting, the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors approved the following slate of nominees for Board appointments beginning in June 2009. Candidates were recommended by the OPTN/UNOS Nominating Committee. OPTN/UNOS member voting representatives will receive a ballot and biographical information for the nominees in January and the election will be completed in February or March (specific date yet to be determined).

One policy proposal is now being offered for public comment. This proposal was developed by the Living Donor Committee.

One policy proposal is now being offered for public comment. This proposal was developed by the Policy Oversight Committee (POC).

The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors met on June 22-23, 2009. Read this report for a quick and easy summary of all policy and bylaw changes approved at this meeting.

The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors met on March 2-3, 2009. Read this report for a quick and easy summary of all policy and bylaw changes approved at this meeting.

The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors met on November 17-18, 2008. Read this report for a quick and easy summary of all policy and bylaw changes approved at this meeting.

Federal investigators have announced a series of arrests of individuals in the state of New Jersey. Among the various criminal allegations made by authorities is that an individual offered to arrange living donor transplants in the United States in return for compensation, and that this individual would instruct potential living donors to falsely portray their motivation to donate.

A court in San Luis Obispo, Calif., has considered and acquitted a San Francisco-area surgeon of a charge of medical abuse of a potential organ donor. This person did not become an organ donor, and no organs were recovered or transplanted.