UNOS fast facts

Our mission 

Unite and strengthen the donation and transplant community to save lives. 

Our vision 

A lifesaving transplant for everyone in need. 

What we do

UNOS is a nonprofit organization with decades of experience in helping save lives through research, technology, innovation and education. The nonprofit’s portfolio encompasses donation and transplant and broader public health projects through its work:

• Developing new technologies and initiatives
• Conducting data-driven research and analysis
• Providing expert consulting services
• Advocating for patients
• Bringing communities together to save lives

The transplant system is working: Record increases in organ donation continue

The U.S. system for organ donation and recovery is among the best in the world. As a result of innovation and continuous improvement, more patients in need of organ transplant than ever have received the gift of life.

But there is more that we can and must do to serve the thousands of patients still waiting for a lifesaving organ. UNOS continuously works with the organ donation and transplant community to drive improvement and make the transplant system as efficient and effective as possible to save more lives.

More about UNOS and the OPTN

The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984 called for an Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to be created and run by a private, non-profit organization under federal contract. The federal Final Rule provides a regulatory framework for the structure and operation of the OPTN. According to these legislative and regulatory frameworks, the OPTN is charged with:

• Increasing and ensuring the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of organ sharing in the national system of organ allocation
• Increasing the supply of donated organs available for transplantation

UNOS was first awarded the national OPTN contract in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. UNOS continues as the only organization ever to serve under contract as the OPTN.