News and perspectives
By organ
By program
UNet
Policy
Patient safety
Improvement
Learn
Perspectives
COVID
All
Press releases
UNOS Responds to Recent HRSA Statements
HRSA comments about UNOS were inaccurate.
Open letter from Maureen as she leaves UNOS
Former UNOS CEO reflects on her decades of service.
UNOS reaches contract agreement with HRSA
UNOS has reached an agreement with HRSA on a contract for OPTN work that will take effect on Dec. 30, 2025, immediately following the expiration of our current contract.
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride announces retirement
After 30 years with UNOS, Dr. Maureen McBride is retiring; “Working at UNOS has been the privilege of my lifetime.”
UNOS and Leading Organ Donation and Transplant Organizations Urge Congress to Maintain Key Priorities in Final FY26 Federal Government Funding Legislation
Coalition of 15 organizations thanks the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees leaders for including policies that improve organ donation and transplant.
UNOS responds to Ways & Means hearing
UNOS statement following Dec. 2 Ways & Means hearing
UNOS responds to Congressional hearing
UNOS statement following July 22 congressional hearing.
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride responds to July 20 New York Times article
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride responds to new article by New York Times.
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
About UNOS
Issues and advocacy
Strengthening organ donation and transplant
- Collaborating to support donation and transplant internationally.
- The waitlist is better described as a giant pool of patients. Watch a video
Working together: Our nation’s organ donation and transplant system
- The OPTN, HRSA and CMS have different roles. Learn about the roles
UNOS is a nonprofit on a mission to save and transform lives through research, innovation and collaboration. UNOS builds on its experience and expertise to strengthen organ donation and transplantation systems and enhance public health. The nonprofit helps people live life without limits by developing products and services, conducting data-driven research and analysis, providing expert consulting services, advocating for reforms to help patients, and partnering to drive a greater impact.
Kidney – Pancreas
Kidney and pancreas allocation proposals modified
The OPTN Kidney Transplantation and Pancreas Transplantation Committees, following consideration of extensive public comment, will advance updated allocation proposals to the OPTN Board of Directors for consideration at its December 3 meeting.
Transplant patient webinar addresses proposed changes to kidney and pancreas distribution
View a presentation from the webinar.
Odds for receiving a kidney transplant now equal for black, white and Hispanic candidates
Recent improvements in national kidney transplant policy have evened the rates at which African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian transplant candidates receive kidneys from deceased donors, according to UNOS data.
Liver – Intestine
Liver policy goes into effect May 14
Important update: Liver policy changes and National Liver Review Board are in place, effective May 14, 2019.
Liver distribution policy targeted for April 30 implementation
Education and resources are available to help you prepare.
National Liver Review Board to be implemented April 30
Most exception scores will convert at that time.
Heart – Lung
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Improving the system together
What’s behind the rise in living organ donation?
Living organ donations have been on the rise in recent years. In this feature story, we explore why.
A friend’s gift: Becoming a living liver donor
Seven years ago Patrick Kacani donated a portion of his liver to his friend. Now a donation advocate, he discusses what he learned.
Next steps for the first national donor image sharing hub
Phase 1 of the UNOS imaging study pilot concluded successfully in April. Key findings will form the blueprint for future planning.
UNet
Removing BMI and C-peptide from kidney/pancreas waiting time criteria
We implemented policy and system changes on July 11, 2019.
System notice: OPTN liver allocation policy reverted to DSA and regions
On May 23, 2019, OPTN Policy 9 (Allocation of Livers and Liver-Intestines) reverted to use of the donation service area (DSA) and regional distribution boundaries in effect prior to May 14, 2019.
Pre-implementation notice: OPTN liver allocation policy to revert to DSA and regions May 23, 2019
On May 23, 2019, OPTN Policy 9 (Allocation of Livers and Liver-Intestines) will revert to use of the donation service area (DSA) and regional distribution boundaries in effect prior to May 14, 2019.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D.
Policy changes
Updated liver and intestinal organ allocation policy to be implemented Feb. 4, 2020
New policy will be implemented Feb. 4 to allow for computer programming and notification of members.
Liver allocation policy to revert to DSA-based system May 23
Please refer to this page for the latest news and important updates about liver distribution policy changes: View the latest liver policy updates
New liver allocation policy still in effect
Liver policy update May 15
Policy monitoring
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
Over 5,000 organs tracked with UNOS Organ Tracking Service
26% of all OPOs are now utilizing the UNOS Organ Tracking Service to monitor organs in transit.
Education
TMF 2025 presenter Samantha Ramirez on the Evolving Role of Transplant Coordinators
Learn more from Ramirez at the 2025 Transplant Management Forum in San Antonio, TX. Registration is now open.
TMF 2024 Heckenkemper Award Winner: Nancy Metzler honored
"We have the unique privilege as transplant administrators to support our team as they turn a tragedy into a miracle." Nancy Metzler The Annual Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration / Quality Award (also known as the Heckenkemper Award) is given each year...
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Patient safety
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Transplant hospital
Introducing UNOS’ new mission and vision statements
Board of Directors President Maryl Johnson, M.D., shares UNOS’ new mission and vision statements.
“I love it when people share great ideas”: TMF Best of the Best winner Julie Yeh
2019 Best of the Best winner Julie Yeh will present at the 2020 TMF on the collaboration that helped improve timely donor referrals at her system.
Recommended effective practices related to following the match run sequence
Helpful advice for OPOs and transplant centers.
OPO
Recommended effective practices related to following the match run sequence
Helpful advice for OPOs and transplant centers.
Preview available for OPOs: new liver distribution match lists
The test site will be available from Tuesday, April 9 through Friday, April 19.
Deceased organ donors in United States exceeded 10,000 for first time in 2017
Total transplants set record for fifth straight year
Histocompatibility
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.