History

In 1954, the kidney was the first human organ to be transplanted successfully. Liver, heart and pancreas transplants were successfully performed by the late 1960s, while lung and intestinal organ transplant procedures were begun in the 1980s. Until the early 1980s, the potential of organ rejection limited the number of transplants performed. Medical advances in the prevention and treatment of rejection led to more successful transplants and an increase in demand. Learn more about the history of United Network for Organ Sharing.

History of transplantation

Timeline

2018

November 29

2017

The number of deceased donors top 10,000 in the United States for the first time.

November 27

2014

Double hand recipient Lindsay Ess, who is the patient representative on the new VCA committee, proudly shows her support of UNOS at our United for UNOS event

Vascularized composite allographs (VCAs) is added to the definition of organs covered by federal regulation (the OPTN Final Rule) and legislation (the National Organ Transplant Act). The designation went into effect on July 3, 2014.

November 27

2006

UNOS launches DonorNet, a secure, Internet-based system in which organ procurement coordinators send out offers of newly donated organs to transplant hospitals with compatible candidates.

November 27

2001

For the first time, the total of living organ donors for the year (6,528) exceeds the number of deceased organ donors (6,081).

November 27

2000

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes Final Rule (federal regulation) for the operation of the OPTN.

November 27

1999

UNOS launches UNet, a secure, Internet-based transplant information database system for all organ matching and management of transplant data.

November 27

1998

First successful adult-to-adult living donor liver transplant performed.

November 27

1996

UNOS creates TIEDI, a new application that collect data electronically and eliminates the need for mailing paper forms to the OPTN.

November 27

1992

UNOS helps found Donate Life America to build public support for organ donation. UNOS prepares first-ever comprehensive report on transplant survival rates for all active U.S. transplant centers.

November 27

1990

First successful living donor lung transplant performed.

November 27

1989

First successful living donor liver transplant performed.

November 27

1988

First split-liver transplant performed.

November 27

1987

First successful intestinal transplant performed. UNOS begins collecting medical data on donor and transplant recipients.

November 27

1986

First successful double-lung transplant performed. UNOS receives the initial federal contract to operate the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

November 27

1984

National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) passed. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) separates from SEOPF and is incorporated as a non-profit member organization.

November 27

1983

First successful single-lung transplant performed. Cyclosporine, the first of a number of drugs that effectively treat organ rejection by suppressing the human immune system, introduced.

November 27

1982

SEOPF establishes the Kidney Center, the predecessor of the UNOS Organ Center, for round-the-clock assistance in placing donated organs.

November 27

1981

First successful heart-lung transplant performed.

November 27

1977

SEOPF implements the first computer-based organ matching system, dubbed the “United Network for Organ Sharing.”

November 27

1967

First successful liver transplant performed.

November 27

1966

First simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant performed.

November 27

1968

First successful isolated pancreas transplant performed. First successful heart transplant performed. The Southeast Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF) is formed as a membership and scientific organization for transplant professionals.

November 27

1954

First successful kidney transplant performed.

UNOS’ beginnings

On March 21, 1984, United Network for Organ Sharing was incorporated as an independent, non-profit organization, committed to saving lives through uniting and supporting the efforts of donation and transplantation professionals. Learn more about the history of UNOS. Also in 1984, the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) 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. 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 operate the OPTN. As part of the OPTN contract, UNOS has:

established an organ sharing system that maximizes the efficient use of deceased organs through equitable and timely allocation
established a system to collect, store, analyze and publish data pertaining to the patient waiting list, organ matching, and transplants
informed, consulted and guided persons and organizations concerned with human organ transplantation in order to increase the number of organs available for transplantation

Many facets of organ donation and transplantation have changed since UNOS’ founding. Our dedication and mission have not changed. We continually seek to meet the needs of transplant candidates by maintaining a fair and effective national transplant network. Yet ultimately, every transplant is made possible by someone’s decision to help another through organ donation.

More about the history of UNOS

G. Melville Williams, M.D., a pioneer in transplant and the founding president of UNOS

The life and legacy of a pioneer in transplant and the founding president of UNOS.

UNOS honors the life and leadership of G. Melville Williams, M.D., a transplant pioneer and a towering force in the development of the transplant system in the United States.

Our mission is to unite and strengthen the donation and transplant community to save lives.

How we work together

The road to racial equity in kidney transplantation

Illustration of balanced scales with text, Improving equity for waitlist candidates

Removing DSA from allocation expected to improve equity for waitlist candidates

2020: Most lives ever saved by deceased donors. 6% increase in deceased donors over 2019. More than 33,000 life-saving transplants from deceased donors. 10th record year in a row for deceased donation. Based on OPTN data as of 01/11/21. Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction.

The success of our national organ donation and transplant system