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Transplant News

May, 2017

May 01, 2017
WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health will get a $2 billion funding boost over the next five months, under a bipartisan spending deal reached late Sunday night in Congress. ... Read More...

April, 2017

April 26, 2017
Tucson, Ariz., April 25, 2017 –Critical Path Institute (C-Path) is pleased to announce the launch of the Transplant Therapeutics Consortium (TTC), co-founded by the two leading U.S. organizations in organ transplantation: the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). The TTC is a collaboration within the transplant community including clinicians, surgeons, industry scientists, and others... Read More...
April 25, 2017
On April 21, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Thymoglobulin® [anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)], for use in the prophylaxis, or prevention, of acute rejection in patients receiving a kidney transplant. Thymoglobulin is a well-established medication that has been used in kidney transplantation for nearly 20 years in the United States, and this FDA approval is an important milestone for the transplant community. The use of Thymoglobulin beginning just prior to transplantation may be an important step in ensuring a successful kidney implantation. This FDA approval is... Read More...
April 24, 2017
DEERFIELD, Ill. and MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – April 24, 2017 – Walgreens and the American Society of Transplantation (AST) today announced a collaboration focused on establishing future initiatives to help improve medication adherence for organ transplant recipients. The topic of adherence and taking medications as prescribed is especially critical in transplantation, as recipients must take lifelong immunosuppressive medications to prevent possible organ rejection. The collaboration will officially kickoff later this week with the “Tackling Medication Non-Adherence in Organ Transplantation”... Read More...
April 18, 2017
In partnership with Optum, Bloomberg Media, and Donate Life America, the AST is pleased to announce the release of Day Zero, a heartwarming story about the journey of a 2-time liver transplant recipient. The video highlights the power of partnership, a personalized approach to medical care, and optimizing the health system for the benefit of transplant patients. Organ donation and improving long-terms outcomes to make the gift of life last for the recipient’s lifetime are key messages conveyed in the video. Viewers are encouraged to become an organ donor and to support transplant research... Read More...
April 04, 2017
We are pleased to announce the results for the Communities of Practice (COP) elections, which includes the Co-Chairs and Members-at-Large of the Executive Committees. Learn more about COPs. Community of Basic Scientists (COBS) William J. Burlingham, PhD Peter S. Heeger, MD Megan K. Levings, PhD Rotating off: Xunrong Luo, MD, PhD, Valeria Mas, PhD, Jordan S. Pober, MD, PhD Infectious Disease (IDCOP) Jonathan Morgan Hand, MD Rotating off: Sherif Mossad,... Read More...
April 04, 2017
On March 31, 2017, President Donald Trump Proclaimed April 2017 as National Donate Life Month. It was orginally proclaimed in 2003 by President George W. Bush.   Read the press release.

March, 2017

March 06, 2017
On Saturday, March 4, 2017, the man known as the “father of transplantation,” Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 at his home in Pittsburgh.  Dr. Starzl was best known for performing the first liver transplant in 1963 and the first successful liver transplant in 1967. He also made a significant contribution to the field of transplantation by helping to advance medicines to make transplantation more survivable. His work had patients travel from all over the world, making the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center... Read More...
March 01, 2017
The Division of Transplantation (DoT) has created an electronic news bulletin to share information about research projects funded under DoT’s grant programs. The first two editions focused on adults 50 and older and driving donations at DMVs. Periodically, the DoT will email additional bulletins that feature projects related to other topics or audiences. If you are... Read More...
March 01, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC - Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - The American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing the majority of professionals engaged in the field of organ transplantation, applauds the reintroduction of the "Living Donor Protection Act of 2017" by Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler. The legislation seeks to: 1.     Prohibit denial of coverage or increase in premiums of life or disability insurance for living organ donors;​ 2.     Clarify organ donation surgery as qualifying as a serious health condition under FMLA; and 3.     Update educational... Read More...

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