In response to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine's (NASEM) call for a comprehensive overhaul of the national organ donation program, LifeGift is teaming up with Houston Methodist to establish the Deceased Organ Donation Performance Improvement Collaborative. This initiative aims to improve organ recovery and transplantation through a coordinated effort involving all transplant centers in the LifeGift service area, alongside experts in organ procurement, transplantation, research, and patient engagement from across the country.

The urgency of this collaboration is highlighted by the challenges faced by patients with organ failure, many of whom endure the heartbreak of waiting for a suitable organ match. While organ donation rates are increasing nationally, a significant number of donated organs remain unused—1 in 5 kidneys from deceased donors go untransplanted. The initiative also seeks to address racial disparities in organ transplantation, as underserved communities, including minorities and rural populations, often face greater challenges in receiving necessary organs.

“The primary goal of this collaborative, which is generously sponsored by Sanofi, is to search peer-reviewed literature, identify key performance improvement priorities and implement innovative care strategies to enhance the recovery and transplantation of organs,” says Kevin Myer, MSHA, LifeGift president and CEO.

“The Deceased Organ Donation Performance Improvement Collaborative is dedicated to enhancing both the quantity and quality of deceased donor organs for transplantation. This includes increasing organ donation and transplantation within diverse racial and ethnic communities,” shares Amy Waterman, PhD, FAST, professor and director of patient engagement at Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center. 

The collaborative plans to build a robust research infrastructure, conduct studies on key NASEM priorities, and present findings at national conferences to elevate the visibility and quality of research on deceased organ donation. The ultimate goal is to increase donor rates, improve organ utilization, and enhance care quality for transplant patients, with a strong focus on health equity. Through research collaboration and stakeholder engagement, LifeGift and Houston Methodist aim to bring new hope to individuals awaiting organ transplants.