Donation and Transplantation History timeline

1961

Azathioprine, the first immunosuppression drug, is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.
1962

First successful kidney transplant from a deceased organ donor.
1963

First organ recovered from a brain-dead donor.
1964

Tissue antigen (HLA type) matching between donors and recipients reported as the standard to achieve the best deceased donor kidney transplant outcomes.
1966

First successful pancreas transplant performed (along with a kidney transplant).
1966

Antilymphocyte serum introduced to extend organ survival in kidney (1966) and liver (1967) transplants. This drug helped prevent the rejection of transplanted organs.
1967

First successful liver transplant performed.
1967

Paul Terasaki reported on the crossmatch test for kidney transplants between donors and recipients; started first organ sharing organization in Los Angeles.
1967

The first successful heart transplant from a donor after cardiac death (DCD) was performed.
1968

First definition of “brain death” based on clinical neurological criteria became the basis for “brain death” laws in all 50 states.
1968

The first organ procurement organization (OPO), New England Organ Bank, was established. It was the first entity dedicated solely to identifying deceased donors in the local area.
1968

Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) established the first Uniform Donor Card as a legal document of gift in all 50 states. The UAGA also identified who could donate a deceased person's organs, and allowed people over 18 to donate their organs upon death.
1971

First successful lung transplant performed.
1981

UDDA defines death as the irreversible loss of blood flow and breathing or irreversible loss of all brain activity and functions.
1981

First combined heart/bilateral lung transplant performed.
1983

First successful single-lung transplant performed.
1983

The Food and Drug Administration approved cyclosporine (discovered in 1976). This drug reduces the potential for organ rejection
1984

The National Organ Transplant Act (PL 98-507) was established. This law made it illegal to sell human organs.
1986

Required Request law. Allowed families the chance to donate deceased family members organs.
1986

The first OPTN contract is awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the United Network for Organ Sharing.
1988

First successful intestine transplant performed.
1988

First successful split-liver transplant performed.
1988

FDA approves Belzer University of Wisconsin’s organ preservation solution, allowing organs to be in cold storage for almost double the time.
1989

First successful living donor liver transplant performed.
1990

First successful living donor lung transplant performed.
1991

The first kidney paired donation (KPD) exchange transplant performed.
1995

First living donor kidney removed by laparoscopic surgery.
1998

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Hospital Conditions of Participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs. This requires hospitals to refer all deaths and approaching deaths to the local organ procurement organization.
1999

First successful hand transplant performed.
2000

Children’s Health Act (PL 106-310)changed the National Organ Transplant Act to require the OPTN to adopt criteria and policies that address children’s unique needs.
2005

First successful partial face transplant performed.
2010

First successful full face transplant performed.
2014

The first live birth after uterus transplantation from a living donor occurred.
2016

First HIV-Positive to HIV-Positive kidney transplant.
2018

First live birth after uterus transplantation from a deceased donor occurred.
2019

First organ transport and delivery by drone.
2020

The first COVID-19 patient receives a double lung transplant.

Azathioprine, the first immunosuppression drug, is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

First successful kidney transplant from a deceased organ donor.

First organ recovered from a brain-dead donor.

Tissue antigen (HLA type) matching between donors and recipients reported as the standard to achieve the best deceased donor kidney transplant outcomes.

First successful pancreas transplant performed (along with a kidney transplant).

Antilymphocyte serum introduced to extend organ survival in kidney (1966) and liver (1967) transplants. This drug helped prevent the rejection of transplanted organs.

First successful liver transplant performed.

Paul Terasaki reported on the crossmatch test for kidney transplants between donors and recipients; started first organ sharing organization in Los Angeles.

The first successful heart transplant from a donor after cardiac death (DCD) was performed.

First definition of “brain death” based on clinical neurological criteria became the basis for “brain death” laws in all 50 states.

The first organ procurement organization (OPO), New England Organ Bank, was established. It was the first entity dedicated solely to identifying deceased donors in the local area.

Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) established the first Uniform Donor Card as a legal document of gift in all 50 states. The UAGA also identified who could donate a deceased person's organs, and allowed people over 18 to donate their organs upon death.

First successful lung transplant performed.

UDDA defines death as the irreversible loss of blood flow and breathing or irreversible loss of all brain activity and functions.

First combined heart/bilateral lung transplant performed.

First successful single-lung transplant performed.

The Food and Drug Administration approved cyclosporine (discovered in 1976). This drug reduces the potential for organ rejection

The National Organ Transplant Act (PL 98-507) was established. This law made it illegal to sell human organs.

Required Request law. Allowed families the chance to donate deceased family members organs.

The first OPTN contract is awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

First successful intestine transplant performed.

First successful split-liver transplant performed.

FDA approves Belzer University of Wisconsin’s organ preservation solution, allowing organs to be in cold storage for almost double the time.

First successful living donor liver transplant performed.

First successful living donor lung transplant performed.

The first kidney paired donation (KPD) exchange transplant performed.

First living donor kidney removed by laparoscopic surgery.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Hospital Conditions of Participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs. This requires hospitals to refer all deaths and approaching deaths to the local organ procurement organization.

First successful hand transplant performed.

Children’s Health Act (PL 106-310)changed the National Organ Transplant Act to require the OPTN to adopt criteria and policies that address children’s unique needs.

First successful partial face transplant performed.

First successful full face transplant performed.

The first live birth after uterus transplantation from a living donor occurred.

First HIV-Positive to HIV-Positive kidney transplant.

First live birth after uterus transplantation from a deceased donor occurred.

First organ transport and delivery by drone.

The first COVID-19 patient receives a double lung transplant.