Prostin in liver transplants in conjunction with The Upjohn Company.
American Foundation for Donation & Transplantation
BRIEF HISTORY
The American Foundation for Donation & Transplantation was founded in 1969 by Dr. David Hume of the Medical College of Virginia in cooperation with Dr. Bernard Amos of Duke University. They organized the South-Eastern Regional Organ Procurement Program (SEROPP) after determining that tissue typing would provide increased graft survival for kidney recipients if good matches could be obtained. Following its success in early sharing experiments, AFDT was awarded a contract to develop an organ procurement and sharing network between nine medical centers in a four-state area from Baltimore, MD to Atlanta, GA.
As SEROPP evolved over the years, it expanded beyond the Medical College of Virginia. As a result, it was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1975 and renamed The American Foundation for Donation & Transplantation (AFDT). Once AFDT was incorporated and financially solvent, it expanded its membership to 18 charter members in six states. During this time, the kidney matching computer program was refined, crossmatch trays were developed containing the serum of recipients with PRA's over 40 percent, organ procurement costs were identified and defined, procurement programs were initiated in many areas of the region, educational programs were implemented, and a tissue typing manual plus other manuals were produced and distributed worldwide.
As the membership made significant advancements, it became apparent that organ sharing should not be confined to any one geographic area of the country. SEOPF's program appeared to have the greatest possibilities for operation on a national scale. As a result, the AFDT Board authorized the organization of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in 1982. The country was divided into nine geographical regions which were designed to include previous organ sharing patterns between transplant centers. Contacts were made with transplant centers nationwide to enlist their support in organ sharing through UNOS. In 1985, the Board of SEOPF unanimously accepted the recommendation of its committee to incorporate and organize UNOS.
Today AFDT has a membership of 63 organizations in 19 states. The members are represented by transplant centers, organ procurement organizations, histocompatibility laboratories and tissue banks.
STATISTICAL SERVICES / SCIENCE
An important part of what AFDT does is to provide members with crucial information from scientific research to advance knowledge in the field of transplantation.
Clinical Trial of New Drugs Related to Transplantation - The unique abilities of the membership to cooperate in performing these studies has resulted in this relatively new direction for SEOPF. Studies, both past and present, include:
Prostin in liver transplants in conjunction with The Upjohn Company.
Prograf and Hyperlipidemia in kidney recipients in conjunction with Fujisawa, USA.
Demographic factors affecting kidney transplant recipients in conjunction with UNOS, HCFA and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The comparison of a Computerized Predictive Crossmatch Model using CREG matching to the current usage of ROP trays in conjunction with NIAID and the University of Kentucky.
The performance of a prospective trial of generic Neoral solution, Sang-Cya.
Task Force on Organ Donation - The mission of this group is to select the most significant areas where it is believed improvements can be made in the organ procurement process and provide a scientific approach to study methods of improving the consent rates.
This service meets the requirements of ASHI and UNOS. Four cells for Class I and Class II typing (serological and DNA) are sent three times per year. Four antisera and two cells are mailed two times per year for crossmatch, PRA and antibody identification. Whole blood is mailed rather than prepared cells. This program has been in existence since 1969 and is continually being enhanced. AFDT has been recognized as an Alternate Provider for the CAP laboratory accreditation program.
Membership is comprised of some of the leading academic transplantation centers in the country, as well as, laboratories, tissue banks and organ procurement organizations. AFDT has a proven reputation of forging cooperative relationships amongst its members.
Meetings - AFDT holds three meetings a year providing workshops and scientific sessions. AFDT offers Continuing Education Credits for physicians and physician assistants, transplant coordinators, nurses, laboratory directors and technicians. UNOS regions 3 and 11 have agreed to hold regional meetings in conjunction with AFDT in order to reduce cost and promote efficient time utilization. AFDT also publishes a newsletter three times a year.
SEOPF is dedicated to providing its membership with a comprehensive educational program.
Publications - The members of AFDT have published numerous scientific articles to date and work continues on many more. AFDT holds a peer reviewed scientific session each year and the manuscripts resulting from these presentations are published in a AFDT supplement to Clinical Transplantation.
HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COURSES
The Basic Course is offered biennially for laboratory technicians new to the field. This four day course has become a standard in the field and an excellent preparation for the CHT exam. In addition, AFDT offers the Histocompatibility Specialists Course biennially for the supervisor / managerial laboratory positions, as well as, a review course for those taking the CHS or Director's Exam. This course has become accepted as a standard worldwide and is often attended by individuals from several foreign countries. Both the Basic and Specialists Courses offer an exam after the sessions to test the material covered.
American Foundation for Donation & Transplantation
8154 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 3
Richmond, Virginia 23235-3255
(804) 323-9890 * Fax (804) 323-1300
www.seopf.org