Over the past five years, IIAM has had the privilege of helping some very special families turn a tragedy into a life-affirming experience. Today, parents who receive a non-survivable diagnosis for their baby during pregnancy have more opportunities to create a lasting legacy by donating his or her organs and tissue for medical research.
Not long ago, the prospect of creating artificial organs bordered on science fiction. Due to the efforts of bioengineering research companies like Samsara Sciences and Organovo, that fantasy is coming closer to reality.
Over the past year, Donor Network of Arizona (DNA) has seen a dramatic increase in referrals for non-transplantable organs and tissue for research. As of the end of August, the OPO, located in Phoenix, AZ, had referred 198 organs. At that rate, DNA would reach 300 referrals, compared to 203 in all of 2015.
IIAM is pleased to introduce the newest additions to our Placement Coordinator team, all of whom were hired in 2016. With the volume of referrals from OPOs steadily increasing, this expansion ensures that IIAM can offer full service and eliminate lag time by promptly activating screening and placement of organs and tissue for research.
Many families who receive a non-survivable diagnosis for their baby during pregnancy inquire about organ donation. Too often, they’re told there are no options. In 2012, with the commitment of an exceptional couple, a team of OPO staff and medical professionals, IIAM helped shatter that perception.
IIAM’s 30th anniversary is a time to reflect over past milestones and achievements, as well as a time to reaffirm our commitment to being partners in new, cutting-edge developments.
Bethany Conkel Helps Raise Awareness for Neonatal Donation.
View the story of Amalya Nathaniel Conkel, the neonatal baby whose donations provided precious gifts to medical research and led to the beginning of IIAM’s Neonatal Donor Program.
IIAM has established a Neonatal Donor Program to provide neonatal organs and tissues for medical research, education and development. These donors range in age from 5 months gestation to 1 month old, many whom have terminal diagnoses, and are able to be considered for organ/tissue donation for transplant and/or medical research upon death from natural causes. IIAM’s Neonatal Donor Program offers this unique service to the research community and to families of babies with terminal diagnoses. In addition to neonatal tissue, IIAM continues to provide non-transplantable organs/tissues from organ transplant donors where authorization for research use has been granted.
After more than 25 years of serving Gift of Body donor families with respect and compassion, effective September 15, 2013, IIAM no longer offers our Anatomical/Gift of Body Program.
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