Press Releases

The National Kidney Registry announced the completion of its 5,000th paired exchange transplant, which took place yesterday at UCLA Medical Center. The UCLA recipient was a standard voucher holder whose donor facilitated an earlier chain of three transplants. The kidney came from a family voucher donor at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Dr. Jeff Veale, Professor and …

The National Kidney Registry (NKR) announced the expansion of Donor Shield by increasing the maximum allowable lost wage reimbursement of four weeks to a maximum of six weeks. This change is effective immediately, so any donor who donates on or after May 26, 2021, is eligible for the extended reimbursements. “Some donors require more than …

The National Kidney Registry announced that yesterday marked the 50th successful low eplet mismatch kidney transplant facilitated through the Kidney for Life (KFL) program. The KFL initiative utilizes the most advanced DNA sequencing technology to break down single bead antigens to the eplet level, opening up potential matches considered incompatible at the single bead level.

A lawsuit has been filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, with the support of the National Kidney Registry, on behalf of Good Samaritan kidney donor Mr. Kipp Wingo, a veterinarian from Phoenix, Arizona, against the State Farm Life Insurance Company. Mr. Wingo was improperly denied life insurance based solely on his …

Today the National Kidney Registry announced the activation of its 500th patient microsite. The microsite program provides free websites and hosting services for transplant patients seeking a living donor. Dr. Sandip Kapur, the Surgical Director of Weil Cornell Kidney Transplant program conceived of the idea as a way for transplant centers to help patients who …

Guinness World Records officially recognized the National Kidney Registry (NKR) for the longest kidney transplant chain in the world. This massive chain was supported by the combined efforts of 25 transplant centers, it included 70 surgeries, facilitated 35 transplants and was featured on ABC News’s Nightline. Kathy Hart, a Good Samaritan donor, started Chain 357, …

The first international paired exchange website was launched today at www.internationalkidney.org. Founding contributors include paired exchange programs from the United States, Canada, Australia & New Zealand (ANZKX), and the single center program from King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who are committed to advancing paired exchange and kidney transplantation worldwide. The founding contributors …

Today the National Kidney Registry announced the launch of the Donor Shield website at www.donor-shield.org. The website provides potential kidney donors, transplant centers, and patients with the most up to date and accurate information on Donor Shield support and protections. Donor Shield is the most comprehensive program providing support and protection for living kidney donors …

A kidney transplant is a life-saving operation, but to be successful it is crucial that the donated kidney is delivered to its destination safely and on schedule. The National Kidney Registry’s Failsafe software uses advanced GPS technology to monitor every shipped kidney from pickup until it is safely delivered at the recipient center.

Today the National Kidney Registry (NKR) announced the addition of an important new 7th Donor Shield protection. Donors can now be reimbursed for lost wages and travel/lodging costs for any donation-related complications as part of the Donor Shield program. The other six Donor Shield protections include lost wage reimbursement for donation, travel & lodging reimbursement …