HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced grants expected to total nearly $10 million over the next three years to 12 organizations to expand research into strategies that will increase the number of U.S. organ and tissue donors.  First-year funding is approximately $3.3 million.  

Secretary Thompson pledged April 17 to add today’s funds to an expanded research effort when he announced his “Gift of Life Donation Initiative” to reduce the country’s critical shortage of donors.  The Secretary’s initiative includes a “Workplace Partnership for Life” that brings together employers, unions and other employee organizations in a nationwide network to promote donation, and other pro-donation activities.

“These grants will help us close the gap between those who need organs and the number of donors,” Secretary Thompson said.  “We need to help people understand the importance of giving the gift of life by being an organ donor.  Our partnership with these organizations will lead to that goal.”

Many more donations are needed to help the more than 78,000 people on the national transplant waiting list.  Nearly 5,500 patients awaiting a transplant die each year because of the shortage of organ donors.  In 2000, only about 6,000 deaths in the United States resulted in organ donation, but the estimated potential number of donors per year ranges from 8,000 to 15,000.

Today’s grantees join 22 ongoing HHS-funded projects studying ways to increase family consent for donation, motivate individuals to declare their intent to donate, and then share that decision with family members.  Those projects have received grants totaling approximately $23 million.

The 12 new grantees will focus on strategies such as:

• altering the approach to donor families during the consent discussion;

• utilizing a statewide, comprehensive organ and tissue donor registry system;

• involving attorneys in discussing donation with clients; and

• motivating hospital-based medical personnel to get more involved in donation activities.

The grants are administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.  For more information on the grant program or organ donation, visit the national initiative's Web site at www.organdonor.gov. 

The list of grantees appears below: