Research
Advancing Medical Research & Development
When families authorize a donation for medical research, their loved one contributes to a better tomorrow. Donations for research purposes can save and heal future lives through the advancement of medical research. Donor Network West partners with researchers who analyze samples, conduct clinical trials, and who work to improve the outcomes of transplanted organs. Without organ and tissue donation for research, a significant amount of this work could otherwise not be accomplished.
“Donating Carter’s organs and tissues for research was a wonderful tribute that added a layer of dignity and meaning to her life. It gave us strength, hope, and peace to know that her gifts would impact the lives of others through science and research.”
A fascinating description of the role of Donor Network West research samples in the progress of a project at Stanford that aims to cure blindness in humans:
How the Brain Works, Curing Blindness & How to Navigate a Career Path
Partner with Donor Network West
We are dedicated to working in close partnerships with researchers in academic medical centers, hospitals, universities, and biotechnology centers to advance the field of research through organ and tissue donations. Some of our partners include:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Harvard Medical School
- Henry Ford Health, Michigan
- Scripps Research Institute
- Stanford Medical Center
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California, Riverside
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
- University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Washington, Seattle
- UCSF Medical Center
Research Library
Research Articles Published by Donor Network West Research Partners
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2016
- Novel method of delivery of continuous positive airway pressure for apnea testing during brain death evaluation
- Lung Quality and Utilization in Controlled Donation After Circulatory Determination of Death Within the United States
- Evaluation of Two Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Kits for Chikungunya Virus IgM Using Samples from Deceased Organ and Tissue Donors
- High Mortality Associated With Donor-Derived Coccidioidomycosis in a Population-Based Study of Potential Organ Donors in California
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2017
- Short lung transplant donor telomere length is associated with decreased CLAD-free survival
- Biosynthesis of proresolving lipid mediators by vascular cells and tissues
- Hot Standby: An Air Transportation Protocol to Reduce Organ Wastage
- Adiposity and the Role of Neuroendocrine Hormones in Energy Balance
- Minimally Invasive Classification of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms
- Ethnic Differences in Deceased Organ Donor Management and Organ Utilization
Additional Medical Resources
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Become a Researcher
In addition to the primary purpose of procuring organs and tissues for transplantation, most organ procurement organization (OPOs) in the United States procure a large number of samples for the purpose of research. These samples are provided to researchers along with a few additional non-protected health information (PHI) data points to facilitate better matching for various comparative experiments.
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“We have immense admiration, respect, and gratitude for the entire Donor Network West team, and for the generous donors and families of donors who make this research possible.”
“The lungs received by Matthay Lab from Donor Network West have been of major scientific and clinical value for understanding mechanisms of lung injury and testing new therapies.”
“I would like to thank Donor Network West for its tremendous assistance and contributions. We have received some of the fastest and freshest tissue samples for a truly a unique and world-leading project and we are so proud to be doing it in partnership with Donor Network West.”
“Donor Network West enables us to make breakthroughs and be at the translational research front line as part of Stanford’s initiative to cure hearing loss. The research team’s professional approach and scientific knowledge supports our life-enhancing mission to transition from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside. Their devotion supports our efforts of optimizing our processes.”
“As one of the principal investigators in the NIH-sponsored APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes (APOLLO) Research Network, we work directly with several OPO’s and know of the operations of other OPO’s around the country. There is no one more responsive to queries from the APOLLO research team than Dr. Ahmad Salehi of Donor Network West.”
“The Donor Network West is an invaluable resource. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated team working to support our human research. Our thanks to Dr Salehi and the DNW staff, and to the many donors who make our studies of the human vasculature and immune systems possible. The tissues we receive from the DNW are critical to our breakthrough research in human immune cell trafficking in health and disease.”
“The work we do through the UCSF VITAL Core is designed to facilitate connections between the local basic-science community and the incredible Donor Network West research team. The groundbreaking and diverse research facilitated by the VITAL Core in collaboration with Donor Network West has already led to profound discoveries in human physiology and immunology, and it is only possible because of the incredible generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families, and the wonderful research team at Donor Network West led by Dr. Ahmad Salehi.”