Online Resources

The Internet offers a host of resources that can help you and your family become better informed about the kidney disease, health and transplantation. Following are links to additional materials and information from a variety of trusted organizations.

• National Kidney Foundation
  The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.

• North American Transplant Coordinators
  The North American Transplant Coordinators organization is devoted to supporting, developing and advancing the knowledge and practice of its members, and works to influence the effectiveness, quality and integrity of donation and transplantation.

• United Network for Organ Sharing
  UNOS is a non-profit, scientific, and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), established by the U.S. Congress in 1984.

• American Association of Kidney Patients
  Founded over 30 years ago, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) exists to serve the needs, interests and welfare of all kidney patients and their families. Its mission is to improve the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease.

• American Kidney Fund
  The American Kidney Fund is the leading national voluntary health organization providing direct financial assistance for the benefit of kidney patients supported by comprehensive educational programs, clinical research and community service projects.

• Liaisons for Life/Gift of Life Donor Program
  Liaisons for Life is composed of transplant recipients and candidates as well as members of their families, donor family members and others who are interested in volunteering their time to promote donor awareness and the benefits of transplantation. Most programs falling under the Liaisons umbrella take place in the greater Philadelphia region.
  
  The Gift of Life Donor Program, the non-profit agency serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is responsible for recovering and distributing organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants.

• Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc.
  TRIO is an independent, not-for-profit, international organization committed to improving the quality of life of transplant candidates, recipients, their families and the families of organ and tissue donors.

• The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)
  OPTN is the unified transplant network established by the United States Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984. The act called for the network to be operated by a private, non-profit organization under federal contract. OPTN is a unique public-private partnership that links all of the professionals involved in the donation and transplantation system. The primary goals of the OPTN are to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of organ sharing and equity in the national system of organ allocation, and to increase the supply of donated organs available for transplantation.