Organ transplantation is lifesaving. Unfortunately, the need for organs exceeds the supply. For example, many patients wait for more than 5 years for a kidney transplant and many (approximately 20% of wait-listed patients on dialysis) will die before having had the opportunity to receive a transplant.1
How can we increase the supply of kidneys for transplant? Options such as xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine, are promising. However, for right now, why not start by taking advantage of organs that are available?