The History of Organ Transplantation

Since ancient times, mythology has included tales of creatures made of an amalgamation of others, transferring body parts and skin. In the 1950s, with no other medical options for then incurable diseases, including nephritis, teams of scientists, surgeons, and generous patients started the field of organ transplant with the first successful kidney transplant in a human. The scientific discoveries and innovations since that first successful transplant in 1954 have turned the mythical concept of transplant into reality. The overall success and public acceptance of organ donation and transplant today is thanks to multidisciplinary teams of basic scientists, immunologists, surgeons, and public advocates. Today, research is propelling the field forward with advancements like face transplants, experiments of lab-grown organs, and much more. In the United States alone, over 800,000 patients have had their lives saved or significantly improved thanks to transplant since national recording began by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network in 1988.