Some of the milestones of organ transplantation:
1906 - First corneal transplant
1908 - Skin allograft
1918 - Blood transfusion
1954 - Kidney transplanted from identical twin
1962 - First kidney transplant from a deceased donor
1966 - First kidney-pancreas transplant
1968 - First heart-lung transplant
1983 - FDA approves cyclosporin, providing increased survival and improved quality of life
1983 - Single lung transplant
1989 - Living-related lung transplant
1968 - Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
1969 - First organ procurement program to improve kidney matching
1984 - National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA)
1986 - UNOS gets contract to run organ database
2000 - HHS Final Rule - established regulatory framework for OPTN
Today, UNOS operates a nationwide 24/7 organ match and placement service, while OPTN maintains the national listing of all patients.
