From AATB President Elect Kevin Cmunt

 There are more than one million tissue transplants performed annually in the U.S that save lives, relieve pain, improve mobility and even regenerate cells to form new skin and bone. Donated human tissue is processed into usable “allografts” for surgeons by tissue banks. The tissue banking industry is highly regulated by federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with state and local regulatory bodies to promote the safety of patients.

Another key group that promotes safety standards and best practices for honoring tissue donors is the nonprofit American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). Since its founding in 1976, the AATB has promoted the safety, quality and availability of donated human tissue. The AATB is now considered the definitive source on safety and standards in the tissue banking industry, and most tissue banks in the country elect to become AATB-certified in a show of commitment to the organization’s high standards.

So why is the AATB important to you and me? The organization:

• Saves and improves lives of tissue recipients
• Makes tissue transplants safer for patients in need
• Ensures respectful treatment of tissue donors who have given the gift of life, by making certain that their gifts are maximized and produce safe and quality results
• Promises that new, safe possibilities for tissue transplantation will continue to emerge

I am proud to say that I have been chosen as the next President of AATB. I look forward to serving the AATB during an exciting time, as many new possibilities in regenerative medicine using tissue allografts are becoming available. We also must remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring donors and their families, because without their generous gifts none of this exciting work would be possible. I work full-time for nonprofit tissue bank AlloSource, where we are also unwavering in this mission to honor the gift of life.

Check out this exciting story out of Baltimore with Dr. Mark Myerson, director of Mercy Medical Center’s Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction. Dr. Myerson used AlloStem Stem Cell Bone Growth Substitute  to re-grow bone in the ankle of a woman from New Jersey who was originally told her leg would have to be amputated following a devastating car accident.

Tissue bank employee and transplant recipient H.C. Martensen in the 2008 Vineman Iron Distance Triathlon in California. Now, five months after his ligament transplant, H.C. is recovering well and planning to participate in a triathlon in June.

H.C. Martensen works in the AlloSource tissue processing core where he is faced with the powerful realities and possibilities of tissue donation and transplantation every day. He also has the utmost confidence in the allografts that he and his tissue bank colleagues produce, so much so that he recently requested one for his own transplant.

Over the summer H.C. returned to his former university, Colorado College in Colorado Springs, for an alumni soccer game. He played on the team in college, and since then remained very athletic, participating in triathlons and skiing. However, at the time of the game, it had been a while since he’d played soccer. Following a cutting motion on the field he felt his leg let go below the knee. H.C. instantly knew what had occurred, not only because of his work, but also because a close friend had sustained a torn ACL just three days prior.

Shortly thereafter a surgeon confirmed it – H.C.’s ACL and lateral meniscus were torn and he needed surgery and an allograft transplant. Although the surgeon did not historically use allografts from AlloSource, H.C. made a special request to have his graft come from the tissue bank.

His surgery required a patella ligament bone-tendon-bone graft, which he received from a 33-year-old male donor.

“Just a few years older than me,” H.C. said. “It added to the perspective that I’ve had. I’m presented with the reality of the business we’re in everyday. Seeing young donors come in is hard. Now that I’ve personally benefitted I’m further grateful for the gift of donation and even more aware of what we do.”

Since his surgery in June, H.C.’s recovery has been progressing very well and he just completed his final functional evaluation in physical therapy. Although his knee isn’t yet 100%, he knows it shouldn’t be back to normal this soon after the injury, and his road to recovery has been swifter than other patients with similar injuries.

Of course, H.C. intends to make the most of his gift of life – he will shortly begin training for triathlons in June and August.

AlloSource recently showcased AlloStem Bone Graft Substitute at this year’s NASS meeting in Orlando.  Dr. Eubulus Kerr, a spinal surgeon from Shreveport Louisiana, presented a review of his clinical usage of AlloStem tissue in spine fusion procedures. Dr. Kerr presented follow-up from cervical and lumbar fusion cases with up to six months of follow up and very encouraging early results. Many of the attending surgeons stayed after the presentation had formally ended to discuss the AlloStem technology with attendees and AlloSource staff.  One surgeon who attended the seminar has already completed his first surgery with the AlloStem tissue, implanting the tissue for spinal fusion.

The conference validated that live cellular products are the direction the industry is heading, so stay tuned.

- David White, AlloSource Product Manager

In improper wound healing, cells can show either an exaggerated or inadequate response to molecular healing signals, leading to problematic wound site inflammation or stalled wound healing. Dr. Nair’s approach seeks to ‘modulate’ the local wound site with regenerative biomaterials, specifically, a polysaccharide compound that adapts to the irregular geometries characteristic of tissue defects, while acting as carriers for known wound-healing cells and protein growth factors.  Also in the works is a protein-based injectable biomaterial that seeks to regenerate compromised bone and cartilage. Using organic molecules like these, Dr. Nair hopes to deliver cost-effective, biologically active treatments that will rescue improper wound healing and stimulate the replacement of lost bone and cartilage.

- Jessica Duncan, AlloSource Product Manager – Burn and Wound Care

The Tissue Council Meeting headed up the agenda on day one. The Tissue Council membership is made up of representatives from many different OPOs and tissue banks across the country.  The highlight of the council meeting was a panel discussion held between attendees and senior representatives from the major tissue processors in the US.  The panelists discussed the changing landscape of tissue banking and what they foresee the course of tissue transplantation will be in the future, including cells/live cell grafts as the future of tissue donation.

Several presentations and discussions were held on first person consent/donor designation and state-based donor registries.  Across the country OPOs are doing innovative things to increase public awareness of their state registries and increasing the numbers of people registered as organ, tissue and eye donors.  It was pointed out that when a donor family knows that their loved one wished to be a donor, it makes the donation process much easier.  Thus, OPOs are encouraging registered donors to share their wishes with their families.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the ceremony of the Crystal Heart Award, which is presented to a donor family dedicated to donation and transplantation.  This year the award was presented to Jill Stephenson.  Her son, Cpl. Ben Kopp, was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan.  Ben’s mother was approached about organ donation.  While facing the loss of her only child, she made the courageous decision to say yes.  Read more about this amazing story in the Washington Post here. “It helps my sorrow; it eases my pain. It really does,” Jill told the Post of knowing that Ben’s donation helped others. “I know that Ben wanted to help save lives . . . and it really prolongs Ben’s life and honors his memory so much and honors me in that we could save other lives.”

Thanks to all those who participated this year.  After attending, I am sure that the future of donation is bright.

-          Heather Luders, Donor Field Services Representative

However, new research using stem cells to grow new lungs or lung tissue from the University of Texas Medical Branch may give hope to potential lung transplant recipients. Read more about the new research being tested on mice here.

To read more about tissue donation and Manuel’s story, check out the newsletter here.