Waltham, Mass– In a move aimed at addressing California’s ongoing organ shortage, UCI Health has teamed up with Sierra Donor Services to expand kidney transplant opportunities through the use of Paragonix Technologies’ KidneyVault™ Portable Renal Perfusion System.
The collaboration is enabling the successful transplantation of high-risk donor kidneys—organs previously considered unsuitable due to donor complications, geographic constraints, or medical conditions. By utilizing the KidneyVault system, a state-of-the-art organ preservation technology, UCI Health has increased its ability to transplant kidneys that were once declined. The system offers real-time monitoring and enhanced protection during transport, helping ensure the organs remain viable over long distances and extended periods.
Sierra Donor Services, a nonprofit organ procurement organization serving over 2.8 million people in Northern California and Nevada, has already begun using the technology to recover and place kidneys that would otherwise have gone unused. According to Chief Clinical Officer Donna Smith, “Nearly 20,000 Californians are waiting for a transplant, with 85% in need of a kidney. Last year, more than 9,000 recovered kidneys were not used. This technology gives us new options to place these organs and save lives.”
UCI Health, a leading academic health system and one of the West Coast’s fastest-growing kidney transplant centers, is leveraging the technology to further its mission of innovation and improved patient outcomes. “We are proud to operate the largest and oldest kidney transplant program in Orange County,” said Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Chief of Transplantation at UCI Health. “The KidneyVault system enables us to accept and safely transport more complex organs, even those requiring long-distance travel, increasing access for our patients.”
Paragonix Technologies, the Massachusetts-based company behind the preservation system, says the partnership reflects its broader mission of maximizing the use of every donated organ. “Every organ donation is a gift, and it deserves to be honored,” said Dr. Lisa Anderson, President of Paragonix Technologies. “Our system allows transplant centers and OPOs to confidently extend that gift to more people.”
The initiative marks a significant step in reducing the number of discarded kidneys and expanding transplant options for critically ill patients across California and beyond.
