AATB distributed an Accredited Institution Satisfaction Survey on Tuesday, December 10 to each Accredited Institution's Primary Establishment Contact (formerly MwER). Your feedback is essential in helping us identify areas for improvement and new ways to better serve our community. The survey will remain open until Friday, January 3, 2025. If you did not receive the survey, please check your spam folder. For questions or assistance accessing the survey, contact davisa@aatb.org. Thank you for taking the time to share your input!

On December 10, AATB President and CEO Marc Pearce delivered a statement during the Multi-MAC Town Hall meeting addressing the final Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for skin substitute grafts and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (CTPs). The statement highlighted AATB's concerns regarding the implementation timeline, coverage limitations for non-DFU/VLU wounds, and the need for a streamlined reconsideration process for adding products to the covered list. To read the complete statement, please visit AATB’s Government Advocacy Correspondences page.

The American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the AATB Tissue Policy Group are excited to invite AATB members to participate in our Capitol Hill Fly-In on February 4, 2025. This is an important opportunity to engage with policymakers and advocate for the future of tissue donation. If you plan to attend, please let AATB’s Director of Government Affairs, Andrew Vogt, know by this Friday, December 13, 2024.

AATB is accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for its Grant Program, dedicated to advancing innovation and research in tissue banking. We welcome proposals exploring non-proprietary topics, including tissue recovery, allograft processing, clinical outcomes, economic analyses, and more. Researchers from academic institutions, medical centers, and the tissue industry are invited to apply for grants of up to $100,000. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the future of tissue banking—submit your LOI by January 16, 2025!

Thank you to everyone who completed the 2024 Member Satisfaction Survey! Your valuable feedback helps shape the future of AATB, and we truly appreciate your time and input. Congratulations to the following randomly selected participants, each of whom has won a $100 Amazon gift card.

News-Medical.Net
A study in CANCER found soft tissue sarcoma rates are lower in young U.S. active-duty servicemen but higher in middle-aged servicemen than the general population.

Chemistry World
Oxford researchers developed iontronic circuit components from hydrogel droplets, enabling seamless interaction with biological systems.

Nature Aging
New study findings suggest biomarkers like IL-23R may reflect systemic senescent cell burden and aid in translating senescence research to human aging therapies.

Penn Today
Penn researchers discovered that pulmonary venous endothelial cells (VECs) proliferate and contribute to lung blood vessel repair after injuries like influenza or COVID

Medical Xpress
A VIB-UAntwerp study revealed new genetic insights into Alzheimer's disease, linking genes like APH1B and APOE to specific brain pathologies, including tau tangles and amyloid plaques.

Join us on December 18, for an insightful session, “Using Texting Technology to Connect with Donor Families.” Discover how organizations are leveraging texting technology to enhance outreach and build meaningful connections with donor families. Our panel of experts will share practical insights on when and how to use this technology effectively, discuss measurable outcomes, and explore challenges and opportunities for improvement. Whether you're a tissue bank professional interested in family services or keen on adopting the latest innovations, this webinar offers valuable takeaways to enhance your approach.
Target Audience: This webinar is designed for tissue bank professionals who are interested in family services and the use of the latest technology.

Edison, New Jersey: The Sr. Medical Director leads medical affairs for the organization and is responsible for the overall direction and oversight of programs and activities with medical content, including donor eligibility determination and associate medical director supervision, medical complaint analysis, patient recipient outcomes follow-up, risk assessment on donor infectious disease transmission risk, medical board management, and medical information and science liaison activities.

Birmingham, Alabama: Provides day to day leadership and oversight of organ and tissue operations guided by the organizational mission and core values of Legacy of Hope.

Alachua, Florida: Supervises the day-to-day activities of Donor Information Associates and acts as department lead in the absence of other leadership.