Transplant Ethics and Policy Conference
About this Event
The 2026 NYU Transplant Ethics and Policy Conference convenes leading voices across clinical care, research, law, and patient advocacy to examine the most urgent ethical and policy questions shaping the future of transplantation.
From evolving national legislation and potential updates to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, to the lived experiences of donor families, this meeting centers the complex human and societal dimensions of organ donation and transplantation. The program will explore critical issues at the forefront of the field, including the ethics of donation after circulatory death and emerging perfusion strategies, as well as the rapidly advancing frontier of xenotransplantation and its implications for clinical trials, pediatric populations, and broader access. Anchored by multidisciplinary dialogue and diverse perspectives, the conference is designed not only to interrogate today’s challenges—but to define actionable, ethically grounded pathways for the next era of transplantation.
Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Arrival / Check-In
Info: Light breakfast will be available for in-person attendees.
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Key Updates in Transplant Policy & Legislation
Host: Macey Levan, JD, PhD (Moderator)
Info: This session will provide an overview of evolving developments in national organ transplant policy, with a focus on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). As the transplant system faces increasing ethical, legal, and operational challenges, policy and legislation remain central to guiding oversight, allocation, and system performance. This moderated discussion will examine key policy and legislative developments and their implications for clinical practice, organ allocation, and patient outcomes.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Considering Updates to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
Host: Tamar Schiff, MD (Moderator)
Info: This session will examine evolving discussions of potential updates to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). The panel will explore the social, ethical, and legal contexts of key areas in the regulation of tissue donation and use, as well as the possible implications for therapy, research, and education.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Networking Break
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Organ and Tissue Donor Family Support and Compassionate Care
Host: Carolyn Sidoti, BS & Samantha Klitenic, JD (Moderators)
Info: This session will explore the experiences, needs, and perspectives of donor families. Speakers will highlight the critical role of families as stakeholders in the organ donation process, exploring opportunities for improved engagement, collaboration, and communication with families to foster trust and guide the future of transplantation.
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Keynote Address: Arthur L. Caplan, PhD
🕑: 12:15 PM - 01:15 PM
Lunch Break
Info: Lunch will be available for in-person attendees.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Ethics of Perfusion Strategies and Donor Management
Host: Brendan Parent, JD (Moderator)
Info: This session will explore the ethical nuances of donation after circulatory death (DCD), including time-sensitive challenges of reconciling end of life treatment decisions with organ donation decisions, use of innovative organ optimization strategies like new perfusion techniques and donor care units, and how to maintain trust in transplantation.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Ethics of Emerging Aspects of Xenotransplantation
Host: Laura Kimberly, PhD (Moderator)
Info: As xenotransplantation emerges as a potential strategy for reducing the organ shortage, it raises ethical and policy challenges related to informed consent, animal welfare, implications in public health, and developing effective regulatory oversight. This session will explore recent developments in this innovation and identify opportunities for continued research and implementation.
🕑: 03:15 PM - 03:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 135.23 to USD 375.32
