About the REIMAGINE Center
The UC San Diego Center for Research, Education, Innovation and Transformation in Organ Donation (REIMAGINE) is a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the urgent public health crisis caused by the dire organ shortage in the face of the ever-increasing need for transplants. With a patient dying every 17 minutes on the waitlist, the shortfall of over 25,000 organs annually is not just a statistic — it's a series of personal tragedies and a narrative of dwindling hope.
REIMAGINE is leading the way in transforming the future of organ donation and transplantation by addressing disparities, fostering trust and revolutionizing how organs are preserved and allocated to patients who need them most. REIMAGINE is the first initiative of its kind in the United States. It incorporates four key pillars of practice to reshape the future of organ donation and transplantation:
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Education and innovation
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Equity, policy, ethics and economics
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Compassion and mindfulness
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Basic and translational sciences
Through these efforts, our interdisciplinary teams are expanding organ availability through leading-edge technologies; reducing waste and inefficiencies; advancing equitable transplant access through policy advocacy and education; and providing compassionate care to donors, families and health care providers.
Our Impact
Since its inception, REIMAGINE has successfully launched research, education and clinical training programs to foster a more equitable, compassionate view of organ donation and transplantation. The center established a pilot grant program supporting early-stage, high-impact research and executed first-of-its-kind training to bring innovative perfusion technology to the forefront of patient care. It hosts the REIMAGINE Symposium, which brings together experts from a variety of disciplines to explore future directions for organ donation and transplantation.
Gabriel Schnickel, M.D., M.P.H.
Executive Director and Founder of REIMAGINE
Making a Difference in Organ Donation
Philanthropic support allows REIMAGINE to further develop education and training programs, expand clinical care offerings, and fund critical research. Key areas for investment include:
- Education and outreach: Incorporating compassionate communication training into annual symposia and grand round seminar sessions to improve interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Innovation in clinical care: Providing empathetic, comprehensive care to patients and their families and developing programs to prevent provider burnout.
- Groundbreaking research: Funding high-impact studies aimed at improving patient outcomes, exploring innovative care models, and identifying and addressing systemic barriers to health care access.
Together with your philanthropic support, REIMAGINE can continue to improve transplant research, education and care in San Diego and across the country.