NADO Accreditation Program and Institutional Membership

May 8, 2026

As previously communicated to the full AATB membership, governance changes approved by the AATB voting membership have restructured the organization. Under this new structure, and in alignment with the current strategic plan, the Association for Advancing Tissue and Biologics (AATB) accredits only establishments involved in the manufacturing of human tissue for transplantation. As a result, Non-Transplant Anatomical Donation Organizations (NADOs) are no longer eligible for AATB accreditation, institutional membership, or the associated member benefits.

AATB has begun removing NADO-specific information and access from its platforms. All system and content updates related to this transition will be fully implemented by May 8.

Key impacts include:

  • Accreditation Status: No changes will be made to existing accreditation. Any AATB accreditation held by a NADO will remain valid through the expiration date listed on the accreditation certificate. An optional extension of accreditation through December 31, 2028, contingent upon payment for and completion of an inspection, remains available. Organizations interested in this option must notify accreditation@aatb.org by June 1, 2026. The following NADOs currently hold active AATB accreditation:
    • Anatomic Gift Foundation, Inc. DBA Anatomy Gifts Registry - Accreditation expires December 30, 2027
    • MedCure, Inc. - Accreditation expires September 30, 2026
    • Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) - Accreditation expires December 28, 2027
    • Research for Life - Accreditation expires September 30, 2027
    • Science Care, Inc. - Accreditation expires March 7, 2027
    • Southwest Institute for Bio-Advancement (SWIBA) - Accreditation expires May 31, 2027
    • United Tissue Network, Inc. - Accreditation expires September 16, 2026
  • Membership Status Changes: AATB Bylaws require accredited member establishments to be involved in the manufacturing of human tissue for transplantation. As a result, NADOs will no longer be recognized as AATB institutional members. Organizations and their staff will no longer have access to AATB member benefits, including the ability to participate in councils or committees. Individuals may choose to maintain engagement and access to certain benefits by joining AATB as individual members.
  • Website and Listing Changes: NADO establishments will be removed from the Accredited Establishment Search on the AATB website.
  • Access to NADO Resources: Access to member-only educational content in the AATB Learning Center will be removed. A NADO Resources Folder is available to provide continued access to key materials, including web content, the 2nd edition of Standards for Non-Transplant Anatomical Donation, recorded webinars, and 2023-2025 Annual Meeting content. This folder will remain available through December 31, 2026, after which access will be removed. 
  • NADO Council Dissolution: The AATB Board of Directors voted to dissolve the NADO Council at its February 26 meeting. As a result, the NADO council is no longer active within AATB.

This transition represents a significant change for the NADO community. AATB remains committed to providing clear communication throughout this process. If you have any questions, please contact aatb@aatb.org.