Our tasks – Tissue medicine is more than tissue donation

The work of the DGFG involves more than just organising the donation of tissue. The DGFG provides patients with safe and high-quality tissue transplants on a permanent basis. This includes the continuous expansion of the nationwide tissue network. Only in cooperation with regional partners we can advance tissue medicine for the benefit of patients. We support new developments in tissue processing and support research and science. We want to educate hospitals and the public on all aspects of tissue donation. We see ourselves as a service provider for all aspects of tissue medicine.

Tissue donation

The DGFG is represented in all regions of Germany. This allows our employees to support tissue donations everywhere, whether in a region like Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or in a city like Bremen. We coordinate the entire tissue donation process individually in coordination with our regional partners. This includes:

Processing donor notifications
Informative exchange with relatives and bereaved family members
Medical evaluation of the prerequisites for tissue donation
Skilled recovery of tissues
Organisation of transport of tissue to the tissue bank
Documentation in accordance with legal requirements

Organ and tissue donation are two separate areas of transplantation medicine, which are nevertheless closely related. Many tissue donations are taken from organ donors, in which a clause for tissue donation is present. Therefore, we also fully support organ donation within a transparent and predictable system. We work closely with the German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO).

Gewebeprozessierung & Qualitätsmanagement

Tissue Processing

In Germany, tissue preparations are subject to the Medicinal Products Act. Extensive approval and safety regulations apply to all pharmaceutical products. Our tasks include the handling of tissues prior to transplantation. The DGFG operates three tissue banks in Hanover, Kiel and Rostock. In addition, we offer tissue banks in our tissue network different cooperation models. We support hospitals individually in setting up and operating tissue banks. Our quality management provides SOPs and takes care of official permits and approvals. Tissue banks in our network guarantee maximum transplant safety and quality. The only way we can continuously improve recipient protection and avoid errors.

Tissue allocation and transplantation

The DGFG allocates human donor tissue to be transplanted in hospitals throughout Germany. All preparations are made solely for transplantation in humans. The allocation office of the DGFG has a supra-regional inventory database for corneas, heart valves, blood vessels and amniotic membrane. Each inpatient or outpatient transplant center may register their patients at the DGFG for a tissue transplant. Doctors do not have to request tissue from individual tissue banks. They get planning security and quality and safe tissue preparations for their patients. Every stationary or ambulant transplant centre can register its patients with the DGFG for a tissue transplant. Doctors do not have to request several tissue banks. They get planning security as well as high-quality and safe tissue preparations for their patients.

Research and Development

New techniques of processing and transplanting tissue will certainly develop over the next few years. The successes in tissue engineering and the promising results from research open up formerly unimagined possibilities in the area of tissue medicine. Although there is still a long way to go before we can transplant lab grown organs and tissues, this is certainly one of the challenges we will face in the future.

The focuses of the DGFG on this are:

Establishing new scientific/technological processes
Supporting and conducting studies and research by external partners
Organizing workshops for scientific exchange
Cooperating with international partners

Information

The DGFG stands for a transparent system of tissue and organ donation. Together with the BZgA and our network partners, we inform the public, interested specialists and those affected about tissue donation and tissue transplantation. With appropriate information we want to clarify, promote the willingness to donate tissue and support the work of our partners. We are clearly committed to naming the ownership structure of tissue establishments.

Educational projects, such as our films on tissue donation or photo exhibitions, are financed from donations. Once a year, employees and friends of the DGFG show their sporting commitment to tissue donation: By participating in the Hannover Marathon, they draw attention to this important topic and collect donations.

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