Who We Are

We are here to save and improve lives

THE MENDEZ NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRANSPLANTATION FOUNDATION (MNITF) is a public nonprofit dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of organ transplantation and end-stage organ disease therapies through research, education, and innovation.

RESEARCH

We strive to improve the lives of those with end-stage organ disease and those with organ transplants. In 2014, the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation (MNIT) and MNITF merged and created the Research Grant Program, which awards grants semiannually to improve clinical outcomes and positively impact the field of transplantation. MNITF’s research excellence has been made manifest through our awards, patents, and strong publication record in scientific literature, which has helped change clinical practices worldwide. The MNITF continues the vision and legacy of our founders by awarding grants semiannually to researchers to improve clinical outcomes and positively impact the field of transplantation. We are uniquely able to advance transplantation-related research through nonprofit/private partnerships during this unprecedented time of scarce federal funding.

EDUCATION

We create education and outreach programs for underserved populations to increase access to transplantation. Our award-winning series, Fixing Paco, provides vital information about kidney transplantation to Latinos and those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In 2017/2018, we expanded our outreach nationally with the Get the Facts! Get Checked! Get Healthy! PSA campaign to promote kidney disease awareness and prevention. In 2023, we launched the Linked by Love series and docuseries in an effort to decrease the disparities of kidney disease and increase access to transplantation and living donation among Black and African Americans. In 2024, we released The Christmas Chain, a feature film highlighting kidney donor chains and kidney disease prevention. In addition, our social media campaigns focus on kidney disease prevention and healthy living.

INNOVATION

We have contributed to many major advances: the use of young and old donors; transplantation across the ABO barrier; absorbing antigraft antibodies and the development of immunosuppressive protocols; work on xenoantibodies; islet encapsulation; and the innovative application of new technologies to detect donor- transmitted infections such as hepatitis, HIV, Chagas disease, and West Nile Virus. These innovations have made a real-world difference to patients and represent our continuing mission to develop and bring new clinical and basic developments to the transplant community. Our Research Grant Program supports innovative and impactful research to advance transplantation. For public education, we focus on innovative and entertaining ways to provide vital healthcare information to prevent kidney disease and failure and increase access to transplantation.

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Advancing the science and practice of transplantation

MNITF’s commitment to advancing the science and practice of transplantation has never been stronger. When the events of 2020 unfolded, we rapidly worked to address how best to serve the transplant community. As the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest gripped our nation, we funded groundbreaking research projects related to COVID-19. We also deepened our commitment to developing Linked by Love, an award-winning “edutainment” series. We have created more research and education opportunities to broaden our impact on helping those affected by kidney disease and kidney failure. We have also added new board members, who come from various industries, to increase our national profile and open up new funding opportunities. The Linked by Love series addresses the significant healthcare disparities that exist for African Americans in accessing kidney transplantation through a heartwarming fictional story intended to entertain while providing vital healthcare information. In addition, we just launched the award-winning feature film, The Christmas Chain, available on streaming platforms. Our friends, supporters, and donors remain the lifeblood of MNITF. We thank you for your ongoing dedication to our mission.

OUR TEAM

JUSTIN DOOLEY
Chairman

Justin is the President and CFO of Chassi, an enterprise software company, and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for MNITF.

Before joining MNITF, he was the President of First Virtual Group, a multi-billion-dollar holding company with global interests in real estate, agribusiness, financial asset management, and philanthropy. In addition, he was part of the executive leadership of Siebel Systems, from its start-up through its addition to the S&P 500.

Justin holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He also earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, where he serves on the President’s Council and is a University of Illinois Foundation Member.

Justin is married with two sons.

NICOLE MENDEZ
Executive Director

Nicole began working with MNIT in 1995. With her background as a licensed marriage and family therapist and interest in chronically ill patients’ psychosocial issues, she quickly recognized that the needs of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and kidney transplant recipients were not being met.

To address improving these patients’ ability to access transplantation, understand transplantation as a treatment option, and successfully live with a kidney transplant, Ms. Mendez created the Community & Patient Education Department and the One-on-One Kidney Transplant Program. She was later a guest speaker at the combined International Transplant Nurses Symposium and Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc., (2008) and World Kidney Day (2009, 2010, 2011), presenting on the importance of comprehensive education for ESRD patients and kidney transplant recipients, and the program model of peers as educators.

In 2012, Ms. Mendez created and produced the award-winning Fixing Paco, a 10-episode telenovela-style digital series in English and Spanish about kidney transplantation. She spoke at the ESRD Network of Texas Annual Meeting (2014) and the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings (2015) on Fixing Paco and guiding Hispanics through the transplant process. She created and produced Linked by Love, MNITF’s award-winning edutainment series, to address decreasing kidney disease disparities, improving kidney health and access to transplantation for African Americans. She also produced The Christmas Chain, an award-winning feature film about living donation.

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