{"id":5516,"date":"2024-11-13T19:18:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T19:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mnitf.org\/?page_id=5516"},"modified":"2026-07-25T02:25:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:25:54","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mnitf.org\/es\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"Historia"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

THE EVOLUTION OF MNITF<\/h2>
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In 1984<\/strong>, in affiliation with the University of Southern California\u2019s Keck School of Medicine and the Daughters of Charity Health System, the Los Angeles Transplant Institute was formed. In 1989, the Institute became the National Institute of Transplantation (NIT), and in 2009, it was renamed the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation (MNIT), honoring the founders, Drs. Rafael and Robert Mendez, for their dedication to advancing transplantation and their significant financial contribution.<\/p>\n

In December 2013<\/strong>, Viracor-IBT acquired MNIT\u2019s laboratory assets, a move that further extended the longevity and security of MNITF to succeed in fulfilling its mission to advance transplantation while significantly improving the lives of those with end-stage organ disease.<\/p>\n

In 2014<\/strong>, MNIT merged with the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation (MNITF).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

OUR TIMELINE<\/h2>
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MNIT<\/strong> has a strong history of success in the transplantation field through its commitment to research and educational programs. MNIT\u2019s education programs include educating transplant patients, as well as physicians, both nationally and internationally, who have come to MNIT to learn the latest transplant procedures and techniques. In 2014, MNIT and the MNIT Foundation merged and became MNITF. Following are milestones and highlights that have significantly impacted its mission.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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1984<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0was established to enhance the science of transplantation. At the time, transplantation was a very new surgical procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n

1985<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0established the Transplant Program at St. Vincent\u2019s Medical Center. The St. Vincent\u2019s Transplant Program grew to become the second-largest transplant center in the United States in 2005. The Drs. Mendez remained Directors of this program for 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>1994<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRANSPLANTATION FOUNDATION\u00a0was established to conduct fundraising activities, manage contributed funds, and support the activities of NIT.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>1996<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE PANCREAS TRANSPLANT PROGRAM\u00a0was created for diabetic transplant patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>1970-2000<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MORE\u00a0than 5,000 transplants were performed by Drs. Mendez and the Mendez Transplant Team.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2002<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE MNIT\u00a0TRANSPLANT TEAM\u00a0began using the new laparoscopic nephrectomy procedure in its transplant protocol. (The procedure is a minimally invasive donor nephrectomy and an effective surgical procedure that minimizes the impact on the body.) MNIT surgeons were the first physicians to perform this procedure in Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2003<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0contracted to conduct its 200th clinical research study. A hallmark of MNIT\u2019s history, the clinical research department worked closely with pharmaceutical companies to develop new and better ways to care for and to treat transplant patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2006<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0trained its 30th Transplant Fellow. (The MNIT Transplant Fellows Program trains transplant surgeons from around the world in the latest transplant techniques and procedures.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2008<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE MNIT\u00a0ONE-ON-ONE RENAL DISEASE EDUCATION PROGRAM\u00a0achieved national recognition at the International Transplant Nursing Society Annual Meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0held the first Worldwide Symposium on Alports Syndrome. MNIT Research brought together the world\u2019s experts on Alports for presentations and exchange of research and ideas that were aimed at controlling and providing remedies for this kidney-related disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2012<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0launched\u00a0Arreglando a Paco<\/a>, the award-winning digital series in English and Spanish, to provide vital information about kidney transplantation and maintenance to Latinos and those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2013<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

VIRACOR-IBT LABORATORIES\u00a0acquired the assets associated with the laboratory operations of the MNIT. MNIT made the decision to transfer its laboratory operations to Viracor-IBT to perpetuate the mission of its foundation, build on the legacy of its laboratory operations, and provide testing services to more transplant patients across the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2014<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNIT\u00a0merged with MNITF to significantly decrease overhead and increase stability and longevity. MNITF created the Research Grant Program with the oversight of the Research Advisory Board, comprised of experienced scientific investigators in the field of transplantation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2017<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF\u00a0awarded more than $1 million in grants.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2017-2018<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF\u00a0expanded its outreach nationally with the\u00a0Get the Facts! Get Checked! Get Healthy!\u00a0PSA campaign, reaching more than 165 million individuals through TV\/cable, radio, theaters, and online to promote kidney disease awareness and prevention, transplantation education, and increasing organ donation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF\u00a0awarded more than $2 million in grants.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2022<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF\u00a0awarded more than $3 million in grants.<\/span><\/p>\n

202<\/span>3<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF\u00a0launched the award-winning\u00a0Unidos por el amor<\/a>\u00a0series and\u00a0Linked by Love: All Kidneys Are Pink<\/a>\u00a0docuseries to provide vital information about kidney disease, transplantation, and living donation to decrease health disparities amongst the Black community. In addition, MNITF expanded its outreach nationally with the\u00a0Linked by Love: Get the Facts! Get Checked! Get Healthy!\u00a0PSA<\/a>\u00a0 and social media campaigns starring\u00a0Vanessa Williams<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2024<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF launched the award-winning feature film La cadena de Navidad<\/em> on streaming platforms.<\/p>\n

MNITF awarded more than $4 million in grants.<\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/span>2025<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MNITF launched the award-winning feature film A Heart Full of Hope<\/em> on streaming platforms.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\u00a1Ay\u00fadanos a salvar y mejorar las vidas de quienes padecen una enfermedad org\u00e1nica en etapa terminal!<\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
DONAR<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THE EVOLUTION OF MNITF In 1984, in affiliation with the University of Southern California\u2019s Keck School of Medicine and the Daughters of Charity Health System, the Los Angeles Transplant Institute [...]","protected":false},"author":990002,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5516","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nHistory - Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation (MNITF)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mnitf.org\/es\/history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"History - 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