NASA drones are reinventing organ transplant deliveries

Drones may soon be delivering more than just your latest impulse buy.

NASA and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees most of the US transplant system, have teamed up to test using unmanned flying drones for organ transport.

It’s been a bumpy ride to date: America’s organ transplant system has come under increased scrutiny in recent years due to a combination of safety concerns, inconsistent oversight, and breakdowns in coordination between hospitals.

• While organs are routinely flown between cities to help treat the ~103,000 Americans on the transplant waiting list, getting them from plane to patient isn’t always smooth.
• And ground transport can create added delays, especially in traffic-heavy or hard-to-reach areas where every minute counts.

Efforts to address these gaps have been underway for years, with reforms spanning both the Trump and Biden administrations.

That’s where NASA comes in

The space agency says its new collaboration with UNOS will explore faster, more reliable ways to transport donor organs using advanced aviation technologies, starting with unmanned drones.

• Their upcoming tests will examine whether drones can transport sensitive biological materials over obstacles and beyond visual range without ground spotters.
• They’ll also see if organs can remain viable through the temperature swings and reduced blood flow that comes during transit.

Both NASA and UNOS say drones could cut costs, shorten delivery times, and add flexibility to the process.

Looking ahead: If early trials prove successful, researchers will attempt to scale the system for real-world medical deliveries.