General
BIS is a foundation that has been operating since 1989 as an intermediary in the donation of skin and the donation and allocation of human corneas, heart valves and bone tissue for transplantation purposes. It is a non-profit organization that cooperates with donor hospitals, transplantation centers, tissue banks and laboratories in Europe and the United States, also known as the BIS network.
Within this network, BIS acts as an intermediary in the allocation of donor tissues. Through the set-up and expansion of this international network, BIS is able to enlarge the pool of donor tissue, which in turn increases the possibility for physicians to find suitable tissue grafts for their patients.The main types of tissue allocated by BIS are corneas, heart valves, bone and soft tissues and ear ossicles.
The foundation also supports scientific research aimed at improving the results of tissue transplantation.Together with two other organizations, BIS plays a major role in the mediation of donor organs and tissue in the Netherlands: The Netherlands Transplantation Foundation (NTS) and Eurotransplant International (ETI).
The NTS is responsible for donor recruitment in the Netherlands and, since the introduction of the Dutch Organ and Tissue Donation Act in 1996, has become the formal ‘organ center’. An organ center coordinates the donor selection, the donor screening and organ and tissue procurement. It distributes the donated organs and tissues to suitable recipients.
The NTS has mandated the task of donor coordination and allocation of tissue within the Netherlands to BIS while the task of organ mediation has been assigned to Eurotransplant International.
BIS is committed to providing a quality service that meets the needs of physicians and their patients while observing the highest ethical standards.
BIS Foundation is situated in the Dutch city of Leiden.
