Update on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR)
March 2026 Update
The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) is a national data system that collects, analyzes, and publicly reports information on organ transplantation in the United States. Established to support transparency and accountability in the transplant system, the SRTR provides critical data on transplant program performance, organ procurement, waitlist trends, and patient outcomes. Its analyses inform decision-making by transplant programs, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), policymakers, researchers, and patients alike.
As HRSA works to modernize the nation's organ donation, procurement, and transplantation system, ensuring that every component of that system is operating at its highest potential is a shared priority. As part of this effort, HRSA has been evaluating how the SRTR can be structured to best serve patients, transplant programs, researchers, and oversight bodies. The actions and insights outlined below reflect HRSA's commitment to enhancing efficiency while strengthening the registry so it can continue to deliver the independent, high-quality analytics the transplant community depends on.
Key Recommendations from the SRTR Request for Information (RFI)
In July 2025, HRSA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather community feedback on the SRTR's work and future direction. HRSA received 34 responses from a broad range of stakeholders, identifying five cross-cutting recommendations:
- Define clear roles and strengthen independence and transparency: Stakeholders emphasized that SRTR’s value to the public depends on its ability to publish analyses transparently and its independence from OPTN operations. Stakeholders expressed concern about duplicative dashboards and the potential for siloed analytics as modernization efforts move forward. Respondents called for clearer and more consistent delineation of the respective roles of SRTR and the OPTN and urged HRSA to define these roles explicitly.
- Expand data beyond the waitlist: Respondents strongly supported SRTR analyzing referral, evaluation, and long-term outcomes to provide a more complete picture of patient access and system performance.
- Modernize SRTR’s data and technology infrastructure: Stakeholders encouraged HRSA to require modern ways for systems to share information (i.e., APIs), better coordination and data sharing with CMS and other federal partners, and updated tools for analyzing data.
- Improve tools for patients, families, and under-resourced transplant programs: Respondents highlighted the need for plain-language, user-friendly tools and targeted support for small transplant programs.
- Increase accountability for allocation and organ transport: Stakeholders identified gaps in national data on allocation out of OPTN sequence (AOOS) and organs lost or delayed in transport. They recommend the SRTR lead the development of standardized, transparent reporting.
These themes are informing HRSA's efforts to strengthen the SRTR and data-driven policy development and oversight across the OPTN. HRSA remains committed to engaging the transplant community throughout this process and will continue to share updates as plans develop.
Prioritizing Continued Operational Support
The SRTR, which is overseen by HRSA, is currently operated under contract by Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI). HRSA intends to award a six-month contract to HHRI by the end of March 2026, with options to renew further. HRSA will use this time to review the RFI findings and develop a solicitation that addresses current needs while advancing long-term modernization goals. This extension will ensure continuity of SRTR operations as HRSA works to modernize and strengthen the registry’s capabilities in the months ahead. During this extension period, HRSA intends to fully compete this contract and will share updates on that solicitation when they are available.
Streamlining Committee Structures for Increased Efficiency
As highlighted in the RFI findings, HRSA is looking to better define roles and responsibilities across the SRTR and the OPTN. As a result, HRSA is making changes to the committee structure that supports the SRTR. Previously, several SRTR stakeholder committees duplicated functionality and expertise already present within the OPTN's governance framework.
To amplify patient voices, increase the impact of stakeholder engagement, and clarify independent roles, HRSA will streamline these committees by integrating their functions into the OPTN's governance structure. This is a deliberate move toward alignment and integration; incorporating these functions into the OPTN framework will strengthen patient and scientific engagement while reducing duplication and creating a more cohesive governance experience across the national system.
Strengthening the SRTR’s Technology Foundation
In addition to operational and governance improvements, HRSA is upgrading the underlying technology that supports the SRTR by migrating the infrastructure to a secure cloud environment. This move will make the SRTR more reliable, secure, and resilient, and it will allow data to be shared more efficiently and securely with authorized partners. As with HRSA’s broader OPTN Modernization efforts, this transition is vendor-agnostic, meaning the system is not tied to a single vendor. This approach supports long-term flexibility, competition, and cost stewardship.
By modernizing the technology that powers the SRTR, HRSA is ensuring the registry has a secure and durable foundation to support transparency, high-quality analysis, and continued service to the transplant community.