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 Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
 AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
 ACTION: Request for comments.
 SUMMARY: The HOPE Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to develop and publish criteria for research involving the transplantation of organs from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV. In 2015, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published research criteria applicable to such transplants, which have been in effect for all transplants involving organs from donors with HIV as authorized by the HOPE Act. As amended in an HHS final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
                        **Federal Register**
                        , the Secretary determined that participation in clinical research should no longer be a requirement for the transplantation of kidneys and livers from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV and amended the HHS regulations governing the operation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to reflect this determination. As a result, HOPE Act transplants involving kidneys and livers from donors with HIV no longer need to comply with the research criteria. Given this regulatory change, NIH proposes to delete aspects of the research criteria that are specific to kidney and liver transplantation. NIH proposes additional changes to the research criteria based on its review of scientific evidence and in consideration of prior public feedback concerning the criteria, including comments provided in the recent rulemaking procedure that modified the OPTN regulations. NIH invites the public to submit comments regarding the proposed changes to the research criteria.
 DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on December 12, 2024.
 ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: *Email: HOPEAct@mail.nih.gov.*
                    *Fax:*
                         301-451-5671.
                    *Regular Mail:*
                         Dr. Jonah Odim, 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 6B21, MSC 9827, Bethesda, MD 20892-9827.
                    *Hand Delivery, Overnight Mail, FedEx, and UPS:*
                         Dr. Jonah Odim, 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 6B21, MSC 9827, Rockville, MD 20852.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jonah Odim, Chief Clinical Transplantation Section, Transplantation Branch, 5601 Fishers 
                        ( print page 93617)
                        Lane, Room 6B21, MSC 9827, Rockville, MD 20892-9827; by email at 
                        *odimj@niaid.nih.gov;*
                         by telephone at (301) 828-7220.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background A. HHS Oversight of Organ Allocation and Transplantation HHS is responsible for overseeing the operation of the nation's OPTN, including assisting in the equitable allocation of donor organs for transplantation. 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(2)(D). The OPTN is a network of transplant centers, organ procurement organizations, and other providers who work collectively to develop, implement, and monitor organ allocation policy and performance of the organ transplant system. The OPTN is also charged with developing policies on many subjects related to organ donation and transplantation, which include establishing standards of quality pertaining to organs procured for use in transplantation. 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(2)(E). B. HOPE Act Requirements and Implementation The enactment of the HOPE Act in 2013, Public Law 113-51, eliminated the prohibition in the United States on transplantation of organs from persons with HIV, allowing transplantation of these organs if certain requirements are satisfied. Under the HOPE Act, organs from donors with HIV may be transplanted only in recipients living with HIV prior to receiving such an organ. 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(3)(A). Further, the HOPE Act requires that transplants of HIV-positive organs occur only in recipients with HIV who are participating in institutional review board (IRB)-approved research protocols that adhere to certain criteria, standards, and regulations. 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(3)(B)(i). However, the Secretary may lift the research and IRB requirements if the Secretary has determined that participation in such clinical research, as a requirement for such transplants, is no longer warranted. 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(3)(B)(ii). The HOPE Act outlines the process by which the Secretary may make such a determination under 42 U.S.C. 274(b)(3)(B)(ii). Specifically, the Secretary must routinely review the results of scientific research, in conjunction with the OPTN, to determine whether the results warrant revision of the OPTN standards of quality regarding organs from donors with HIV. If the Secretary determines that those standards of quality should be revised, the Secretary must direct the OPTN to revise the standards. 42 U.S.C. 274f-5(c)(2). The Secretary is also required to revise the regulatory provision implementing the HOPE Act, 42 CFR 121.6, upon determining that revisions to the OPTN standards of quality are warranted. 42 U.S.C. 274f-5(c)(3). C. Research Criteria for HOPE Act Transplants In 2015, NIH published proposed research criteria for HOPE Act transplants in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     and solicited public comment. 80 FR 34912 (June 18, 2015). After consideration of public comments received, NIH published the “Final Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act Safeguards and Research Criteria for Transplantation of Organs Infected With HIV” (“2015 Research Criteria”). 80 FR 73785 (November 25, 2015). The goals of the 2015 Research Criteria were to ensure that research using organs from donors with HIV was conducted under conditions protecting the safety of research participants and the public and that the results of this research provide a basis for evaluating the safety of transplants of organs from donors with HIV in recipients with HIV. 80 FR 73785. 1. Proposed Changes to the 2015 Research Criteria NIH is now proposing changes to the 2015 Research Criteria to reflect the Secretary's determination, published by regulation on November 27, 2024, that HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants are no longer required to be conducted as research subject to the 2015 Research Criteria and to continue to further the goals shared in 2015 with respect to HOPE Act transplants of other organs from donors with HIV that remain subject to the Research Criteria. NIH proposes to remove requirements from the Research Criteria applicable to HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants. NIH also proposes other changes to the 2015 NIH Research Criteria for conducting HOPE Act transplants of organs other than kidneys and livers (primarily heart and lung transplants) in IRB-approved research. The proposed changes are intended to accelerate research, ensure research participant safety, and maintain stakeholder confidence in clinical research conducted under the HOPE Act. Notable revisions include the elimination of (i) the transplant program experience requirement of five organ-specific transplants of organs from a donor without HIV in a recipient with HIV conducted over 4 years; (ii) mandated pre-implant biopsies; and (iii) the requirement for HIV independent advocates for living donors with HIV and recipients with HIV. Other organs (including multi visceral organs such as small intestine, stomach, liver, pancreas and colon) and multi organ transplants (
                    *e.g.,*
                     heart-kidney) must comply with the revised Research Criteria for inclusion of any non-kidney or non-liver organs from donors with HIV and subject to IRB approval. 2. Consideration of Public Comment Received on the HOPE Act NPRM In proposing these changes, NIH has considered the public participation in the HOPE Act rulemaking process through which the Secretary's determination was made. In response to the September 21, 2024, notice of proposed rulemaking that proposed the Secretary's determination with respect to HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants, 89 FR 74174, HHS received multiple comments that were relevant to the NIH Research Criteria, and some comments provided specific suggestions for the content of the revised NIH Research Criteria. All comments relating to the content of the revised Research Criteria were provided to NIH for consideration in the development of the proposed revised Research Criteria that appear later in this document. NIH has considered these comments and proposes changes to the Research Criteria responsive to specific comments received, as described here. Several commenters noted that referring to organs “infected with HIV” or “HIV positive organs” may be stigmatizing, and one commenter requested that references to “organs with HIV” be revised to “organ(s) from donors with HIV.” The commenters indicated a strong preference for the use of stigma-reducing, and person-first language. In response to these comments, NIH proposes to revise references in the Research Criteria to refer to donors with HIV, recipients with HIV, and organs from donors with HIV. This is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Stigma Language Guide [1]
                    
                     and with language adopted in the final rule. Commenters also requested the elimination of the current requirement that a transplant team perform at least five transplants within a four-year period between any donor and a recipient with HIV for all organs, as, in the commenters' estimation, this( print page 93618)
                    requirement is not necessary for organs from donors with HIV to be used safely. In response to these comments and based on its review of the evidence, NIH proposes to remove this requirement from the proposed revised Research Criteria.
                Commenters suggested that each transplant team should include infectious disease specialists with expertise in HIV care. In response to these comments and based on its review of the evidence, NIH proposes that this requirement of the 2015 NIH Research Criteria be retained in the revised Research Criteria.
                One commenter requested the elimination of the biopsy requirement. In response to this comment and based on its review of the evidence, NIH proposes to eliminate the requirement for a pre-implantation biopsy.
                One commenter noted that, in revising the Research Criteria, NIH should maintain the strong patient safety record for HOPE Act transplants, while actively seeking to reduce burdens that may be slowing the establishment of non-kidney and non-liver HOPE Act transplant programs. In response to this comment and based on its review of the evidence, NIH believes that the proposed revisions to the Research Criteria appropriately strike this balance. NIH's rationale for these specific proposed revisions to the Research Criteria is provided in more detail in Section III, below. The Secretary delegated to the Director, NIH, the responsibility to revise the 2015 Research Criteria. The proposed revised Research Criteria proposed below were developed by NIH staff in collaboration with representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. If adopted as proposed, it is anticipated that the revised Research Criteria would expand access to transplantation for recipients with HIV, provide benefits to organ donors; ensure safety of ongoing HOPE Act transplants of organs other than kidneys and livers; and provide for the systematic collection of safety and efficacy data related to transplants of hearts, lungs, and other organs from donors with HIV in recipients with HIV. 3. Other Considerations (a) Research Results—Heart and Lung Transplants in Recipients With HIV As the Secretary has decided that HOPE Act transplants of organs other than kidneys and livers should remain subject to the Research Criteria until additional scientific research demonstrates the safety and efficacy of such transplants, NIH wishes to highlight the current state of the science with regard to transplantation of hearts and lungs from donors without HIV in recipients with HIV. The early outcomes data for such transplants may provide a foundation for future HOPE Act thoracic organ transplants (Koval 2018, 2019; Madan 2019). For example, in a retrospective analysis utilizing the OPTN database to compare outcomes of 75 heart transplant recipients with HIV to those of 29,848 heart transplant recipients without HIV, survival rates were similar across the comparator groups, while rejection rates were approximately 2-fold higher in recipients with HIV (38.7% vs. 17.7%, respectively) (Doberne 2021). Similar findings were reported in studies based on the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) databases (Wairmu 2021; Storm 2024; Madan 2019). Fewer transplants of lungs from donors without HIV in recipients with HIV have been reported (Koval 2019; Kern 2014; Rouzaud 2022). NIH recognizes that additional research in this area will advance the state of the relevant science, and the results of such research will increase the evidence basis needed to support any future determination by the Secretary that participation in clinical research is no longer a requirement for transplants of hearts or lungs from donors with HIV in recipients with HIV. (b) Education Regarding the HOPE Act While no related proposals are included in the proposed revision to the 2015 Research Criteria, NIH further notes that expanding awareness and continuing education of potential organ donors, transplant centers, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), healthcare providers, and people living with HIV will be important to fully realize the medical and societal benefits envisioned under the HOPE Act. Success in these endeavors will expand the supply of quality donor HIV organs, enhance transplant access, improve quality of life, and increase longevity for potential transplant recipients with HIV. Reducing longstanding stigma and increasing access to organ transplantation will be particularly important for communities disproportionately impacted by HIV (
                    *https://www.hiv.gov/​hiv-basics/​overview/​about-hiv-and-aids/​who-is-at-risk-for-hiv*). (D) Secretary's Review of Research Results As stated above, the HOPE Act requires that the Secretary, in conjunction with the OPTN, periodically review the results of scientific research to determine whether the results warrant revision to the OPTN standards of quality with respect to organs from donors with HIV and the safety of transplanting an organ from a donor with a particular strain of HIV into a recipient with a different strain of HIV. 42 U.S.C. 274f-5(c)(1). This review allows the Secretary to determine if the safety and efficacy of HOPE Act transplants are comparable to non-HOPE Act transplants and, if warranted, to further determine whether such transplants may be conducted outside of a research setting. Past procedures for this review are described in detail in the final rule amending the OPTN regulation. Past reviews involved deliberations by bodies that provided recommendations to the Secretary, including the OPTN (which solicited and considered public comments) [2 3]
                     the HHS Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability (ACBTSA) [4]
                    
                     and the HHS Blood, Organ, and Tissue Senior Executive Council (BOTSEC) (an advisory forum for senior leadership from HHS entities involved in blood, organ, and tissue safety and availability. The recommendations of the OPTN, ASBTSA, and BOTSEC, as well as subsequent research results, were considered in the Secretary's decision as to whether participation in clinical research, as a requirement for certain types of transplants of organs from donors with HIV, is no longer warranted. Although not incorporated into the 2015 Research Criteria or the proposed revised criteria, HHS intends to conduct a regular review of such scientific research to enable evidence-based recommendations, including any changes to the Research Criteria, and any determinations on transitioning additional HOPE Act organ transplants to medical practice and standard-of-care 
                    ( print page 93619)
                    (
                    *i.e.,*
                     removing the clinical research and IRB requirements for such transplants) if appropriate in the future. NIH seeks public comment on this approach, and on the procedures through which this review should be conducted. II. Instructions for Submitting Comments Comments are invited on the proposed changes to the 2015 Research Criteria. Please note that, during the rulemaking process resulting in the HHS final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    , HHS received and considered public comments regarding whether HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants from donors with HIV should continue to be required to be conducted in accordance with the 2015 Research Criteria. After consideration of public comments received, the Secretary determined that participation in clinical research will no longer be a requirement for HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants from donors with HIV. Further, in making the determination regarding HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants, the Secretary expressed the view in the notice of proposed rulemaking published on September 12, 2024, 89 FR 74174, that the current research and IRB requirements should be maintained for HOPE Act transplants of all other organs, considering the lack of data on outcomes for HOPE Act organ transplants other than kidney or liver transplants. This decision was affirmed in the HHS final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    . Because the Secretary's determination regarding HOPE Act kidney and liver transplants, and the Secretary's decision that other HOPE Act organ transplants should remain subject to the Research Criteria, resulted from full notice and comment rulemaking procedures, NIH views comments concerning the Secretary's determination or decision to be outside the scope of this solicitation and such comments will not be considered. Specifically, related comments will not be considered with respect to these proposed changes to the 2015 Research Criteria: (1) eliminating the requirement that transplants involving kidneys and livers from donors with HIV comply with the NIH Research Criteria; (2) retaining the requirement that transplants involving all other organs (other than kidneys and livers) from donors with HIV comply with the NIH Research Criteria; and (3) removal of criteria specific to the transplantation of kidneys and livers. Do not include personal information in submitted comments that you do not want to be publicly disclosed. III. Proposed Revision to the 2015 Research Criteria The proposed revision to the 2015 Research Criteria is as follows: Proposed Revised Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act Safeguards and Research Criteria for Transplantation of Organs From Donors With HIV Table of Contents Abbreviations Definitions Proposed Revised Hope Act Safeguards and Research Criteria Table 1. Revised Final Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act Safeguards and Research Criteria for Transplantation of Organs With HIV REFERENCES Abbreviations
AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.ART
Antiretroviral Therapy.CD4
Cluster of Differentiation 4.D−
Donor Human Immunodeficiency Virus negative.D+
Donor Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive.HBV
Hepatitis B virus.HCT/Ps
Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps).HCV
Hepatitis C virus.HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus.HIV−
Human Immunodeficiency Virus negative (using serology and/or nucleic acid testing using FDA-licensed, approved or cleared devices).HIV+
Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive (using serology and/or nucleic acid testing using FDA-licensed, approved or cleared devices).HOPE Act
HIV Organ Policy Equity Act.HRSA
Health Resources and Services Administration.IRB
Institutional review board.NIH
National Institutes of Health.NPRM
Notice of proposed rule making.OI
Opportunistic infection.OPO
Organ procurement organization.PML
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.R−
Recipient HIV negative.R+
Recipient HIV positive.RNA
Ribonucleic acid.SOPs
Standard operating procedures.
 Definitions
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) resistance
When an HIV strain develops drug resistance and/or genetic mutations associated with drug resistance.HIV superinfection
Systemic HIV superinfection is defined as the detection of HIV viral sequences that phylogenetically cluster with the donor's viral population at two or more time points in circulating blood cells, plasma, or recipient tissues other than the allograft.Suppressed viral load
HIV RNA below 50 copies per mL with current technology at the time of publication of this research criteria document.
 The 2015 Research Criteria are outlined in six broad categories (Donor Eligibility, Recipient Eligibility, Transplant Hospital Criteria, Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) Responsibilities, Prevention of Inadvertent Transmission of HIV, and Study Design/Required Data Elements and Outcome Measures). Table 1 summarizes the proposed new HOPE Act Research Criteria in each category 
                    ( print page 93620)
                    and compares them to the 2015 NIH Research Criteria. Table 1—Proposed Revised Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act Safeguards and Research Criteria for Transplantation of Organs From Donors With HIV 1
Category
Previous criteria
Proposed revised criteria
                             
                                (No longer pertains to kidney and liver transplants 5
                                )Donor Eligibility:*All deceased donors with HIV*
No evidence of invasive opportunistic complications of HIV infection
No evidence of invasive opportunistic complications of HIV infection.Pre-implant donor organ biopsy
There is no requirement for a pre-implantation biopsy.*Viral load: no requirement
Viral load: no requirement.*Deceased donor with known history of HIV and prior antiretroviral therapy (ART)*
The study team must describe the anticipated post-transplant antiretroviral regimen(s) to be prescribed for the recipient and justify its conclusion that the regimen will be safe, tolerable, and effective
The study team must describe the anticipated post-transplant antiretroviral regimen(s) to be prescribed for the recipient and justify its conclusion that the regimen will be safe, tolerable, and effective.*Living donor with HIV*
Well-controlled HIV infection defined as:
                             • Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) + T-cell count ≥500/μL for the 6-month period before donation 
                             • HIV-1 ribonucleic acid (RNA) <50 copies/mL 
                             • No evidence of invasive opportunistic complications of HIV infection 
                             Pre-implant donor organ biopsy
*Thoracic Organs Exception:*
                             The living donor standards are not relevant for thoracic organ transplant except in the rare instances of living donor lung transplant or “domino” heart transplant. In such circumstances, the deceased donor eligibility criteria should be followed.
                             
                                *Other Organs:*
                                 If a living donor with HIV donates another type or organ (other than kidney and liver), the deceased donor eligibility criteria should be followed.*Recipient Eligibility:
CD4+ T-cell count ≥200/μL (kidney)
                             CD4+ T-cell count ≥100 μL (liver) within 16 weeks prior to transplant and no history of opportunistic infection (OI); or ≥200 μL if history of OI is present
CD4+ T-cell count: no minimum threshold when all other recipient eligibility criteria are met.*HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL and on a stable antiretroviral regimen
HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL and on a stable antiretroviral regimen.No evidence of active opportunistic complications of HIV infection
No evidence of active opportunistic complications of HIV infection.No history of primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
No history of primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Transplant Hospital Criteria
Transplant hospital with established program for care of subjects with HIV
Transplant hospital with established program for care of patients with HIV.HIV program expertise on the transplant team
HIV program expertise on the transplant team.Organ-specific experience with transplants of organs from donors without HIV to recipients with HIV (5 D-/R+ transplant cases over 4 years)
There is no longer a center specific case experience requirement with transplants of organs from donors without HIV to recipients with HIV.* Transplant patients with organs from donors with HIV must be managed with a multidisciplinary team before, during, and after transplant. The multidisciplinary team must include transplant surgeons, physicians, HIV specialists, nurses, social workers, and pharmacists capable of therapeutic drug monitoring to minimize drug-drug interactions.Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training for the organ procurement, implanting/operative, and postoperative care teams for handling subjects with HIV, and organs and tissues from individuals with HIV
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training for the organ procurement, implanting/operative, and postoperative care teams for handling HIV-infected subjects with HIV, and organs and tissues from individuals with HIV.IRB-approved research protocol for transplantation of organs from donors with HIV in recipients with HIV
IRB-approved research protocol for transplantation of organs from donors with HIV in recipients with HIV for the applicable organs.*Institutional biohazard plan outlining measures to prevent and manage inadvertent exposure to and/or transmission of HIV
Institutional biohazard plan outlining measures to prevent and manage inadvertent exposure to and/or transmission of HIV.Provide each living donor with HIV and recipient with HIV with an “independent advocate”
There is no longer a requirement to provide an HIV independent advocate beyond standard site practices.*Policies and SOPs governing the necessary knowledge, experience, skills, and training for independent advocates
Policies and SOPs governing the necessary knowledge, experience, skills, and training for independent advocates.( print page 93621)OPO Responsibilities
SOPs and staff training procedures for working with deceased donors with HIV and their families in pertinent history taking; medical chart abstraction; the consent process; and handling blood, tissues, organs, and biospecimens
SOPs and staff training procedures for working with deceased donors with HIV and their families in pertinent history taking; medical chart abstraction; the consent process; and handling blood, tissues, organs, and biospecimens.Biohazard plan to prevent and manage HIV exposure and/or transmission
Biohazard plan to prevent and manage HIV exposure and/or transmission.Prevention of Inadvertent Transmission of HIV
Each participating Transplant Program and OPO shall develop an institutional biohazard plan for handling organs from HIV-positive donors that is designed to prevent and/or manage inadvertent transmission or exposure to HIV
Each participating Transplant Program and OPO shall develop an institutional biohazard plan for handling organs from HIV-positive donors that is designed to prevent and/or manage inadvertent transmission or exposure to HIV.Procedures must be in place to ensure that human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) are not recovered from donors with HIV for implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient; however, HCT/Ps from a donor determined to be ineligible may be made available for nonclinical purposes
Procedures must be in place to ensure that human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) are not recovered from donors with HIV for implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient; however, HCT/Ps from a donor determined to be ineligible may be made available for nonclinical purposes.Required Data Elements and Outcome Measures ***Wait List Candidates*
HIV status
HIV status.CD4+ T-cell counts
CD4+ T-cell counts.Co-infection (hepatitis C virus [HCV], hepatitis B virus [HBV])
Co-infection:
                             • Hepatitis C (HCV RNA). 
                             • Hepatitis B (HBV deoxyribonucleic acid, HBV antibody). 
                             • Cytomegalovirus (CMV immunoglobulin G [IgG]).*HIV viral load
HIV viral load.ART resistance
ART resistance.Removal from wait list (death or other reason)
Removal from wait list (death or other reason).Time on wait list
Time on wait list.
                             Renal dysfunction.* 
                             Liver dysfunction.* 
                             Indication for transplant.* 
                             Use of mechanical circulatory devices.* 
                             Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular assist device.**Donors (all)*
Type (Living or deceased)
Type Donation after Brain Death vs. Donation after Circulatory Death vs. Living Donor.*HIV status (new diagnosis of HIV, or known diagnosis of HIV)
HIV status (new diagnosis of HIV, or known diagnosis of HIV).CD4+ T-cell count
CD4+ T-cell count.Co-infection (HCV, HBV)
Co-infection (HCV, HBV).HIV viral load
HIV viral load.ART resistance
ART resistance.Ex-vivo perfusion.*
                             • Duration. 
                             • Warm and cold ischemia time. 
                             Normothermic regional perfusion.* 
                             • Duration. 
                             • Warm and cold ischemia time.*Living Donors*
Progression to renal insufficiency in kidney donors
                             Progression to hepatic insufficiency in liver donors
These data elements no longer apply since kidney or liver donation from a living donor with HIV no longer falls under the Research Criteria except that these data elements apply to simultaneous multiple organ transplants.Change in ART regimen as a result of organ dysfunction
Change in ART regimen as a result of organ dysfunction.Progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Progression to AIDS.Failure to suppress viral replication (persistent HIV viremia)
Failure to suppress viral replication (persistent HIV viremia).Death
Death.*Transplant Recipients*
Rejection rate (annual up to 5 years)
Rejection rate (annual through 5 years).Progression to AIDS
Progression to AIDS.( print page 93622)New OI
New OI.Failure to suppress viral replication (persistent HIV viremia)
Failure to suppress viral replication (persistent HIV viremia).HIV-associated organ failure
HIV-associated organ failure.Malignancy
Malignancy.Graft failure
Graft failure.Mismatched ART resistance versus donor
Mismatched ART resistance versus donor.Death
Death.Type of rejection (antibody mediated versus cellular rejection).*Chronic heart allograft vasculopathy.*Chronic lung allograft dysfunction.*Hospitalized infections.*Estimated glomerular filtration rate.*HIV superinfection.*Re-transplantation.*Simultaneous multiple organ transplants.* Denotes a revision of the 2015 Research Criteria.** The previous category of outcome measures (from the original 2015 Research Criteria) is modified to also include data elements.
 A summary of the proposed revisions
                    
                     in each category of the Research Criteria is provided below. Donor Eligibility The only change proposed by NIH to this category applies to all deceased donors with HIV. NIH proposes removing the requirement for a pre-implantation donor organ biopsy. Although pre-implantation biopsies for kidneys and livers have occurred regularly, pre-implant donor heart and lung biopsies are not routinely performed. Likewise, donor biopsies for other organs are not routine. Given that kidney and liver transplants are no longer subject to the NIH research criteria, NIH proposes removing the requirement for pre-implantation biopsies. Any pre-implant biopsies obtained, as part of future IRB-approved research protocols, should be stored in accordance with local institutional requirements and the federal regulations applicable to slides, tissues, and blocks, if applicable. 42 CFR 493.1105 (
                    *https://www.ecfr.gov/​current/​title-42/​chapter-IV/​subchapter-G/​part-493/​subpart-J/​section-493.1105*). With respect to living donors with HIV, the 2015 NIH Research Criteria defined a well-controlled HIV infection and required pre-implant donor organ biopsies. The last living lobar lung transplant procedure in the U.S. was performed in 2013. NIH proposes removing this element as not relevant for heart and lung transplantation except in the rare instances of living donor lung transplant or “domino” heart transplants. In such circumstances, NIH proposes that the deceased donor eligibility criteria apply. If another type of organ is donated by a living donor with HIV, NIH proposes that the deceased donor eligibility criteria apply. Recipient Eligibility The only change proposed in this category concerns CD4+ T-cell counts. The 2015 NIH Research Criteria imposed requirements with respect to the CD4+ T-cell counts specific to livers and kidneys. Given that kidney and liver transplants are no longer required to comply with the research criteria, NIH proposes no minimum threshold CD4+ T-cell counts for other organs when all other eligibility criteria are met. Transplant Hospital NIH proposes several changes to this category. The requirement for prior experience with transplantation of organs from donors without HIV in recipients with HIV. The 2015 NIH Research Criteria required experience with five transplants over the four preceding years involving organs from donors without HIV transplanted into recipients with HIV. NIH proposes removing this requirement, which was perceived by many as burdensome and a barrier to entry to transplant hospitals wishing to perform HOPE Act transplants. To maximize favorable outcomes and effectively prevent and manage adverse events, NIH proposes that all patients with transplants involving donors with HIV be managed by multidisciplinary teams before, during, and after transplantation. NIH proposes specific members of this multidisciplinary team. NIH proposes removing the requirement that each living donor with HIV and each transplant recipient with HIV be provided with an HIV-independent advocate. NIH proposes instead that standard site practices apply. Based on a decade of HOPE Act clinical experience, stakeholder surveys have indicated that a requirement for an independent advocate is widely perceived as a redundant layer of consent and a potential barrier for some HIV patients who would otherwise benefit from an HIV donor transplant. The NIH notes that per current OPTN policy and guidance, all living donors, including those with HIV, have an independent advocate. NIH's proposed change to the 2015 Research Criteria will not alter that.
                    ( print page 93623) Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) Responsibilities NIH does not propose changes to this category. Prevention of Inadvertent Transmission of HIV NIH does not propose changes to this category. Required Outcome Measures and Data Elements The 2015 Research Criteria referenced required outcome measures. NIH proposes using the more precise “Required Data Elements and Outcome Measures.” NIH notes that data on these existing and proposed outcome measures is collected by the OPTN as specified by the Secretary. NIH does not intend to propose data collection requirements beyond those collected by the OPTN. *Waitlist Candidates:*
                     NIH proposes adding several data elements for waitlist candidates. NIH proposes adding cytomegalovirus (CMV immunoglobulin G [IgG]) as a required outcome measure for co-infection. NIH also proposes adding additional data elements and outcome measures: renal dysfunction, liver dysfunction, indication for transplant, use of mechanical circulatory devices, and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intra-aortic balloon pump, and ventricular assist device. *Donors (All):*
                     First, NIH proposes adding additional elements related to the type of deceased donation: after brain death (DBD) or after circulatory death (DCD) given the increasing use of the latter technique in the U.S. In addition, NIH proposes the following data elements for all donors (if applicable): 
                    *ex-vivo*
                     perfusion and normothermic regional perfusion including durations of warm and cold ischemia. *Living Donors:*
                     The 2015 NIH Research Criteria included as required outcome measures progression to renal insufficiency in kidney living donors. Because kidney and liver transplants are no longer subject to the research criteria, NIH plans to retain these outcomes only where applicable (
                    *e.g.,*
                     for deceased donor heart-living donor kidney transplants, deceased donor heart-living donor liver transplants, and for other organs subject to the research criteria). *Transplant Recipients:*
                     NIH proposes adding several additional data elements and outcome measures to those included for transplant recipients in the 2015 NIH Research Criteria. NIH proposes adding the following outcome measures: type of rejection (antibody-mediated versus cellular rejection), chronic allograft vasculopathy (heart), chronic lung allograft dysfunction (lung), hospital infections, estimated glomerular filtration rate (heart and lung), HIV superinfection, graft failure (heart and lung), re-transplantation, and simultaneous multiple organ transplants. While not proposed as a requirement of the Research Criteria, NIH proposes to provide the following recommendation regarding patient management: NIH recommends that transplant programs and healthcare providers follow current and updated practice management guidelines. For specific guidance, transplant programs and healthcare providers should consult vaccination guidance (
                    *https://www.cdc.gov/​acip-recs/​hcp/​vaccine-specific/​index.html*) and expert guidance for the management of patients with HIV pre-, during-, and post-transplant summarized in: Transplantation in people with HIV (
                    *https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/​en/​guidelines/​hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-arv/​whats-new*). References 1. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act Safeguards and Research Criteria for Transplantation of Organs Infected With HIV. 80 FR 34912. June 18, 2015. 2. Doberne J.W., et al. (2021). Heart transplantation survival outcomes of HIV positive and negative recipients. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 111:1465-71. 3. Durand C., et al. (2024). Safety of kidney transplantation from donors with HIV infection. N Engl J Med, 391:1390-401. 4. HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act of 2013. Public Law 113-51. 5. Kern, R., Seethamraju, H., Blanc, P., Sinha, N., Loebe, M., Golden, J., et al. (2014). Lung Transplantation in HIV Seropositive Patients. Chest, 145(3 Suppl), 642A. 6. Koval C., et al. (2018). Heart and lung transplantation outcomes in HIV-positive recipients. 7. Koval, C.E., Farr, M., Krisl, J., Haidar, G., Pereira, M.R., Shrestha, N., Malinis, M.F., Mueller, N.J., Hannan, M.M., Grossi, P., & Huprikar, S. (2019). Heart or lung transplant outcomes in HIV-infected recipients. The Journal of heart and lung transplantation: the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation, 38(12), 1296-1305. 
                        *https://doi.org/​10.1016/​j.healun.2019.09.011.* 8. Madan S., et al, (2019). Outcomes of heart transplantation in patients with human immunodeficiency virus. Am J Transplant. 19:1529-35. 9. Rouzaud C., et al., (2022). Lung transplantation in HIV-positive patients: a European retrospective cohort study. Eur Respir J. 60(1):2200189. 10. Storm, K., & Durand, C.M. (2024). Overcoming barriers and stigma: new frontiers in solid organ transplantation for people with HIV. 
                        *Clinical microbiology reviews, 37*
                        (1), e0011122. 
                        *https://doi.org/​10.1128/​cmr.00111-22.* 11. Wairimu, F., Ward, N.C., Liu, Y., & Dwivedi, G. (2021). Cardiac Transplantation in HIV-Positive Patients: A Narrative Review. 
                        *Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 87*
                        (2), 763-768. 
                        *https://doi.org/​10.1097/​QAI.0000000000002647.* Dated: November 21, 2024. Lawrence A. Tabak, Principal Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Let's Stop HIV Together: Stigma Language Guide. 
                        *https://www.cdc.gov/​stophivtogether/​hiv-stigma/​ways-to-stop.html.*
                         Accessed 2/23/2024. Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Public Comment Proposal: Modify the HOPE Act Variance to Include Other Organs. 2019 Jan 22: 
                        *https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/​media/​2800/​dtac_​publiccomment_​20190122.pdf.* 3.
    
                         Cooper M. “OPTN Letter to Secretary Becerra on the HOPE Act.” 2021 Oct 29. 
                        *https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/​media/​ueyjdfnd/​hope-act-letter.pdf.* Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         HHS Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability. 2022. Fifty-Sixth ACBTSA Meeting November 17, 2022—Meeting Summary. 
                        *https://www.hhs.gov/​oidp/​advisory-committee/​blood-tissue-safety-availability/​meeting-summary/​2022-11-17/​index.html.* Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         Consistent with the final rule amending the OPTN regulations, transplants using kidneys and livers from donors with HIV no longer need to comply with the HOPE Act research criteria. When multiple organs from donors with HIV are implanted simultaneously (
                        *e.g.,*
                         dual heart-kidney or dual lung-kidney), the Research Criteria apply to such multiple organ transplants if the transplant of any of the organs are subject to the revised Research Criteria. For example, while a kidney transplant from a donor with HIV no longer is required to be conducted in accordance with the Research Criteria, a dual heart-kidney or dual lung-kidney transplant with organs from donors with HIV is required to be conducted in accordance with the Research Criteria and in accordance with an IRB-approved research protocol. A dual liver-kidney transplant with from donors with HIV is not required to be conducted in accordance with the Research Criteria, as neither liver transplants nor kidney transplants from donors with HIV are required to be conducted as research. Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2024-27733 Filed 11-26-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140-01-P