About Us
About the New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Donation Program
The New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Donation Program (NBOTDP) has supported organ, tissue and ocular donation in the province for more than 30 years. What began as separate services in eye and tissue donation has grown into an integrated provincial program that works with health-care partners, transplant programs and donor families to save and enhance lives.
NBOTDP coordinates donation provincewide, ensuring every opportunity for donation is handled with safety, dignity and compassion. The program is supported by Horizon Health Network, Vitalité Health Network and the New Brunswick Department of Health.
Our History
The roots of donation in New Brunswick date back to the early 1990s, when local clinicians recognized the need for faster, more reliable access to vision-restoring surgery.
1994 – New Brunswick Eye Bank opens
The New Brunswick Eye Bank (NBEB) opened at the Saint John Regional Hospital, reducing wait times for corneal transplants from years to weeks.
2000–2006 – Tissue services expand
The Dr. Donald MacLellan Tissue Bank (DDMTB) reopened in 2000. By 2006, it had achieved full accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and laid the foundation for modern tissue recovery and processing in the province.
2009–2013 – A unified provincial program
The Eye Bank and Tissue Bank merged under Horizon Health Network in 2009. In 2013, organ donation services were added, creating the New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Donation Program.
Today, NBOTDP coordinates all organ, tissue and ocular donation, providing safe and equitable access to donation and transplantation services across New Brunswick.
Our Divisions
These divisions work together to honour donors, support families and ensure safe, ethical practice.
Organ Donation Division
Organ donor coordinators, nurses and physician champions support deceased organ donation 24/7. The team works closely with the Multi-Organ Transplant Program (MOTP) in Nova Scotia to facilitate life-saving transplants for Atlantic Canadians.
Tissue Donation Division
Certified Tissue Bank Specialists recover, prepare and distribute donated bone and tendons for surgeries across New Brunswick. All work follows American Association of Tissue Banks-accredited processes and Health Canada requirements.
Ocular Donation Division
Certified Eye Bank Technicians recover and prepare donated corneas for sight-restoring surgery. The program follows standards set by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA).
What We Do
NBOTDP oversees all aspects of organ, tissue and ocular donation in New Brunswick. The program is responsible for:
- Identifying and screening potential donors
- Coordinating organ, tissue and ocular recovery
- Processing and distributing tissue grafts
- Ensuring compliance with national and international standards
- Providing education to health-care professionals
- Supporting donor families throughout the donation process
The program ensures donation is carried out safely, consistently and in accordance with Health Canada regulations.