The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
By: Steven J. Phillips, M.D.

As a past president of the Polk County Medical Society, I am pleased, in my role of 2002-2003 President of the American Society for Artificial Organs (ASAIO), to write an article for our Bulletin about that Society.

The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs is a scientific society of approximately 1,400 active members. The Membership consists of a diverse group of specialists from 40 different countries with over 30 different professional degrees. These individuals represent government, universities, industry, private hospitals and independent research groups. The areas of nephrology, biomaterials and cardiopulmonary devices are well represented in addition to numerous other specialized interests and disciplines.

The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs will be 50 years old in 2004. ASAIO has long been the home of next-generation medicine and cutting-edge research in a wide range of bionic technologies. At the dawn of the 21st century, the bionic human is emerging as a living being supplemented by an artificial heart, liver, kidneys, eyes and ears. Cell lines will soon create regenerated tissue to complement man-made bits and factory components. Before long, the use of such replacement parts will be standard medical practice.

ASAIO takes pride in its presentation of an annual conference, which draws over 1,000 attendees with a broad range of primary interests. This conference provides a forum for over 400 speakers from more than a dozen countries. This annual conference is truly unique in that it provides a forum for individual researchers to present not only to fellow investigators, but also to members of industry and to government representatives who will be involved in regulatory affairs as the projects are developed into the production of clinical devices. This conference provides continuing education for accreditation for CME, CCP, and CEU.

Highlights of the 2002 June meeting included the latest advances in:

· Bioartificial livers, next generation artificial hearts and kidneys, artificial eyes for the blind, therapeutic cloning to produce human spare parts.

New research findings presented in June included:

· Development and testing of an artificial eye
· Use of umbilical cord cells to repair holes in the heart
· Implanting filters to stop blood clots from reaching the brain
· Freeze-dried pericardium patches tissue; artificial dura patches brain
· NASA technology produces bioartificial liver
· Vocal cords regenerated from stem cells
· The future: Robot surgeons and bionic humans

Through the generous support of dedicated individuals and foundations, such as the Whitaker Foundation and numerous industrial members, ASAIO has been able to award grants for many young investigators to allow them to have the financial means to attend the annual conference. These include ASAIO Fellowship Awards, Biomedical Engineering Student Fellowship Awards, as well as the ASAIO Willem J. Kolff Young Investigator Award, the ASAIO Medforte Innovation Award and the ASAIO Y. Nose International Travel Award.

ASAIO has a peer review Journal (ASAIO Journal) that is published six times per year. Five issues contain peer-reviewed articles and the sixth includes all the abstracts submitted for the annual conference.

Membership applications are welcomes from individuals who have an interest in artificial organs. Membership entitles one to bimonthly ASAIO journal issues, reduced annual conference registration fee, and CME accreditation for annual conference participation. Membership also gives you the opportunity to submit abstracts for publication, be considered to present at the annual conference and publish in the annual conference issue of the journal. Please visit our web site at www.ASAIO.com.