More and more Filipinos become afflicted with end-stage organ failure, an incapacitating disease with organ transplant as the only chance of survival. Patients on organ waiting lists are gravely ill and approximately one person will die each week while waiting for the transplant. Although organ transplantation is a universally accepted mode of medical treatment that improves the quality of life among these patients, the scarcity of sources for transplantable organs plague the nation, and the rest of the world.

Recognizing this need, the Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE), formerly the Cadaver Organ Retrieval Effort (CORE) was established in 1983. It is the organ retrieval arm of the Institute tasked to advocate organ and tissue donation and to source out transplantable organs from deceased organ donors thru its network of various government and private hospitals in the country. It recovers mainly kidneys, pancreas and liver but may include other vital organs like the lungs, heart when the proper program is put in place. It also provides a network for tissues such as corneas, bones, heart valves, and skin. The recovered organs are placed among patients in the waiting list.

HOPE's main thrust is focused on deceased organ donation. We are working 24/7 to attend to the calls for possible deceased donor referrals. HOPE also screens directed living non-related donors who voluntarily donate their kidneys to patients to whom they have an emotional attachment to.

HOPE envisions to be an independent organ procurement organization in the future. This can be realized by educating every Filipino to accept the nobility of organ and tissue donation and become donors to help save lives. With total dedication and hard work from its people, there is room for HOPE.