To develop an investigational test to screen blood, tissue and organ donors, and to get this test in blood banks throughout the country, and then licensed this quickly is a remarkable achievement for public health and patient safety.

It is important to note that there are no age limitations on who can donate organs and tissue. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors.

Organ donors are the real heroes. I'm here today because of one. I'm forever grateful, forever humbled by that.

One organ and tissue donor can save up to seven lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others.

This virus tends to stick to tissue rather than move through it, so when we inject it into an organ like the brain, for instance, it tends to stay there. To be successful, we need the virus to move and spread through the body. So, we have evolved variants [of the virus] that have less stickiness to tissue.

I hope more people decide to become organ donors.