Ajmera Transplant Centre
The Ajmera Transplant Centre at the University Health Network (UHN) is the largest and most comprehensive transplant program in Canada.
As one of the top five programs in North America, we are known around the world as experts in kidney, liver, lung, heart and pancreas and intestinal transplant procedures.
The Ajmera Transplant Centre uses a coordinated team approach to care for all transplant patients. This focus helps the program develop unparalleled advances in transplantation and it provides the best medical and surgical care for our patients from all over the world. The Ajmera Transplant Centre also attracts and develops some of the world’s best leaders in surgical innovation, transplant medicine, nursing, and related areas of study.
Patient Outcomes
The Ajmera Transplant Centre is a national and global referring centre for patients who need some of the most complex transplants.
Patients come to UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre because:
- They are offered exceptional care from our dedicated multidisciplinary team.
- We achieve remarkable results because we know how to effectively turn new research from the laboratory to the clinic.
- We have better 1 year, 5 year and 10 year survival rates and surgical results compared to international standards.
- We have the best patient outcomes among transplant centres anywhere in the world.
Our Professionals
A dedicated team of transplant surgeons, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals make sure that all our patients receive the best possible individualized care. This begins before transplant, continues during surgery, and extends beyond recovery.
Our unique approach leads excellent short and long-term outcomes when compared to the U.S.
Research & Innovation
Research conducted by the Ajmera Transplant Centre focuses on improving health outcomes for people with organ transplants. Our ultimate goal is to be able to transplant organs that a person's body will never reject. The program continues to research new strategies to prevent acute and chronic organ rejection, and reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppressant medications.
The Ajmera Transplant Centre is pioneering many research projects that are changing the way in which transplant patients are treated and cared for. Some of these include:
- Transplant Organ Repair Centre
UHN's Ajmera Transplant Centre has developed the world's first centre which expands the ability to repair donor organs such as the lungs, liver, kidney, and heart. This increases the number of organs available for transplant. - Understanding and Overcoming Donor Organ Rejection
The Ajmera Transplant Centre is exploring a comprehensive "bench to bedside" research program to help us understand:
- Why the body rejects donated organs
- What will help reduce or eliminate the need for long-term therapy which suppresses the immune system of recipients (tolerance)
- Transplant Biobank
A state-of-the-art bank of thousands of tissue samples. The Ajmera Transplant Centre is currently finding ways to improve the health and quality of life for transplant patients. - Artificial Lungs
The Ajmera Transplant Centre is the only hospital in Ontario with a "bridge to transplant" program – an artificial lung technology. UHN's program is the leading referral centre in Canada for patients with acute lung failure. - Stem Cell Therapy
In partnership with the UHN McEwen Stem Cell Institute, the Ajmera Transplant Centre is working to develop clinical research using stem cell products for the treatment of diabetes and advanced liver disease, as well as to repair organs before transplantation. - Whole Organ Bioengineering
Transplant experts are researching techniques to bioengineer whole organs using a transplant recipient's own stem cells. - Transplant Infectious Diseases
The Ajmera Transplant Centre is assessing factors that lead to infections in transplant patients and how best to prevent and treat them.
Education Opportunities
UHN's Ajmera Transplant Centre offers a wide range of educational opportunities for medical professionals and attracts interest from the brightest doctors and surgeons around the world. Our program has strong ties to the University of Toronto and offers:
- A number of fellowships for physicians interested in surgical or medical clinic training and research in the fields of transplantation and immunology.
- Medical rounds for organ-specific transplant groups and a general session of interest to transplant professionals from all disciplines are held each week.
- Journal clubs and medical orientation also contribute to the educational development of staff and students.
- Nursing placements including:
- Nurse Practitioner placements in lung, heart and liver transplant.
- Nursing undergraduate placements for students consolidating in their final year.
- A comprehensive 5-day interprofessional transplant orientation for all nursing students and new hires.
