Organ Transplantation

Organ transplantation offers a long-term solution - or even a cure - for diabetes. People with diabetes may consider transplantation of the kidney, the pancreas, the kidney and pancreas together, or pancreatic islet cells. Any type of transplantation is a major, life-changing step that presents benefits as well as challenges. Any person considering transplantation must go through an intensive decision-making process and evaluation to assure that transplantation is the best option for their unique physical, emotional and lifestyle circumstances.

The University of Chicago Medical Center is one of the oldest, most experienced and most innovative transplant centers in the U.S. Surgeons here have pioneered techniques that increase the availability of donor organs and that improve the long-term results for individuals after transplantation. Our research into immunosuppression has contributed to the development of better immunosuppressant drugs. In fact, our research was instrumental in the development of OKT3, one of the main immunosuppression medications used for more than a decade. Most transplant patients depend on immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives to limit (suppress) the body's natural urge to reject the donor organ or tissue. However, immunosuppressant drugs also can cause side effects.

The University of Chicago Medical Center is a recognized leader in transplantation. Our achievements include:

• First hospital in Illinois to perform a pancreas transplant on a patient with advanced diabetes
• First successful heart-liver-kidney transplant in the world
• First heart-kidney-pancreas transplant in Illinois
• Minimally invasive surgery to secure kidneys from living donors, so donors can recover more easily and more quickly, compared to open surgery
• One of few places in the U.S. performing islet cell transplantation, an exciting yet still experimental option for type 1 diabetes.

Learn more about our transplantation programs.