Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre Programs

The Transplant & Regenerative Medicine Centre (TRMC) is recognized as an international leader for complex transplantation and stem cell research and care, leading the world in: 

• Clinical care through innovation and evidence-based practice 
• Enhancing knowledge through comprehensive and collaborative educational practices 
• Disseminating potentially life-changing research discoveries across the hospital and around the globe 

Through our programs, we provide unsurpassed, measurable patient experiences in a family-centered environment that integrates efficient, innovative, and practice-changing healthcare, education, research, and advocacy. 

Heart Transplant Program

The Heart Transplant Program at SickKids has grown over the last 30 years into Canada’s premier centre for paediatric heart transplantation. Through clinical expertise, volumes, survival rates and research productivity, the heart transplant program has become one of the world’s best and biggest programs. The Heart Transplant Program is comprised of a team of interdisciplinary specialists with a high degree of expertise in managing this complex patient population. 

Medical Director: Dr. Anne Dipchand

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Kidney Transplant Program

In 1969, SickKids completed the first deceased donor paediatric kidney transplant in Canada. Today, we remain the country’s largest paediatric kidney transplant program. We work closely with our Ontario partners in Hamilton, London, and Ottawa to optimize the renal transplant care for children of all regions in Ontario. Our multidisciplinary team members have continued to focus their clinical and research activities on the adolescent population, and on the quality of life and long-term outcomes of the renal transplant recipients.

Medical Director: Dr. Chia Wei Teoh

Click here for more information about the Living Kidney Donor Program. 

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Liver Transplant Program

The SickKids Liver Transplant program's mission is to provide world-class comprehensive pre- and post-liver transplant care and superior clinical outcomes for infants, children and adolescents with end-stage liver disease. We are a leader in innovative paediatric liver transplant care, research, advocacy, and education. Our position as a leader and pioneer within Canada is evidenced by frequent requests to provide second opinions for complex patient cases that are not considered transplantable by other programs. 

Medical Director: Dr. Vicky Ng 

Click here for more information about the Living Liver Donor Program.

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Lung Transplant Program

SickKids is the largest paediatric lung transplant program in Canada and a world leader in paediatric lung transplantation. We have performed over 50 paediatric lung transplants since the program’s inception in 1995. The world’s first ABO incompatible (mismatch blood type) lung transplant was performed on an infant at SickKids in 2011. With the use of Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion, ECMO and interventional lung assist (iLA) as a bridge to lung transplantation, our program provides cutting-edge care to paediatric patients from across Canada. 

Medical Director:  Dr. Melinda Solomon

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Intestinal Transplant Program

The intestinal transplant program was established in 1999 and offers life-saving transplants for children with severe complications of intestinal failure. The program works closely with the Hospital’s intestinal failure program, the Group for Improvement of Intestinal Function and Treatment (GIFT) to optimize the treatment of children with this condition. Selection of transplant recipients is done by a multi-disciplinary team following a thorough assessment. Patients can receive isolated, intestine liver-intestine or multivisceral (stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas) transplant based on their medical needs. The intestinal transplant program is leading medical research in the field and is a member of the Intestine Transplant Registry, a world-wide effort to learn more about intestine transplantation.

Medical Director: Dr. Yaron Avitzur 

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The Group for Improvement of Intestinal Function Treatment (GIFT) Program

The Group for Improvement of Intestinal Function and Treatment (GIFT) at SickKids is the first formal multidisciplinary team in Canada dedicated to the treatment and research of intestinal failure in children. GIFT’s multidisciplinary team features SickKids staff from several areas – including general surgery, gastroenterology, neonatology, nursing, clinical nutrition, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, child life, and transplantation.  

Medical Director:  Dr. Paul Wales

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The Canadian Donation and Transplantaion Research Program

Founded in April 2013, the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP) develops new knowledge and healthcare practices to increase the availability of transplants for Canadians in need and improve long-term outcomes for patients receiving a transplant.

The CDTRP is the first program to bring together and integrate five research themes, overarching from creating a culture of donation to post-transplant long-term health. 

Click here for more information about the CDTRP.

Refer a patient to TRMC

Do you have a patient to refer to the SickKids Transplant & Regenerative Medicine Centre?  Learn more about our referral process by following the link below.

Refer a patient information

Partnerships