September 15, 2003

Contact:
Debbie Neufert
Media Relations, LHSC
519-685-8500, ext. 74772

London Health Sciences Centre to begin kidney-pancreas transplants

(LONDON, Ontario) London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) announced today that it has received funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to become the second site in Ontario for kidney-pancreas transplants. The one-time provincial funding of $595,200 will support 8 kidney-pancreas transplants over the next year.

"The decision by the province to allow our hospital to proceed with this highly specialized program recognizes the provincial, national and international stature of LHSC's transplant team," says Tony Dagnone, LHSC president and CEO. Dagnone also says, "Kidney-pancreas transplants will add another dimension to LHSC's Multi-Organ Transplant Program and compliment our well-recognized research in transplantation."

"Today's announcement is wonderful news for patients with diabetes and kidney failure," says Dr. William Wall, Director of LHSC's Multi-Organ Transplant Program. Wall adds, "The transplant team looks forward to making a huge difference in the lives of these patients."

A kidney-pancreas transplant not only corrects the kidney failure, but also puts an end to the diabetes. In 2002, a total of 45 kidney-pancreas transplants were completed in Canada.

LHSC's Multi-Organ Transplant Program performs approximately 200 transplants each year in the areas of heart, liver, kidney, bone marrow and multi-visceral transplantation.