AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY PROF. DR. TUNCER KARPUZOĞLU ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND APPLICATION CENTER

Akdeniz University Prof. Dr. Tuncer Karpuzoğlu Organ Transplantation Education, Research and Application Center is one of the most important organ and tissue transplant centers in the region and the country, responding to the growing number of patients waiting for organ and tissue transplants in our country through significant activities. Our center is among the largest and most successful organ and tissue transplant centers in the world, recognized globally and respected in the scientific community. Thousands of successful operations have helped patients return to life and regain their health.

The center has not only enabled thousands of patients to have a second chance at life and health through all types of organ and tissue transplants over the past 42 years, but it has also taken on the mission of raising public awareness on organ donation and has been a pioneer in education and research related to organ transplantation. Today, with its wide range of organ and composite tissue transplants, the center ranks among the world’s leading organ transplant centers.

Our center was established by Prof. Dr. Tuncer Karpuzoğlu, and organ transplant procedures began with the first living donor kidney transplant performed on April 14, 1982.

On October 31, 1991, the Organ Transplantation Education, Research and Application Center was officially established under the Rectorate of Akdeniz University, bringing organ transplantation services under a coordinated structure. In 2010, the center was renamed as the Prof. Dr. Tuncer Karpuzoğlu Organ Transplantation Education, Research and Application Center. In 2011, Turkey’s first Organ Transplantation Institute, the Prof. Dr. Tuncer Karpuzoğlu Organ Transplantation Institute, was established. Today, almost all types of organ and composite tissue transplants, particularly kidney transplants, are successfully performed in our center.

The aim of the center is to perform all types of organ transplants at a contemporary level, transfer the latest developments in organ and tissue transplantation to our country, conduct basic and applied research, develop new techniques, ensure organ supply, and raise awareness among all segments of society. With the high quality of medical services, patient and family satisfaction, a highly qualified team, modern infrastructure, and pioneering practices, our center serves as a model “Organ Transplantation Center.”

Since its founding, organ and tissue transplantation activities have been carried out within Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital through multidisciplinary teamwork. This includes a 32-bed organ transplantation inpatient unit, an outpatient clinic with a daily capacity of approximately 100 patients, a coordination center, and state-of-the-art immunology and central laboratories.

In addition to treatment practices, the center also conducts scientific research and publications, and offers theoretical and practical training opportunities in Transplantation Surgery, Nephrology, and Organ Transplant Coordination for those seeking training in these fields.

After the start of living donor kidney transplants in 1982, the first deceased donor kidney transplant was performed in 1986, the first liver transplant in 1997, the first heart transplant in 1998, and the first pancreas transplant in 2002. Through successful organization of the organ transplant coordination system, the center performs living/deceased donor kidney and liver transplants, pancreas and heart transplants, combined cross-donor solid organ transplants, and composite tissue transplants (face, limb, uterus), making it one of the largest composite tissue transplant centers in Turkey and the world.

In 2010, Turkey’s first double arm transplant, in 2011 the world’s first uterus (womb) transplant from a deceased donor, and in 2012 Turkey’s first face transplant were all performed at our center. Alongside these globally significant and successful composite tissue transplants, many “firsts” and innovations in the field of organ and tissue transplantation in Turkey have been initiated at our center.

Below is a chronological list of the center’s major firsts and milestones in organ and tissue transplantation:

  • First Kidney Transplant: 14.11.1978 (Note: The first kidney transplant in Turkey was in 1975)

  • Kidney Transplant from Deceased Donor: 27.05.1987

  • Turkey’s First Organ Transplant Coordinator: 16.01.1992

  • Liver Transplant: 30.09.1997

  • Heart Transplant: 01.08.1998

  • Pancreas Transplant: 1998

  • Living Donor Liver Transplant: 30.10.2001

  • Split Liver Transplant: 2002

  • Incompatible Kidney Transplant (HLA mismatch): 2002

  • First Organ Transplant Coordinator Training Course: 2002

  • Combined Pancreas-Kidney Transplant: 04.02.2003

  • Incompatible Kidney Transplant: 05.06.2003

  • En-Bloc Kidney Transplant: 24.03.2003

  • Combined Kidney-Liver Transplant: 03.12.2004

  • Cross Kidney Transplantation (Kidney Exchange): 26.10.2005

  • Split Liver Transplant: 01.12.2006

  • ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplant: 27.03.2007

  • Combined Heart-Kidney Transplant: 12.05.2009

  • Oldest Recipient for Living Donor Kidney Transplant: 2009

  • Liver Transplant from Oldest Deceased Donor: 2009

  • Kidney Transplant from Youngest Deceased Donor: 2009

  • Living Donor Kidney Transplant to Youngest Recipient: 2009

  • Kidney Transplant to the Lowest Weight Infant Recipient: 2010

  • Organ Transplant Institute Established: 28.07.2010

  • Turkey’s First Double Arm Transplant: 25.09.2010

  • World’s First Uterus Transplant from a Deceased Donor: 08.08.2011

  • Turkey’s First Face Transplant: 21.01.2012

  • Turkey’s First Triple Limb Transplant (Double Arm + Leg): 21.01.2012

  • Birth of First Healthy Baby After Uterus Transplant: 04.04.2020

In addition, preparations are ongoing for living donor uterus, lung, and small intestine transplants, which are expected to begin soon.

All transplant patients and donors are regularly followed up in our organ transplant outpatient clinics.
Approximately 2,000 patients are currently registered on our waiting list for organ transplants — primarily for kidney, but also for heart, liver, and composite tissue (face, limbs, uterus) — and are carefully monitored to ensure readiness for transplantation.

From 1982 to May 14, 2024, over 6,500 organ transplants have been performed at our center.
As of that date, the following transplants have been completed:

  • 5,510 Kidney Transplants

  • 119 Heart Transplants

  • 806 Liver Transplants

  • 79 Pancreas Transplants

  • 5 Double Arm Transplants

  • 5 Face Transplants

  • 2 Uterus Transplants from Deceased Donors (World’s first)

Both uterus transplant recipients have given birth to healthy babies. Preparations for living donor uterus transplants are currently underway.

Current Annual Transplant Volume: Approximately 250–300 Patients

Transplants performed include:

  • Kidney Transplants (Adult & Pediatric, Living/Deceased Donor)

  • Liver Transplants (Adult & Pediatric, Living/Deceased Donor)

  • Heart Transplants

  • Pancreas Transplants

  • Combined Transplants

    • Kidney–Liver

    • Kidney–Heart

    • Heart–Liver

    • Kidney–Pancreas

  • Face Transplants

  • Limb (Extremity) Transplants

  • Cornea Transplants

  • Uterus Transplants

The transplant team consists of 40 actively working academic physicians from disciplines including transplantation surgery, adult and pediatric nephrology, adult and pediatric gastroenterology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, anesthesiology and reanimation, cardiovascular surgery, and immunology, supported by all other relevant departments.

Living donor nephrectomies are performed using laparoscopic techniques for quicker and more comfortable recovery. Robotic-assisted surgeries are also successfully performed for kidney retrieval from living donors.

The center’s organ transplant coordination system has become a national model. Many transplant coordinators across Turkey have received training here. The coordination center organizes living and deceased donor transplants according to world standards.

Patients benefit from priority access to the latest medical and technological resources of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital.

As the Akdeniz University Organ Transplantation Center, we continuously monitor our service outcomes to further improve our already successful performance. All organ and patient survival rates for solid organ transplants performed at our center comply with ethical and scientific standards.
Thanks to strong support from university and hospital leadership, and a well-coordinated multidisciplinary team, the center continues striving for even greater achievements in organ transplantation.