Organ TransplantKidney Disease (Nephrology)

Kidney Transplant Center

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(415) 353-1551

The UCSF Connie Frank Transplant Center cares for patients before and after kidney and pancreas transplants. We transplant kidneys from deceased (cadaver) donors as well as living donors. We also offer specialized procedures, such as weight-loss bariatric surgery for overweight patients to quality for transplant, dialysis access surgery, and pancreatic islet transplants for patients with diabetes.

Established in 1964, our program serves as a major transplant center for the West. Our kidney team evaluates over 1,000 patients a year as potential transplant candidates and performs more than 325 transplants a year. In 2015, we performed more kidney and combined kidney-pancreas transplants than any other program in the U.S., according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.

For information about UCSF's post-transplant outcomes, please visit The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

Watch our video! To see how our doctors work with patients as a team to manage their long-term care after a transplant, click anywhere on the image below:

Doctor referral required

UCSF Kidney Transplant Service

Kidney transplant webinar

Watch the webinar

Post-Operative Kidney Transplant Care

COVID-19 and transplant patients

UCSF strongly encourages patients awaiting kidney and pancreas transplants to get vaccinated. We also recommend that patients awaiting organ transplants follow the guidelines for immunocompromised patients from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Kidney donation

Becoming a living donor

The gift of an organ offers someone another chance at life. Find out more about the surgery, who is eligible and how to take the first step.

Learn more

Contact us

If you have questions or would like more information, please send us an email at [email protected].

Explore what we do

A daughter gives her dad a life-saving gift

When Candase donated a kidney to her father, Ken, who was in kidney failure, a UCSF transplant team ensured the procedure was a success.

Our locations

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    Treatments we specialize in

    Patient education

    FAQ: Living Kidney Donor

    Get answers to important questions such as how you qualify to be a donor, how long it takes to be approved, and what to expect before, during and after surgery.

    Surgical Weight Loss Procedures for Kidney Transplant Patients

    In the case of patients waiting for a kidney transplant, losing weight also can improve their chances of being a transplant candidate. Learn more here.

    Transplant Screening Tests

    These special blood tests determine the kind of blood and tissue you have and help to match a donor kidney to your body. Find out more.

    Our team

    Decorative Caduceus

    Daratumumab and Belatacept for Desensitization

    Proportion of subjects who have not met a subject stopping rule, and remain free of all of the following through 26 weeks after starting treatment or until receiving a transplant, whichever occurs earlier: 1. Grade 3 or higher ...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    KIDney Injury in Times of COVID-19 (KIDCOV)

    The 12-month continuous, quantitative Kidney Injury Test (KIT) score, measured on a scale of 0-100, where a higher urine-based KIT score correlates to worse kidney injury.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pancreatic Islets and Parathyroid Gland Co-transplantation for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

    Safety: Since this study is a pilot non-randomized safety and efficacy trial with patient enrollment limited by budgetary constraints, no direct statistical significance tests can be performed.

    Recruiting

    Awards & recognition

    • U S News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as part of its 2024-2025 Honor Roll

      Among the top hospitals in the nation

    • Rated high-performing hospital for acute kidney failure

    • "Elite" rating (highest) among designated programs of excellence

    • 325-2x

      Kidney transplants performed each year

    Support services

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    Patient Resource

    Case Management & Social Work

    Connect with a team that can help you find resources, solve problems and advocate for you during treatment at UCSF.

    Patient Resource

    Kôz Hospitality House

    Kôz Hospitality House provides comfortable, reasonably priced accommodations near our Parnassus campus for UCSF patients during their treatment.

    Class

    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class

    This eight-week class teaches mindfulness practices that can reduce stress and improve your overall health, such as meditation and body awareness.

    Support Group

    Organ Transplant Support Groups

    Our heart, lung and liver transplant groups offer peer-based support for pre- and post -transplant patients, LVAD patients, families and caregivers.

    Patient Resource

    Patient Relations

    We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

    Patient Resource

    Spiritual Care Services

    Chaplains representing many faiths are available around the clock to provide support, comfort and counsel to patients, families and caregivers.

    Special programs

    Living Kidney Donor Programs

    Our living kidney donor program creates options when transplant patients are waiting on a match. Willing donors may help a loved one or choose to help a stranger. Read more.

    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • Photo I.D.
    • Health insurance card
    • Insurance authorization, if required
    • Doctor's referral, if required
    • Recent test results related to your condition
    • List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

    International Services

    If you live outside the United States and are coming to UCSF for medical treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

    Learn more

    Interpreting Services

    UCSF offers interpreters in various languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), as well as services for deaf, hard-of-hearing and visually impaired patients.

    Learn more

    Hospital Stays

    Make your hospital stay as smooth and comfortable as possible by finding out how to prepare and what to expect.

    Learn more

    Your Doctor Visit

    See our top 10 tips for making your UCSF doctor’s appointment as stress-free and productive as possible.

    Learn more

    Related clinics

    Pancreas Transplant Services

    400 Parnassus Ave., Seventh Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    (415) 353-1551
    M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Total Pancreatectomy - Islet Auto-Transplant (TP-IAT) Clinic

    400 Parnassus Ave., 7th Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94143-0780

    (415) 353-1473

    Dialysis Center

    1675 Scott St.
    San Francisco, CA 94143-1617

    (415) 885-7421

    Nephrology and Hypertension Faculty Practice

    400 Parnassus Ave., B1 Plaza Level
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    (415) 353-2507
    M-F, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    MarinHealth Nephrology

    1341 South Eliseo Drive, Suite 200
    Greenbrae, CA 94904

    (415) 925-3075
    M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Our research initiatives

    • UCSF-Division-of-Transplant-Surgery-Research-2x

      UCSF Division of Transplant Surgery Research

      The UCSF Division of Transplant Surgery conducts research aimed at expanding medication options, refining surgical techniques and improving methods of preventing transplant rejection.

      Learn more

    Sign up to be an organ donor

    Learn more

    Do you need pediatric care?

    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals

    Can't find what you're looking for?

    UCSF Help Center

    (888) 689-8273
    [email protected]

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