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Celebrating a Decade of Transformative Medicine at NYU Langone Transplant Institute

On March 1, 2016, the NYU Langone Transplant Institute was born, aiming to save lives through cutting-edge organ transplantation. Now, in 2026, the institute proudly commemorates ten years of successful surgeries and groundbreaking advancements in medical technology. Over this decade, it has provided over 4,270 organ transplants and has maintained a commitment to the highest quality standards across all its programs.

Dr. Robert Montgomery, the visionary who founded the institute, has played a pivotal role in transforming access to organ transplants at NYU Langone Health. Under his directorship, the institute expanded its kidney and liver programs while also introducing comprehensive heart, lung, and pediatric transplantation services. Dr. Montgomery remarked, "Our accomplishments over the last ten years reflect not just the expertise of our dedicated team, but also the immense potential that comes from an institution fully committed to saving lives."

The achievements of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute are noteworthy. Not only does it boast the top-ranked kidney, liver, and lung transplant programs in New York State, but it also is recognized for having some of the highest patient survival rates in the country. Notable highlights from the past year include:

• - The kidney transplant program achieved a quality ranking of #2 nationwide, while maintaining a record of the highest volume of transplants in New York for five consecutive years.
• - The heart transplant section is praised for its swift transplant times and stellar patient survival metrics, far exceeding national standards.
• - Living donor programs have shown remarkable outcomes, with 100% patient survival rates at one year post-transplant.

From humble beginnings in 2016, the institute has seen total annual organ transplants rise dramatically—increasing from just 49 transplants in its first year to nearly 600 annually by 2022.

Milestones and Innovations

The past decade has seen key milestones, including:

• - Kidney transplants surged from 29 in 2015 to over 300 annually starting in 2021.
• - The institute conducted over 120 liver transplants in 2024 and 2025, also reflecting a sustained upward trend from 19 transplants in 2015.
• - The 2018 launch of heart and lung transplant programs has resulted in each performing over 70 transplants each year.
• - Moreover, in 2018, a dedicated pancreas transplant program commenced, further enhancing care options for patients.

The institute is unique in its ability to perform complex transplants for both adults and children. It has emerged as a leader in transplant innovation, achieving pioneering milestones like:

• - The first gene-edited pig-to-human kidney transplant in 2021.
• - Conducting the first fully robotic double-lung transplant in 2024.
• - Progressing to the first FDA-approved clinical trial for xenotransplantation in 2025, previously deemed experimental.

Additionally, NYU Langone has made strides in the management of infectious disease within transplant contexts, performing the first hepatitis-C-positive heart transplants in New York City and successfully utilizing normothermic perfusion for organ donations following circulatory death.

The institute also developed comprehensive pediatric transplant programs at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, achieving zero waitlist mortality compared to national averages. The Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program provides new hearts to children faster than both regional and national benchmarks, showcasing the institute's dedication to youth care.

A Future Focused on Patient Care

Dr. Sapna Mehta, the clinical director of the Transplant Institute, reflects on the ethos behind their operation: "We have cultivated a program that not only meets but exceeds the expectations in transplantation innovation, focusing relentlessly on the health and recovery of our patients. It’s fulfilling to see how much we've grown and how we continue to set higher standards in organ transplantation."

As the NYU Langone Transplant Institute celebrates this significant milestone, it also looks ahead, committed to pushing boundaries in organ transplantation, technology adoption, and improving patient outcomes. The future looks promising for the institute as it strives to continue being a beacon of hope for many needing life-saving transplants.