9 July 2025

Austin Health has reached an important milestone, with 100 hypothermic (cold) oxygenated machine perfusion (HOMP) cases now completed through an Australian Centre for Transplantation Excellence and Research (ACTER) initiative.

In 2023, Austin Health became the first hospital in Australia to offer hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion for kidney transplantation, and the first to deliver it as a statewide service.

This technology preserves kidneys outside the body by pumping cold, oxygen-rich solution through them. It improves transplant logistics, enables more transplants to proceed, and enhances outcomes. Kidneys are placed on the machines at the time of donation and remain on them until transplantation.

This milestone is a powerful testament to the dedication of our transplant teams and to ACTER’s statewide leadership.

“Austin Health is responsible for retrieving organs for transplantation across Victoria and Tasmania. We have worked hard to ensure that all transplant recipients, whether at Austin Health or other centres, benefit from this technology,” says A/Prof John Whitlam, Director of ACTER.

“Many people across Victoria’s five kidney transplant services have contributed tremendous efforts to complete training and establish local procedures to receive kidneys on these devices.”

Of the 100 cold perfusion cases completed so far, over half have been shared with other transplant centres across Victoria, reinforcing ACTER’s role as a statewide leader.

Every case relies on the dedication and expertise of our transplant technologists and retrieval teams, whose work often takes place behind the scenes.

The kidney machine perfusion program operates alongside Austin Health’s highly successful liver machine perfusion program, making it the most comprehensive transplant machine perfusion offering in Australia.

The kidney program is now backed by the Victorian Department of Health, supporting its growth and sustainability.

This achievement would not have been possible without the generous support of our philanthropic donors, whose contributions funded the specialised equipment needed for machine perfusion.

“To our philanthropic donors – thank you. This is an inspiring reminder that innovation in healthcare isn’t just about technology or expertise, it’s about the people who believe in what’s possible and choose to support it. We’re incredibly grateful,” says Jodie Geissler, CEO Austin Health.

We also recognise and thank organ donors and their families, who make transplantation possible.

Related services

• Australian Centre for Transplantation Excellence and Research (ACTER)

  Austin Health is establishing the Australian Centre for Transplantation Excellence and Research (ACTER).