For Patients For Centers
Pin the couples to Pair the lives

Outcome-Driven
Kidney Paired Exchange Program

PIN is an outcome-driven kidney transplantation paired exchange program designed to support stronger transplant outcomes by helping living donor couples who cannot proceed with direct donation or who want to explore a more suitable donor match.

For Patients Learn More
A willing living donor is required to apply.
2-4
Way exchange chains
Cross-border
Multi-country pool
Anonymized
Privacy-first matching
Outcome-driven
Right match, not just any match
Discover PIN

What is PIN?

Individual pairs, connected as one system. PIN brings compatible and incompatible patient–donor pairs into a shared process to explore possibilities beyond their existing donor.

Its clinical decision support helps teams evaluate compatibility, consider risks and identify potentially suitable transplant pathways, with patients and donors at the center of the process.

Behind every donated kidney, there is a person giving a part of their life for another human being.

Who Can Benefit

Who can benefit from PIN?

PIN can be particularly relevant for three groups of donor recipient pairs.

01

ABO Incompatible Pairs

PIN can help these couples by matching them with others who have a compatible blood group, making transplants possible.

02

Highly Sensitized Patients

Some patients have antibodies that make it hard to find a compatible donor. PIN can help find a donor who does not have these specific HLA antibodies, offering a better chance for a successful transplant.

03

ABO Compatible Pairs Seeking a Better Match

Even if the donor and recipient have compatible blood groups, they might want to see if another donor is a better fit. PIN Matching can improve HLA compatibility, avoid donor-specific HLA antibodies, and provide a less aged kidney. PIN can lead to better long-term results than a direct transplant from their own donor.

How pairs connect · 1 minute

PIN in 60 Seconds

A closer look at paired kidney exchange: how donor–recipient pairs connect, how exchange cycles work, and how PIN supports your transplant team's decisions.

The PIN Pathway

From a willing donor to
a coordinated transplant.

A shared journey for patient–donor pairs, professional partners and transplant centers. PIN supports the search for potential exchanges; clinical teams guide every medical decision.

A willing living donor is required. Compatible and incompatible pairs are welcome.
Phase 01 · Participation

Join & prepare

  1. Start as a patient–donor pair

    You and your willing living donor can explore participation, even if you are already compatible.

    Patient & donor

  2. Connect with a partner

    A physician, organization or hospital represents your pair. If no regional partner is available, contact BAO for support.

    Professional partner / BAO

  3. Prepare the required information

    Provide your relationship and medical details, high-resolution HLA typing for both participants, and single-bead HLA antibody testing for the recipient.

    Professional partner

  4. Register your pair in PIN

    Your representing partner enters the required information into the system.

    Professional partner
Phase 02 · Decision support

Explore & decide

  1. Discover potential exchanges

    PIN searches for potential 2-, 3- and 4-way exchanges across participating centers.

    PIN · Clinical decision support

  2. Review the proposed exchange

    Your partner or BAO coordinates an initial review with transplant professionals, including compatibility, antibody findings and potential risks.

    Professional partner / BAO

  3. Every pair considers the offer

    Partners discuss the proposal with each patient and donor. Every participating pair must accept before further assessment and planning.

    All participating pairs
Phase 03 · Clinical care

Coordinate & care

  1. Assess feasibility & plan referral

    BAO supports medical and financial feasibility assessment and admission preparations with the designated transplant centers.

    BAO

  2. Complete final evaluations

    Transplant centers determine suitability and complete legal procedures. The exchange proceeds only if approved and feasible for every pair.

    Transplant centers

  3. Coordinate transplantation

    The responsible centers schedule and perform the surgeries, simultaneously whenever possible.

    Transplant centers

  4. Continue with follow-up care

    Treating centers provide follow-up care. BAO supports guidance and continuity, including when transplantation takes place elsewhere.

    Transplant centers / BAO

PIN identifies possibilities.Clinical decision support for potential kidney exchanges.

BAO supports coordination.Access, guidance and coordination along the pathway.

Transplant centers provide care.Final medical and legal decisions, surgery and follow-up.

Why PIN

More possibilities.
Better-informed decisions.

A wider perspective on kidney paired exchange, with clinical expertise guiding every next step.

A wider circle of possibilities

Explore potential exchanges across participating centers, beyond the options available within a single center.

Compatibility at the center

Consider HLA compatibility and antibody findings together, including alternatives for pairs who are already compatible.

Clearer options for clinical teams

Bring potential exchanges into a structured review. Transplant professionals assess suitability and make the final medical decisions.

Explore PIN features
By the Numbers

Built to save more lives — faster, the right way.

2-4
Way Chains
Exchange cycles up to 4 pairs, discovered automatically.
∞
Cross-Border
Multi-center, multi-country globally unified pool.
100%
Anonymized
Patient identity never leaves the originating center.
Instant
Discovery
Matches surfaced in seconds, not weeks of manual review.
Rules & Eligibility

Rules and eligibility.

Every donor recipient pair must meet the applicable medical, ethical, and legal requirements.

Türkiye performs more than 90% of kidney transplants using living donors, and the patients willing to have paired exchange are outnumbered. Transplant centers have extensive experience and well-maintained cost-benefit analyses, making this location a better option for kidney transplantation. Still, the kidney transplantation can be performed in home countries once PIN detects a suitable match.

For transplantation carried out in Türkiye, the process must follow Turkish regulations and the procedures of the authorized transplant center which requires that couples be related by a fourth degree of kinship.

The authorized transplant center and the relevant medical and regulatory authorities make final eligibility and transplantation decisions.

Prof. Dr. Barış Akin
A message from our main consultant

Prof. Dr. Barış Akin

Main Consultant of PIN

I am very lucky to have had a chance meeting with wonderful people who are giving the gift of life to their loved ones. These individuals are the most important motivators that help me adore myself in my work. And therefore, I always tried to accomplish my best for the living donors.

I have evolved my technique based on what I've learned at Ohio State and adopted a different approach: retroperitoneal access for removing the kidney from donors. This technique helps the donors to be safe because the whole procedure avoids contact with intra-abdominal organs and therefore prevents abdominal complications, and I tried to train the young generations about this beneficial technique for the safety of the donor.

Read the full message
Get Started

Join the system — as a patient or as a center.

Pre-registration helps us prepare matching pools and onboard centers in your region. We'll get back to you within a few working days.

PIN

The meeting point
of the pairs.