Effect of Rapid Steroid Withdrawal on Subclinical Markers of Rejection

Inclusion Criteria: * Subject or legally acceptable guardian has signed and dated a Research Ethics Board (REB)-approved informed consent form and is willing and able to follow study procedures. * Subject is the recipient of a first or second cadaveric or living donor mismatched (at least one mismatch) renal transplant. * Subject is 18 years of age or over at the time of transplant. * If female and of child-bearing potential, subject has a negative pregnancy test and utilizes adequate contraceptive methods Exclusion Criteria: * Recipients of a kidney from a donor 60 years of age or older * Recipients of donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors * Recipients of a combined transplant (e.g. kidney-pancreas, -lung, -heart) * Subjects with a second renal allograft who had their original graft for \< 2 years, unless the initial graft was lost in the early (1 year or less) post transplant course due to a technical or surgical failure * Subjects with a current/latest pre-transplant panel of reactive antibodies (PRA) \>20 * Subjects with hepatitis B \& C, HIV or cancer (excluding successfully excised squamous or basal cell carcinoma) * Subjects receiving an allograft with cold ischemia time 24 hours or greater * Subjects who have received an investigational drug within three months prior to randomization * Subjects who are breastfeeding * Subjects with known hypersensitivity to tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, methylprednisolone, basiliximab, prednisone, or any related drugs or their excipients * Subjects with significant disease (e.g. uncontrolled infection) or disability (e.g. cognitive deficit) that prevents understanding of or adherence to the protocol