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KidneyX: The Kidney Innovation Accelerator

The Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX) is a public-private partnership between the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.

What We Do

Accelerate

the pace of innovation in the development of disruptive approaches to kidney care

Engage

researchers, innovators, companies, patients and their care partners, and investors through prize competitions

Inspire

breakthrough innovations that improve the quality of the lives of the 850 million people with kidney diseases

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Mission

Accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases

 

Principles

  • Mission Driven
    Ensure all product development is patient-centered
  • Achievable
    Ground in scientifically-driven technology development
  • Additive
    Address barriers to innovation that are not addressed by the public or private sectors
  • Urgent
    Create a sense of urgency to meet the needs of people with kidney diseases
  • Catalytic
    Reduce risks to incentivize further investments in kidney space
  • Collaborative
    Foster multidisciplinary and multi-sector teamwork

KidneyX Steering Committee and Staff

Steering Committee

Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jennifer Erickson
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2015-2017)

Paul E. Klotman, MD
Baylor College of Medicine

ADM Rachel L. Levine, MD
HHS Assistant Secretary of Health

Emily Levy, MBA
Synergy Partners

Kevin Longino, MBA
National Kidney Foundation

Sandeep Patel, PhD
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

Saira Ramasastry, MA, MS
Life Sciences Advisory

Linda Fried, MD, MPH, FASN
ASN Council Liaison
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

David Rush
Patient Advocate

John R. Sedor, MD, FASN
Chair, KidneyX Steering Committee
Cleveland Clinic

Danilo Tagle, PhD
National Institutes of Health

Bruce J. Tromberg, PhD
National Institutes of Health

Past Steering Committee

Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD
Formerly at US Food and Drug Administration

Chris Austin, MD
Formerly at NIH/NCATS

Robert M. Califf, MD
Formerly at Google/Verily

Joseph Franklin, JD, PhD
Formerly at US Food and Drug Administration

Kate Goodrich, MD, MHS
Formerly at US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Janis Naeve, PhD
Amgen Ventures

Staff

Mark Lim, PhD, PMP
Vice President, Research, Discovery, and Innovation
mlim@asn-online.org
(202) 420-7981

Lynee Galley
Director, Research, Discovery, and Innovation
lgalley@asn-online.org
(202) 640-6041

Abigail Martin
Program Associate, Research, Discovery, and Innovation
amartin@asn-online.org
(202) 640-6039

Jennifer Kang
Program Associate, KidneyX
jkang@asn-online.org
(202) 420-7983

Milestones in KidneyX History

2014

ASN testified to House Committee on prizes that advance kidney replacement therapy

2016

ASN committed to serving as Secretariat of a kidney innovation accelerator at the White House Organ Summit

2018

ASN and HHS formalized KidneyX via Memorandum of Understanding, hosted inaugural KidneyX Summit

2019

KidneyX received first $5M appropriation for FY 20

Redesign Dialysis, Phase 1 (15 winners)

2021

KidneyX included in President Biden’s first federal budget proposal ($5M)

Artificial Kidney Prize, Phase 1 (6 winners)

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The pace of innovation in kidney care has been unacceptable. Through KidneyX, we are creating a clear path for disruptive innovation in a $114 billion market.

– Ed Simcox, former CTO, US Department of Health and Human Services
KidneyX Bubbles

Join Us

Whether you’re a researcher, innovator, investor, patient, caregiver, or care partner, be a part of the KidneyX solution.