HHS Launches $7.25 Million KidneyX Sustainability Prize

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the KidneyX Sustainability Prize , a $7.25 million challenge to drive meaningful change in the sustainability of kidney care. This challenge, the latest initiative from the Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), aims to seize opportunities for sustainability by identifying and supporting solutions to reduce the resource demands of maintenance dialysis.

Today’s life-sustaining dialysis technology consumes large amounts of water and power, putting patients at risk during resource shortages. In a single year, hemodialysis globally requires billions of liters of water and kilowatt hours of power. Dialysis further requires a high volume of exceptionally clean water, with up to 70% of water rejected during the filtration and purification process.

“Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornado outbreaks, and wildfires are leaving patients without access to critical dialysis care — putting their very lives at risk,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D. “With support from our partners, HHS is addressing the urgent need to invest in transformational treatment innovations for kidney diseases.”

While long-term therapies like artificial kidneys and regenerative cell therapies hold promise for the future, the hundreds of thousands of American people living with kidney failure today urgently need solutions that address the kidney care system’s vulnerability in the short term.

The challenge invites proposals from a diverse community of innovators — including patients, healthcare providers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Participants should submit solution summaries and technical proposals by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on October 30, 2024. Solutions may involve technological or process approaches, and all disciplines and sectors are encouraged to develop KidneyX solutions that reduce water or power usage during dialysis and promote equitable access to care.

A multidisciplinary group of KidneyX Sustainability Prize judges will review eligible submissions and recommend up to seven winners. Judges will evaluate submissions according to the six equally weighted judging criteria and HHS may award up to seven winners to each receive an equal share of up to $7.25 million. HHS anticipates that it may announce the winners in early 2025.

Through the KidneyX public-private partnership, HHS and American Society of Nephrology (ASN) are transforming treatment for the more than 850 million people worldwide  — including 37 million Americans — living with kidney diseases. KidneyX brings together patients, caregivers, researchers, innovators, and investors to transform the future of kidney treatment and care. KidneyX has awarded more than $17 million in prizes across six prize competitions such as Redesign Dialysis and the Artificial Kidney Prize, accelerating the development of breakthrough innovations that could improve living quality and treatment.

To learn more about the challenge , participants can join a virtual information session on September 25, 2024.