A competition to accelerate artificial kidney development toward human clinical trials
About the Artificial Kidney Prize
The Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), is accelerating innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.
The Artificial Kidney Prize is a competition to accelerate the development of continuous kidney replacement therapies that provide transformational treatment options beyond current dialysis methods. For this competition, artificial kidneys may be wearable, implantable, bioengineered, developed as a xenotransplant or chimera organ, or other approaches not yet conceived.
Phase 1 seeks component or integrated prototype solutions that enable and advance the functionality, effectiveness, and/or reliability of artificial kidneys. Submissions will include demonstrated scientific and technical proofs of concept with detailed development plans. Phase 2 will focus on initial integration of prototype solutions into an artificial kidney, or advancement of already integrated prototype solutions.
Timeline
Phases 1 and 2 will each begin with an open call for solutions. At the discretion of HHS and ASN, additional phases of the competition may follow Phase 2.
Awards
Total prizes
$10 million
Phase 1: $4 million will be distributed among up to eight winners, at the discretion of HHS and ASN.
Phase 2: $6 million will be distributed to winners, at the discretion of HHS and ASN.
At the discretion of HHS and ASN, additional phases of the competition may follow Phase 2 to further accelerate development of artificial kidneys. KidneyX hopes to secure a total prize of $200 million for all potential phases of the competition.
Resources
Entrant resources provide an overview of the state of kidney health and innovation as well as a primer on navigating regulatory details and incorporating patient point of view in early-stage development.