The KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize brought together innovators from around the world, including Canada, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States. The final submissions ranged from miniaturized technologies and filtration solutions to approaches for xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine. Our judges drew upon their unique experiences as patients, medical experts, and innovators to recommend the six winners below.
Winners
Development of a Dialysate-Free Waterless Portable and Implantable Artificial Kidney
US Kidney Research Corporation
Wearable artificial kidney that does not need water to conduct filtration, drastically reducing the weight of the device.
Genetically-engineered pig kidney xenotransplantation
David Cooper, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Genetically engineered pig kidneys that will reduce rejection possibility while providing more viable donor kidneys.
iBAK - Implantable Bio-Artificial Kidney for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
University of California San Francisco.
Implantable bioartificial kidney that allows for continuous blood processing and direction of waste to the bladder while providing freedom of movement.
MI-TRAM: Smart Module for Implantable, Wearable, Portable or Bed-side Artificial Kidneys
imec USA Nanoelectronics Design Center
Miniature, wireless toxin-removal system for implantable, wearable, portable, or bedside artificial kidneys.
The Wearable AKTIV: Artificial Kidney to Improve Vitality
University of Washington Center for Dialysis Innovation
Wearable continuous-hemodialysis device that allows for greater freedom of movement.
Xenotransplantation: A treatment for Kidney Failure
Makana Therapeutics
Genetically engineered pig kidneys that will increase the supply of transplantable organs by eliminating the antibody barrier to xenotransplantation.