Phase 1 challenged innovators to submit a short proposal on approaches that could enable the design of new artificial kidney devices, improving quality of life.
The Department of Health and Human Services, partnering with the American Society of Nephrology, has picked 15 teams to take part in the first phase of Kidney Innovation Accelerator, or KidneyX.
Through cash awards and other incentives, KidneyX hopes to accelerate the development of innovative medical products and approaches to diagnose, prevent, and improve care for kidney diseases.
Phase 1 challenged innovators to submit a short proposal on approaches that could enable the design of new artificial kidney devices, extending life and improving quality of life.
"Building an artificial kidney is going to be a highly collaborative process, and Redesign Dialysis is one step in building the community of innovators," Sandeep Patel, MD, HHS KidneyX Director, said in a media release. "We are excited with the initial response, which tells us we're only scratching the surface so far."
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Of the 165 submissions received, the submission topics ranged from innovations in vascular access and fluid filtration, to innovations in hemodialysis and biosensors. The submissions were scored by more than 40 technical reviewers comprised of patients and experts from government, industry and academia.
The top scoring submissions were then judged by a panel of nine experts in medicine, biomedical science and engineering, and commercialization. Fifteen winners were awarded monetary prizes of $75,000 each.
"The winning proposals address a broad range of potential improvements to dialysis and highlight the fact that there is more work to be done to change the status quo. Millions of patients are waiting," said John Sedor, MD, chair of the KidneyX Steering Committee.
Phase 2 of Redesign Dialysis will start accepting submissions this fall and is open to all, including Phase 1 winners.
In Phase 2, innovators will be asked to demonstrate functional prototypes that can replicate some or all kidney functions. Up to three winners will be awarded $500,000 each.
Prize Winners
- A non-invasive, wearable telehealth device to detect thrombosis and monitor vascular access health of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts in hemodialysis patients
University of Alabama -- Birmingham.
- Air Removal System for a Wearable Renal Therapy Device
Qidni Labs, Inc.
- Atomically Precise Membranes (APM) for High-Flux and Selective Removal of Blood Toxins
Temple University.
- Development of a Dialysate- and Cell-Free Renal Replacement Technology, Curion Research Corporation, University of California Los Angeles, and University of Arkansas.
- Development of an Automated Multimodal Sensor to Improve Patient Outcomes in Hemodialysi Outset Medical, Inc.
- Drug-Eluting Electrospun Hemodialysis Graft
Biosurfaces, Inc., Beth Israel Deaconess.
- Fluo Medical - Non-Invasive Venous Waveform Analysis (NIVA) for Volume Directed Kidney Failure Management
Stanford University.
- Improving intra-dialytic removal of protein-bound uremic toxin removal using binding competitors
Mount Sinai Renal Research Institute.
- Intracorporeal Ultrafiltration System & Intracorporeal Hemodialysis System
The Kidney Project.
- JEM™ - Sensor Enabled Hemodialysis
Access for Life, Inc.
- New Kidney Grafts
Miromatrix Medical, Inc.
- Nitric Oxide-Eluting, Disposable Hemodialysis Catheter Insert to Prevent Infection and Thrombosis
University of Michigan.
- RenalTracker
Binnovate Digital Health BV.
- The Ambulatory Kidney to Improve Vitality (AKTIV) & Rethinking Dialysis Vascular Access
University of Washington, Center for Dialysis Innovation.
- Utilizing Optical Interrogation Methods for Early Diagnosis of Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Stanford University.
The Phase 1 prize winners were announced during the inaugural KidneyX Summit scheduled on Monday and Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.
Prize winners will present their solutions to an audience of industry leaders within government, mechanical and bioengineering, investment, and medical product development.
(Correction: The initial media release from HHS failed to include Curion Research Corporation among the prize recipients.)
“Building an artificial kidney is going to be a highly collaborative process.”
Sandeep Patel, MD, HHS KidneyX Director
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Of the 165 submissions received, the submission topics ranged from innovations in vascular access and fluid filtration, to innovations in hemodialysis and biosensors.
Phase 2 of Redesign Dialysis will start accepting submissions this fall and is open to all, including Phase 1 winners.
In Phase 2, innovators will be asked to demonstrate functional prototypes that can replicate some or all kidney functions. Up to three winners will be awarded $500,000 each.