HHS Announces Commitment to Launching Kidney Innovation Accelerator
At ASN Kidney Week 2017, Bruce D. Greenstein, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the need for innovation in the nephrology space.
Each year more than 100,000 Americans start hemodialysis, and sadly nearly 60% of those patients die within 5 years. With an ageing population and rising prevalence of diabetes, more Americans need dialysis than ever before.
Mr. Greenstein shared HHS's vision of a world in which kidney disease patients and their care partners can live meaningful, productive lives. A world in which patients no longer even need dialysis.
In order to realize this vision, Mr. Greenstein announced HHS' intent to launch a Kidney Innovation Accelerator. The Accelerator will establish a public-private innovation fund capable of seeding and accelerating not just incremental improvements in treating kidney disease, but will foster real breakthroughs in dialysis and other treatments for kidney disease. The Accelerator will also bring together all the key components of HHS, FDA, CMS, and NIH, to ensure that the path to commercialization is straight and clear.
Mr. Greenstein emphasized the need to build the coalition of partners that can come together to bring an entirely new generation of therapies to the patients that so desperately need them. As HHS prepares to launch the accelerator, they are seeking support, feedback, and guidance from the public.
Individuals that are interested in learning more or have an idea are encouraged to contact HHS at kidneyX@hhs.gov.