Coordinating efforts to optimize next-generation kidney replacement therapies: the European Kidney Health Alliance Work Group ‘Breakthrough Innovation’

Fokko Wieringa*, Henning Søndergaard, Alberto Ortiz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the fastest growing health problems, set to become the fifth global death cause by 2040. Factors contributing to this fast growth include increased survival from other diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.), population aging, lack of early CKD diagnosis tools, insufficient CKD awareness within healthcare systems, limited therapeutic armamentarium to prevent CKD progression and limitations of currently available kidney replacement therapies (KRTs). The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) and the American Association of Kidney Patients joined forces within the Decade of the KidneyTM framework to address these issues. We report on the rationale and vision of the EKHA Work Group ‘Breakthrough Innovation’ which aims to disrupt the existing innovation paradox on KRT. We discuss how the concepts of international technological roadmapping and coopetition may leverage breakthrough KRT technologies, and present a map of the kidney innovation playing field, driven by patient advocacy groups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-890
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Kidney Journal
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • Decade of the Kidney
  • innovation kidney failure
  • kidney replacement therapy (KRT)

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