Key Takeaways
- Living
Key Takeaways
- The HHS has launched a $4 M prize challenge (2026 EMPOWER) via KidneyX to improve living kidney donor support and transplant access.
- Parallel effort: ONC will work with the nephrology and community to standardize data and boost interoperability across the kidney care ecosystem.
- Success hinges on removing financial, logistical, educational, and social barriers to living donation and on enabling seamless, secure data exchange for better care coordination and research.
Summary
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the 2026 EMPOWER Prize Challenge, a $4 million national competition run through the Kidney Innovation Accelerator (ASN partnership. The challenge targets key obstacles to living kidney donation—public awareness & mentorship, donor interventions, donor readiness & eligibility, donor‑centered outcomes, and center practices—to increase the stagnant donor rate (<7 000/yr) and reduce the ~100 000‑person transplant waitlist.SPANS. In parallel, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) will collaborate with the nephrology community to identify gaps and advance data standardization and interoperability across the kidney care ecosystem, aiming for seamless, secure data exchange that supports clinical decision‑making, research, and innovation. Together, these efforts aim to modernize organ procurement, improve equitable access to transplants, and ensure living donors are supported before, during, and after donation. Interested participants can apply at kidneyxempowerchallenge.org for updates, key dates, and potential monetary prizes and national recognition.