WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal health officials are launching a $4 million national competition aimed at increasing living kidney donations and improving transplant outcomes for tens of thousands of Americans awaiting a lifesaving organ.
What This Means for You
- A $4 million federal challenge aims to boost living kidney donations
- Innovations will focus on reducing barriers for donors and patients
- New data and technology efforts could improve transplant care nationwide
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the 2026 KidneyX EMPOWER Prize Challenge, a federal initiative designed to encourage new solutions that support people considering kidney donation and those in need of transplants.
More than 100,000 Americans are currently on the kidney transplant waiting list, and more than a dozen people die each day while waiting, according to federal data.
Addressing Barriers to Donation
Living kidney donation — when a healthy person donates a kidney to someone in need — is one of the most effective treatments for kidney failure. However, donation rates have remained largely unchanged for decades, with fewer than 7,000 living donors annually.
Officials said financial, logistical, and medical concerns often prevent potential donors from moving forward.
“Living kidney donation delivers some of the best outcomes for patients with kidney failure, yet avoidable barriers still stand in the way,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The competition will seek solutions in several areas, including public awareness, donor education, eligibility preparation, and long-term support for donors after surgery.
Focus on Practical Solutions
The challenge will prioritize tools and programs that help donors navigate common obstacles, such as managing health requirements, understanding risks, and addressing financial concerns tied to donation.
Participants will compete for monetary prizes and national recognition, with applications available at https://kidneyxempowerchallenge.org.
Officials said the goal is to develop scalable, real-world solutions that can expand access to transplants while improving outcomes for both donors and recipients.
Expanding Data and Technology Efforts
Alongside the competition, HHS said it will work to improve how kidney care data is shared across the healthcare system.
The effort will focus on improving interoperability — the ability of different healthcare systems to securely share and use patient information — to support better care coordination, research, and clinical decision-making.
“Data and technology play a critical role in supporting patients, donors, and clinicians across the transplant ecosystem,” said Dr. Thomas Keane, national coordinator for health information technology.
Next Steps
The KidneyX initiative, a public-private partnership between HHS and the American Society of Nephrology, will administer the competition and continue broader efforts to modernize the nation’s transplant system.
Officials said the combined focus on innovation and data infrastructure is intended to increase access to kidney transplants and improve long-term outcomes for patients nationwide.
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