Challenge: solving the kidney donor shortage

In 1954 a medical team performed the first successful living donor kidney transplant.

After sixty-five years, while outcomes for patients have greatly improved, one major issue remains unresolved: the kidney donor shortage.

Today, there are 25 million Americans with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for kidney failure or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). To sustain life, the 670,000 patients who currently live with ESRD in the United States need to be on lifelong dialysis or receive a transplant from a deceased or living donor.

Important facts:
  • In the United States, more than 100,000 patients are on the waiting list to receive a kidney.
  • Dialysis is a life-saving treatment, but can be hard on patients. Learn more about life on dialysis.
  • Only 5,000 people donated last year through deceased donation—this is not enough to meet the need.
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Outcomes for kidney patients have improved greatly in the years since 1954, when the first successful living kidney donor transplant was performed.