AAKP, ASN call on Congress for additional kidney research funding
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The American Association of Kidney Patients, American Society of Nephrology and kidney patients collaborated to pressure Congress into funding two major kidney research projects, according to a press release.
The collaboration occurred on April 14 on Kidney Health Advocacy Day. The AAKP and ASN dedicated the event to two funding requests for kidney innovation: $25 million for KidneyX, a research collaboration between ASN and HHS, and $285 million for the NIH.
KidneyX funding supports the development of artificial kidney technologies, while the NIH funding will be directed to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases to compensate for kidney research funding lost during the pandemic.
Together, the two organizations, kidney patients and the family of kidney patients conducted dozens of virtual meetings in key congressional offices across 25 states and had a simultaneous contact campaign with Congress.
According to the release, sign-on letters of support for KidneyX have begun circulating through offices and have gained support from Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., thus far.
“We appreciate our ongoing collaboration with ASN and believe our shared views provide a unique doctor and patient perspective to Congress on how they can make a substantive impact on kidney disease and improve patient outcomes, especially among communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by both this disease and COVID-19,” Richard Knight, AAKP president, former hemodialysis patient and former congressional staff member, said in the release.
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