Foundation for Kidney Transplant Research Information

The Foundation for Kidney Transplant Research was founded by Jim Plante, a biotechnology entreprenuer and investor (Thynk Capital, Pathway Genomics, Klotho Therapeutics) after learning he and his siblings carried the genetic mutation for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD patients normally require a kidney transplant at some point in their lives.. Typically, PKD carriers require a kidney transplant at some point in their lives. The best outcomes are usually achieved when the donor is a family member. With the knowledge that he and his family would need a kidney from a non-related donor, Plante began to immerse himself in learning about the transplant process. It quickly became apparent to Plante that the transplant process is broken – thousands of kidney patients die every year waiting for an organ, the black market in kidneys is active across the globe and the cost of patients waiting on dialysis is one of the biggest in Medicare. Plante also learned about the disincentives to donating that living donors face. Organ transplantation in America is governed by the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984, a law passed at a time when kidney disease was less prevalent and far fewer Americans needed a kidney transplant. NOTA prohibits “valuable consideration” for organs. Under NOTA, kidney donors find themselves paying for travel associated with their donation, weeks of lost wages during recovery time, follow up medical visits and the like. Plante established the Foundation for Kidney Transplant Research to explore policy options to find a solution to immediately increase the number of kidneys available for transplant, educate the public on the problem and to quantify public support for various policy approaches.