How where you live affects getting a kidney transplant
Impact of Geographic Boundaries on Deceased Donor Kidney Discard, Allocation, and Outcomes
This project looks at how geographic boundaries influence whether people waiting for a kidney transplant receive one and if donated kidneys are unnecessarily discarded.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For the nearly 95,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant, where they live significantly impacts their chances. Current organ allocation relies on artificial geographic boundaries that vary greatly in size and population, leading to differences in transplant access. These boundaries may also contribute to the unfortunate discard of nearly 20% of donated kidneys. This work will look at how different kidney allocation policies, especially new ones without fixed geographic boundaries, affect transplant access and outcomes for patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with end-stage kidney disease who are currently waiting for or have received a kidney transplant are the focus of this research.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by kidney allocation policies, such as those not needing a transplant or those with other conditions, would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to fairer and more efficient kidney allocation policies, potentially increasing access to transplants and reducing the waste of donated organs.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds upon existing knowledge of organ allocation disparities and aims to provide new insights into the effects of policy changes.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Potluri, Vishnu Sagar — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Potluri, Vishnu Sagar
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.