Thank you for being part of our Kidney Companions community. Here we will provide updates, highlight the people within Kidney Companions, and share stories and actions you can take in a broader community.

Given the busy summer month of July, we are not holding a social event this month. We plan to resume our Convos with Kidney Companions monthly social in August on Thursday, Aug 10th, 5 pm-7 pm at Earthen Ales.

In other exciting news, one of our Kidney Companion patients is scheduled for a kidney transplant later this month! The team is actively preparing for the event, and after many years of waiting, he is very excited and eager for this life-changing event. Please stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer and help out as he returns home.

Email Molly@kidneycompanions.org if you would like to be added to the Small Jobs list.

Join us at Earthen Ales — a Pour for More venue.

On the second Thursday of each month, we gather for all who are interested in learning about Kidney Companions. We will always have an existing volunteer there for you to ask questions and listen to their experience. This is a great time to explore your interest in becoming a volunteer or invite someone who you think would be interested.

Our next gathering will be:

Thursday, August 10th

5-7 at Earthen Ales

1371 Gray Dr #200, Traverse City, MI 49684

In the last several years, there has been a flurry of activity in the development of external artificial kidneys. The idea is that people can wear a portable, handheld-sized dialysis machine that essentially functions as an artificial kidney. Given the burden, cost, and overall low efficiency of current dialysis modalities, along with the shortage of kidney transplants, this would be highly desirable for people living with kidney disease. Recently, the KidneyX Project (a joint collaboration between the American Society for Nephrology and the US Department of Health and Human Services; KidneyX: The Kidney Innovation Accelerator) announced the Phase 2 winners of their Innovation Acceleration Prize, aimed at accelerating the development of an artificial kidney. More than $9 million was awarded to 8 investigators across the country, with some of the innovative approaches using 3D printing to make the kidneys. Although we are still likely a decade away from human trials, this investment represents a major step forward in the evolution of kidney care for our patients, and perhaps one day could reduce the need for kidney transplants.