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Patients awaiting kidney transplants

Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) listed for a deceased-donor kidney transplant.

Patients awaiting kidney transplants are individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who have been evaluated and approved for a deceased-donor kidney. They constitute the largest single group on organ transplant waiting lists globally. In the United States, over 92,000 people are waiting for a kidney, with the total list including multi-center listings reaching approximately 147,091 in 2024.

Wait times in the U.S. typically range from three to five years, depending on factors such as blood type, region, and immune sensitivity. There is a significant gap between the number of patients added to the list and the number of transplants performed; for example, in 2023, about 44,560 new patients were added while only 27,332 transplants were performed.

Innovation in this space is critical because transplantation generally offers better quality of life and longer survival than long-term dialysis. The persistent shortage of available organs drives the need for expanded living donation, revised allocation policies, and the development of xenotransplant or bioartificial alternatives.

Ideas that could help Patients awaiting kidney transplants

E. limosum Renal-Protective Probiotic
A specialized probiotic supplement containing Eubacterium limosum designed to boost endogenous UDCA production as a long-term preventative measure for high-risk renal patients.
Why it helps: These individuals are at high risk for IRI during the transplant process and would benefit from pre-operative microbiome optimization.