Articles from American Kidney Fund

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced the consolidation of two vital initiatives—the David Atkins Fund and the living kidney donor program in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area—that aim to remove financial barriers to living donation. Now known as AKF’s Living Donor Assistance Program, this effort, which is funded with support from local donors, will continue to provide financial assistance to living kidney donors anywhere in the country who are donating a kidney to recipients in Massachusetts, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and New York City.  

New Appointment Marks Strategic Investment in Advancing Medical Expertise on Behalf of Kidney Patients

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) will host its second Patient Access Initiative (PAI) Summit—part of AKF’s ongoing work to address health care access issues faced by people with kidney disease—and convene stakeholders committed to improving early diagnosis and intervention in kidney disease.  

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) launched its newest educational campaign, “Answers Unlocked,” to spread awareness of the need and benefits of genetic testing in determining the cause of patients’ kidney disease. “Answers Unlocked,” developed in collaboration with Natera, will provide patients with information about genetic testing and empower them to talk to their doctor about genetic testing and seek access to a genetic counselor.

AKF has turned on its Disaster Relief Program to aid dialysis and post-transplant patients living in areas impacted by Hurricane Milton

The one-day virtual, free summit will feature inspiring speakers, dialysis experts and patients.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast, the American Kidney Fund’s (AKF) Disaster Relief Program is continuing to provide emergency, rapid-response financial assistance to dialysis and recent transplant patients in hard-hit North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and southern Virginia, many of whom had to evacuate or are living without power and water in areas where homes, businesses, bridges and roads were destroyed. AKF is grateful for the generous support of the American Society of Nephrology, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., the Schattner Foundation, CSL Vifor and Ardelyx, as well as numerous individual donors that have stepped up to make this critically needed aid possible.

Members of AKF's Rare Kidney Disease Action Network (RKDAN) and health care professionals will visit Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. today to meet with lawmakers.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing groundbreaking work to advance understanding and patient care of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed causes of kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) will convene nearly 100 medical and industry leaders together with patient advocates on Tuesday for the fifth annual national summit of its Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease (UCKD) Project in Washington, DC. 

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced that Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company have joined the 2024 class in AKF’s Corporate Membership Program as a Champion-level member. Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly will help provide financial support for AKF’s work to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research.

The $275,000 grant will benefit people in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area living with kidney failure, children living with kidney disease and people living with kidney failure who have been impacted by a natural disaster

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today launched patient-focused guidelines to help people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) manage and treat hyperkalemia, also known as high potassium. Kidney disease is the most common cause of hyperkalemia, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can cause an irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. The guidelines were developed with support from AstraZeneca.

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reigning Olympic all-around gymnastics champion Suni Lee and the American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced today they are partnering for AKF’s Know Your Kidneys initiative, a comprehensive program that provides a roadmap to better kidney health. Lee, who just clinched a spot on the U.S. gymnastics team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, will share her kidney disease experience, shed light on unknown causes of kidney disease and share resources that can help those seeking a diagnosis.

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is proud to announce the launch of the Rare Kidney Disease Action Network (RKDAN), a new effort that will play a vital role in ensuring that the voices of people fighting rare kidney diseases are heard and amplified.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced a major expansion of its award-winning Know Your Kidneys program, providing people at risk for kidney disease and those living with kidney disease with comprehensive, interactive resources to support them through the entire kidney disease journey – from prevention to post-transplant.  

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today marks the nation’s first ever APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day, launched this year by the American Kidney Fund (AKF) to increase recognition of this serious genetic disease and to urge people to consider how where they come from can impact their kidney health. Support for AMKD Awareness Day is provided by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.     

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its longstanding commitment to kidney health equity, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) has launched a national media campaign aimed at bringing greater awareness of kidney disease within Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, the two groups most disproportionately affected by kidney failure in the United States.

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of the top 50 nonprofit employers in the United States by The NonProfit Times, a leading national business publication for nonprofit managers, and the Best Companies Group, which helps companies assess, enhance and promote company work environments and cultures. This is the third year AKF has earned a spot on this annual list, which identifies nonprofit organizations that have gone above and beyond to create quality workplaces.

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today the American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced the recipients of this year’s Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) fellowship program, in which promising researchers work to improve the quality of care for people living with kidney disease and promote clinical research in nephrology. Dr. Kavita Mistry, a nephrology fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, will be using cutting-edge single cell sequencing technologies to gain insights into the initial events that lead to kidney inflammation in acute interstitial nephritis (ICI-AIN), while Dr. Marcelle Tuttle, a first-year fellow in the Tufts Medical Center Division of Nephrology, will be working on research that focuses on the development of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Roundtable discussion and reception held ahead of nation’s first ever AMKD Awareness Day on April 30

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced a new patient-focused educational awareness campaign on managing high phosphorus, also known as hyperphosphatemia. The goal of the campaign is to provide people on dialysis with up-to-date information that will help them manage their phosphorus levels through medication and diet. This campaign has been developed with grant support from Ardelyx.

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) kicks off its fifth annual Kidney Action Week™, the nation’s only free online conference that draws patients, caregivers, nephrologists, researchers and other experts to participate in a weeklong series of sessions related to kidney disease. More than 5,000 people are expected to participate in 2024 Kidney Action Week. The event is part of AKF’s Kidney Month observance, which is focused on equipping and empowering people with the tools they need to prioritize their kidney health and fight kidney disease.

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is pleased to announce its 2024 Class of Corporate Members who serve as strategic partners in AKF’s Corporate Membership Program. Corporate Members provide essential support to AKF as it continues its fight against kidney disease on all fronts—from prevention through post-transplant living.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first day of March marks the beginning of Kidney Month, a month in which the American Kidney Fund (AKF) will mark 31 days of action that will focus on equipping and empowering people with the tools they need to prioritize their kidney health and fight kidney disease, a life-altering chronic condition that impacts about 37 million Americans. During Kidney Month, AKF calls on members of the kidney community and the general public to join in solidarity in support of everyone affected by kidney disease.

Assessment of all 50 states and District of Columbia finds mixed progress: Five states made living donation easier in 2023, while six states got F’s due to having zero policy incentives for living organ donation

Campaign aims to increase understanding and recognition of AMKD

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) will convene more than 100 medical leaders, patient advocates and academic and industry leaders for the fourth national summit of its Unknown Causes of Kidney Disease (UCKD) Project, which seeks to improve understanding of how undiagnosed or misdiagnosed causes of kidney disease directly impact patient care and outcomes. This will be the first in-person summit after three years of virtual summits due to the pandemic.

Publication summarizes policy solutions arising from AKF’s 2023 Patient Access Initiative Summit

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced that Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company have joined the 2023 class in AKF’s Corporate Membership Program as a Champion-level member. Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly’s membership helps fund AKF’s work to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) launched educational awareness campaigns for two rare kidney diseases: complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The campaigns, sponsored by Novartis, provide patients with information about the diseases and connect them with resources to help them better understand and manage these conditions.

The one-day virtual, free summit will feature inspiring speakers, community leaders and dialysis experts.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced that Travere Therapeutics has joined the 2023 class in AKF’s Corporate Membership Program as a Champion-level member. Travere’s membership will help fund AKF’s work to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today expressed its appreciation for Amgen’s participation in the 2023 class of its Corporate Membership Program as a Champion-level member. Amgen’s membership will help fund AKF’s work to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research, helping people living with or at risk for kidney disease live healthier lives. 

With this gift, the Robert I. Schattner Foundation has now contributed over $1 million to programs that help enrich the lives of children with kidney disease and assist people in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area living with kidney failure.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) has turned on its Disaster Relief Program to administer emergency grants to dialysis and post-transplant patients who have been impacted by the Typhoon Mawar in the U.S. territory of Guam. Typhoon Mawar brought category-four-hurricane-level winds as well as storm surge and torrential rainfall. This is the largest storm to impact Guam in decades and while it did not make direct landfall, the majority of the 30-mile island has lost power. AKF’s Disaster Relief Program is the nation’s sole rapid-response system that provides emergency financial assistance to dialysis and recent transplant patients.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than two dozen American Kidney Fund (AKF) Ambassadors – kidney patients, caregivers and living donors from across the country – will meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on May 17 and urge them to support legislation and policies that will improve the lives of people with kidney disease. The annual AKF Kidney Action Summit will take place in person for the first time since 2019 and kicks off today with a full day of training and networking.

Virtual program is the only one of its kind for pediatric kidney patients

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) is convening the first Patient Access Initiative Summit, during which stakeholders in the fight against kidney disease will discuss the patient and caregiver burden, regulatory challenges and health insurance design as part of an ongoing effort to better understand and address health care access issues faced by the kidney patient community.  

Congressional Briefing on March 23 Will Address Diabetes and High Blood Pressure, Leading Causes of Kidney Disease

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced its 2023 Class of Corporate Members, strategic partners in its Corporate Membership Program. Corporate Members provide essential support to AKF as it continues its fight against kidney disease on all fronts — from prevention through post-transplant living.

American Kidney Fund encourages Americans to come together in the fight against kidney disease, provides opportunities for empowerment, education and action

Third annual Report Card maps movement among some states, while others fail to protect those giving the gift of life

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced sponsorship from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Novartis) for education and awareness campaigns for two rare kidney diseases: complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Through these campaigns, AKF will provide patient-friendly information to support increased understanding of these complex, rare kidney diseases, including how to manage them, and connect patients to specialized resources and organizations that can further aid them in their care journey.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today expressed its appreciation for Amgen’s participation in the 2022 class of its Corporate Membership Program as a Champion-level member. Amgen’s membership has funded AKF’s work to advance kidney disease awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment and research, helping to support AKF’s mission to fight kidney disease on all fronts and help people live healthier lives.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced the Patient Access Initiative, a new effort to better understand and address ongoing health care access issues faced by people with kidney disease, including rare kidney disease, and their caregivers.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022 Annual Meeting in Orlando, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) will present its poster “Barriers to genetic testing for determining cause of kidney disease among healthcare providers,” sharing the results of a health care provider survey AKF conducted earlier this year.

Anibal “Yobani” Lopez of Waterloo, Iowa will be the cover artist for 2023 AKF Calendar

To be considered for this award, AKF was evaluated for its workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics.

The new laws prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurers from discriminating against living organ donors.

cystatin C webinar for health professionals seeking information on kidney function testing

The law prohibits discrimination against potential organ transplant recipients based solely on their physical, developmental or intellectual disability.