Wright Lab Wins $1M KidneyX Sustainability Prize

The Wright Lab, led by Natasha Wright, the Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the KidneyX Sustainability Prize from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This $1 million award recognizes the lab’s innovative approach to advancing sustainable dialysis care.
The lab’s solution focuses on decentralized, on-demand production of peritoneal dialysis fluids, reducing energy use, water consumption, and reliance on global supply chains. By producing fluids near hospitals and dialysis centers, the innovation aims to improve access for under-resourced populations while minimizing environmental impact.
This achievement was made possible through the efforts of the lab’s dedicated team: Carolyn Bernemann (Ph.D. student), Beatriz de Souza Heidel (postdoctoral researcher), and Ibrahim Yekinni (research scientist).