MATTER partners with Baxter on University Hackathon to seek innovative approaches to improving access to home dialysis

Calling on university innovators with creative concepts to enhance the peritoneal dialysis (PD) experience for kidney patients and clinic operational efficiencies for healthcare professionals

Chicago, IL, March 7, 2022 — MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, today announced a collaboration with Baxter (NYSE:BAX), a global innovator in kidney care, to host the 2022 University Hackathon. The program will source ideas and concepts from university innovators with a focus on advancing home dialysis patient care and clinic operations for people living with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

About 850 million people suffer from kidney disease globally, and it is estimated that up to 10 million of them have reached end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or transplant.1 Baxter is a leader in driving access to kidney care across the continuum through insight-driven innovation and services, so patients can live their best lives. The partnership between Baxter and MATTER is designed to foster creative thinking from young innovators to expand on the digital health, medical devices and services currently available for kidney care, especially in the area of PD for home patients.

“Working with MATTER supports our continual commitment to have a strong pipeline of kidney care products and services for the millions of patients requiring access to care,” said Manish Kapoor, VP, innovation and pipeline for the Baxter Renal Care business. “The program’s focus on home dialysis and digital health as an enabler to therapy also supports the growing need for kidney patients, who are immunocompromised, to be able to social distance themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Working with MATTER supports our continual commitment to have a strong pipeline of kidney care products and services for the millions of patients requiring access to care.” — Manish Kapoor, VP, innovation and pipeline for the Baxter Renal Care business

Up to 10 student innovators will be chosen and receive feedback from Baxter innovation leaders, including their Renal Care business and Digital Innovation Lab leadership. Finalists will have the opportunity to rehearse their concept proposals and receive guidance from the MATTER and Baxter teams prior to making their formal proposal. The winner will receive a $5,000 prize, an internship with Baxter during the 2023 summer and a free, six-month membership to MATTER.

Baxter supports kidney patient care from pre-dialysis to PD and hemodialysis (typically in-center care). Specific to home dialysis, PD patients experience improved early survival, and higher satisfaction rates and quality-of-life measures2,3,4 often including a more active lifestyle. PD supported by Baxter’s Sharesource remote patient management digital health platform allows healthcare professionals to monitor their patients’ home dialysis treatments and then remotely adjust therapy without the need for patients to make unplanned visits to the clinic. Sharesource is the most widely implemented home dialysis digital health platform globally.

“Baxter has a 90-year history of bringing leading healthcare innovation to patient care, which is especially evident in our digital health offerings,” said Talvis Love, CIO, Baxter. “Baxter’s Digital Innovation Lab team, which helps drive digital health initiatives across our company, is pleased to partner with MATTER to foster the next generation of young innovators in healthcare.”

“We are delighted to work with Baxter to find brilliant students who are passionate about healthcare innovation and nurture their ideas for improving the lives of people living with kidney failure,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “This program is a great opportunity for students to collaborate with one of the world leaders in medical technology.”

“This program is a great opportunity for students to collaborate with one of the world leaders in medical technology.” — Steven Collens, CEO, MATTER

Interested students can learn more and apply by visiting the Hackathon page. Applications are due by April 6, 2022 at 11:59pm CT.

About Baxter

Every day, millions of patients, caregivers and healthcare providers rely on Baxter’s leading portfolio of diagnostic, critical care, kidney care, nutrition, hospital and surgical products used across patient homes, hospitals, physician offices and other sites of care. For 90 years, we’ve been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers who make it happen. With products, digital health solutions and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter’s employees worldwide are now building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxter.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About MATTER

At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 300 cutting-edge startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.

Baxter and Sharesource are registered trademarks of Baxter International Inc.

  1. MORE THAN 850 MILLION WORLDWIDE HAVE SOME FORM OF KIDNEY DISEASE: HELP RAISE AWARENESS; www. theisn.org, blog. Nov. 27, 2020. Accessed Feb. 2022.
  2. Rubin HR et al. Patient ratings of dialysis care with peritoneal dialysis vs hemodialysis. JAMA. 2004 Feb 11;291(6):697-703.
  3. Juergensen, et al. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: patients’ assessment of their satisfaction with therapy and the impact of the therapy on their lives. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006; 1(6): 1191-1196.
  4. Zazzeroni L HR et al. Comparison of quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Kidney Blood Press Res. 2017;42(4):717-727. USRDS ADR 2018: Vol 2 ESRD, Chap 5; Fig 5.1.