The National Kidney Registry (NKR) is the world’s largest paired exchange organization. It was founded in 2007 and has facilitated over 11,000 living donor kidney transplants to date, more than any other organization in the world.
About the NKR
Learn more about the National Kidney Registry (NKR), including what it is, who can use it, and how it helps kidney donors and transplant recipients.
For general questions, you can contact the NKR using the general contact form. If you are a member of the media and are interested in receiving additional information or interviewing a member of the NKR team, you can use the media contact form.
The NKR serves as a central repository for living donors and kidney patients who need transplants. Through programs such as paired exchange and the Voucher Program, the NKR uses the latest DNA matching technology to find the best possible matches between donors and recipients.
There is no charge to register with the NKR or to use its kidney matching service.
By optimizing donor-recipient matches, the NKR ensures better outcomes and longer-lasting kidney function for transplant recipients. The NKR also provides the opportunity to connect with a donor search coach who can help patients set up a personalized website, provide strategies on how to share their story, and answer questions they may have during their transplant journey.
The NKR’s Donor Shield program provides living donors with a comprehensive range of protections—from reimbursement for lost wages, travel and childcare expenses to coverage for any donation-related complications—and ensures priority for a future living donor kidney transplant should the donor ever need one. Additionally, the Voucher Program enhances convenience by allowing donors to schedule their donation according to their own timeline, making the process more accessible and accommodating. The NKR also provides potential donors with a donor mentor who can help answer any questions during their donation process.
The NKR works with a network of 102 Member Centers spanning 35 states and the District of Columbia. Each Member Center must adhere to strict center requirements and guidelines to maintain membership in good standing.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a living kidney donor or who needs a kidney transplant can register with the NKR.
If you are interested in donating a kidney, you can register as a donor candidate on the NKR website. The NKR will provide instructions through every step of the process. Patients who want to start the transplant process or switch to an NKR center can register online.
If you are interested in exploring living donation, visit the Choose Donation website. If you are a patient in need of a transplant, visit the Find A Kidney website.
To protect your privacy and keep your personal health information (PHI) secure, the National Kidney Registry does not offer general customer service by phone. Instead, all inquiries go through our secure online contact form. This ensures that your questions are routed to the right team, documented properly, and answered in compliance with HIPAA and other privacy regulations.