implantation may be feasible. a ucsf-led effort to create an implantable artificial kidney for dialysis patients has been selected as one of the first projects to undergo more timely and collaborative review at the food and drug administration. the fda announced on april 9, 2012, that it had chosen three renal device projects to pilot a regulatory approval program called innovation pathway 2.0, intended to bring breakthrough medical device technologies to patients faster and more efficiently. the artificial kidney project, which is targeted for clinical trials in 2017, was selected for its transformative potential in treating end stage kidney disease and for its potential to benefit from early interactions with the fda in the approval process. the fda effort will involve close contact between the federal agency and device developers early in the development process to identify and address potential scientific and regulatory hurdles and create a roadmap for project approval. the goal is to improve the projects' overall chance of success, while reducing the time and cost of fda review and maintaining safety. lessons, the agency said, will inform approvals in other areas. the kidney project is a national research initiative that focuses on the development and testing of an implanted, freestanding bioartificial kidney. the kidney project received six million dollars in government grants.