Who We Are & Our Mission
PKD Free Babies Alliance, Ltd. (PKD-Free Alliance) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to ending Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) by using proven approaches to prevent it from being passed down to future generations. The organization was started by Richard Kellner in memory of his late wife, who had PKD.
What is PKD?
PKD is a genetic disorder that results in cysts on the kidneys and is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. It is the leading cause of kidney failure in individuals under the age of 50. Affecting over 600,000 Americans, PKD carries a 50% chance of being passed to the next generation in the dominant form of the disease.
How We Help Affected Families
The Alliance provides qualified PKD-impacted families with resources, grants, and discounts from top fertility centers nationwide for Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-M) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments. Collectively, this allows PKD-impacted individuals to help actualize a PKD-Free future. The PKD-Free Babies initiative was launched in July 2023.
Success Stories
Since the start of the PKD-Free Babies program in July 2023, the Alliance has received over 150 applications for grants from families seeking to have PKD-Free children. More than 80 are in various stages of pursuing generational health for their families. As of June 2025, supported families have welcomed 14 PKD-Free babies into the world.
Here is a list of conditions this partner raises awareness and advocacy for:
Approximately 540,000 individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The disease causes persistent and rapidly accumulating cysts
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