Universities, engineers and companies will work together on the development of a biohybrid kidney that can (partially) take over the functions of a natural kidney in patients with kidney failure. The PPP programme is made possible by Health Holland and the Dutch Kidney Foundation.
Last week, Health Holland announced that it will make a €2.1 million subsidy available over the next 5 years for a PPP program for the development of biohybrid artificial kidneys. The organisations are working together on a biohybrid kidney that can function continuously in the body. This ensures that the quality of the treatment improves. And that eventually it is no longer necessary to dialysis. This is a follow-up step to the portable artificial kidney, an initiative of the Dutch Kidney Foundation, which will soon be tested on patients.
Bioartificial renal tube cells
Dimitrios Stamatialis is a professor in Advanced Organ Bioengineering and Therapeutics group of S&T faculty and the TechMed Centre. His team focuses on the development of a bioartificial kidney device consisting of renal tube cells attached to hollow fibre polymer membranes. This innovative approach seeks to effectively mimic the natural filtration mechanisms in healthy kidneys. Stamatialis: “This programme will bring together all necessary expertise and create strong momentum for developing an implantable biohybrid artificial kidney"
Tom Oostrom, director of the Dutch Kidney Foundation: "Four million people worldwide have serious kidney damage and are dependent on dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. Most of them have to undergo dialysis treatment, which takes a very heavy toll on someone's life. An implantable biohybrid kidney, will be a huge breakthrough for these patients "
Biohybrid kidney XB
An average dialysis patient dialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours in the hospital. The average life expectancy is 5-10 years. Dialysis can only take over kidney function to a limited extent and puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels. In addition, it is an expensive treatment that weighs heavily on national healthcare budgets in the Western world and consumes significant amounts of water, energy and plastic.
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