Ulster University has received research funding from the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF) to accelerate the development of ‘NephroNet’, a breakthrough AI-enabled blood test designed to predict whether a patient’s kidney function will decline or improve up to a year in advance.
The £102,000 funding marks the first research award made by NIKRF to Ulster University and reflects a new partnership focused on advancing kidney research, innovation and patient care in Northern Ireland.
At a launch event held in CTRIC at Altnagelvin Hospital, attendees heard how chronic kidney disease affects 1 in 10 people in Northern Ireland, yet symptoms often remain unnoticed until the condition becomes severe.
NephroNet will change that, using the ability to test blood test markers combined with advanced AI modelling to forecast future kidney function with high accuracy. This technology will enable healthcare teams to anticipate deterioration long before the condition becomes irreversible.
Early identification through a simple routine blood test, would allow clinicians to intervene sooner adjusting medications, providing lifestyle support, and closely monitoring high risk patients to slow or prevent progression towards kidney failure.
This type of technology could significantly reduce the number of patients requiring dialysis, one of the most expensive and resource intensive treatments the NHS provides. Each avoided or delayed dialysis case can save the health service tens of thousands of pounds per patient per year, while reducing pressure on renal units that are already at capacity across the UK.
Speaking at the launch event, Lead Researcher, Dr Taranjit Singh Rai PhD, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Ulster University shared how the research project would work:
“Kidney disease is often called a silent condition because people may not realise they have it until it is too late. Our goal is to use artificial intelligence to detect kidney damage earlier than ever before and give clinicians the tools to intervene sooner. I’m incredibly excited for this trial to begin and committed to improving outcomes for kidney patients.”
Speaking on the occasion Dr Oonagh McCloskey, Renal Consultant, Western Health and Social Care Trust said:
“This research gives us a ‘crystal ball.’ Currently we work patients up for renal replacement therapy based on risk predicted by the kidney failure risk equation. For some this means work up too early and unnecessary worry and anxiety; for others it is too late and this results in a period of dialysis before transplant.
“The ability to reliably predict kidney function in one year, allows us to accurately identify which patients will require renal replacement therapy in that time and ensure both recipient and donors are worked up in an appropriate time frame; striving towards the gold standard of pre-emptive live donor transplantation. It also allows patients and families, time to adjust and plan during this, often stressful life event.”
Jim McCaughan, Chair of NIKRF said:
“We are delighted to support this innovative research at Ulster University. The development of NephroNet has the potential to transform how clinicians predict and manage kidney disease, allowing earlier intervention and improved outcomes for patients. As a local charity dedicated to advancing kidney research in Northern Ireland, we are proud that this award represents our first research funding to Ulster University and the beginning of what we hope will be a strong and impactful partnership.”
Debbie Patton, one of the recipients of a kidney transplant said:
“It was interesting to hear about the work that Dr Rai and team are doing and the positive use of AI. I was delighted to hear that this amazing work within Rai Lab is invaluable for improving patient outcomes. I look forward to hearing more in the future about the contribution this has made.”
About NIKRF
The Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF) is a local charity dedicated to supporting research that improves the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. Through fundraising and partnership with clinicians, researchers and universities, the charity provides funding to advance innovation and improve outcomes and quality of life for people living with kidney disease across Northern Ireland.
