We are delighted to share an update on some of the innovative dialysis research projects currently being supported through Kidney Research UK funding. These studies are exploring how technology, engineering and artificial intelligence could help make dialysis safer, more effective and less disruptive for patients in the future.
Improving dialysis access for children
When kidney function declines, patients may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. During haemodialysis, a machine performs some of the functions of the kidneys by removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
Many children receiving haemodialysis rely on central venous lines (CVLs). These are tubes that are inserted into a vein to provide access to the bloodstream during treatment. However, the CVLs currently used in children are simply a miniaturisation of those used in adults. This can create complications because children’s anatomy is quite different. Children’s CVLs are susceptible to infections and poor blood flow which means they often require multiple lines to be replaced and missed school days due to repeated hospitalisations.
Dr Claudio Capelli, a biomedical engineer at University College London, is leading a £81,000 research project grant co-funded with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Claudio and his team are placing children at the centre of the design process. Using engineering software, computer simulations and laboratory experiments, they are investigating how to redesign central venous lines specifically for paediatric patients.
PhD student Claudia Bruno explains:
“The next step is to use what we learned to design new catheters that are better suited for children rather than simply adapting adult devices. These designs can then be tested in experimental settings, to see if they reduce complications and improve quality of life for children on dialysis.”
What could this mean for kidney patients?
This research shows how new and innovative technologies are helping researchers to understand why problems occur with CVLs in children. Using tools like advanced imaging and computer modelling, they can see how these lines function inside the body and test improved designs before they are used in real patients.