A new blood test being developed by researchers at RMIT University and diagnostic company Nexsen Limited could detect kidney disease much earlier and simplify long-term monitoring.
The AUD $1.125 million research partnership aims to develop point-of-care tests capable of identifying acute kidney injury (AKI) hours faster than existing methods and allowing patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to monitor their health at home.
Nearly one-third of intensive care patients develop AKI, a condition that is difficult to detect in its early stages, while 13 per cent of Australians live with CKD – one of the leading causes of premature death.
Professor Vipul Bansal, director of RMIT’s Sir Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, said the test could provide a cheaper and more efficient alternative to conventional pathology testing.
“The rapid onset of acute kidney injury – yet the lack of a reliable diagnostic test – poses a major challenge for healthcare professionals to make timely interventions,” Bansal said.
“The current testing of kidney damage based on reduced urine output and increased serum creatinine levels can take six and 24 hours respectively, while our ultrasensitive diagnostic technology aims to detect damage much earlier.”
Professor Shekhar Kumta, head of the Clinical Translational Research Partnership between RMIT and Northern Hospital, said current diagnostic methods can delay treatment.
“Changes in the kidney function lag the damage to the complex structure of the kidney,” Kumta said. “A new test that can directly investigate the damage to different parts of the kidneys will be a real game-changer.”
The RMIT team is developing DNA aptamers to detect biomarkers linked to structural kidney damage, potentially enabling earlier intervention and better outcomes.
Similar technology could also allow CKD patients to track their condition at home, alongside common tools like blood glucose monitors.
RMIT recently took an equity position in Nexsen, strengthening a long-term partnership that includes joint appointments such as Bansal’s role as Nexsen’s chief innovation officer.
Nexsen executive chairman Reece O’Connell said both the kidney and Group B Streptococcus (GBS) projects with RMIT addressed major unmet medical needs.
“We’re excited to continue our deep relationship with RMIT into the kidney disease project, where we are addressing one of the most pressing global health challenges,” O’Connell said.
