An IGTP-led innovation project aims to improve detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease with a non-invasive diagnostic tool
Seeks to co-develop and clinically validate a new diagnostic tool with Debios Diagnostics, an IGTP spin-off, based on the analysis of the protein vitronectin in urine samples to detect and monitor renal fibrosis non-invasively
Marta Clos, co-founder and chief technology officer of Debios. Fibrokit® diagnostic kit (registered trademark).
On the occasion of World Kidney Day, held every year on 12 March, the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), in collaboration with the Nephrology Department of the Hospital Germans Trias and the spin-off Debios Diagnostics, is promoting the PROMORFI project, a translational innovation initiative aimed at improving the detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease through new non-invasive diagnostic tools and new models of clinical care.
Chronic kidney disease is often underdiagnosed and may progress silently for years until advanced stages. One of the main mechanisms responsible for disease progression is the accumulation of fibrosis in the kidneys, a scarring process of renal tissue that can currently only be diagnosed accurately through a kidney biopsy, an invasive procedure with limitations for the continuous monitoring of patients.
Globally, kidney disease affects more than 850 million people and represents a growing challenge for healthcare systems. Chronic kidney disease is estimated to affect 10-15% of the adult population, although a significant proportion of cases remain undiagnosed in the early stages. In Catalonia alone, more than one million people are affected. In this context, early detection and continuous patient monitoring are key elements in slowing disease progression and improving quality of life.
Analysing a protein to detect and monitor renal fibrosis
In this context, the PROMORFI project (Development and Clinical Validation of a Non-Invasive Test for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Renal Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) aims to develop and clinically validate FIBROKIT, a new diagnostic tool based on the analysis of the protein vitronectin (VTN) in urine samples, enabling the detection and monitoring of renal fibrosis in a non-invasive way.
The project, which will run until 2028, is funded through the Public-Private Collaboration Projects call of the Spanish State Research Agency, with a total budget exceeding €1.7 million, and is jointly carried out by Debios Diagnostics and IGTP.
The project aims to assess how these new tools can transform clinical practice in nephrology, facilitating new clinical decision-making protocols and new patient follow-up models. The technology includes two complementary versions of the test: FIBROKIT-ELISA, designed for clinical laboratories to obtain highly precise quantitative results, and FIBROKIT-LF, a rapid test that will enable periodic patient monitoring, even from home. This approach will make it possible to combine hospital-based assessment with remote monitoring, improving patient follow-up and contributing to a more personalised management of the disease.
The project will include validation of the biomarker in cohorts of patients with chronic kidney disease and the implementation of a prospective clinical trial, which will allow the clinical usefulness of this system to be assessed under real-world healthcare conditions. This line of research originated a few years ago from joint work with the hospital's Nephrology Department, led by Jordi Bover, co-leader of the Research in Kidney Affecting Diseases Group (REMAR) and co-founder of Debios, when the need for new tools to monitor renal fibrosis in a more accessible and repeatable way was first identified.
For Francesc Borràs, principal investigator of the project, leader of the Innovation in Vesicles and Cells for Application in Therapy (IVECAT) research group and co-founder of Debios Diagnostics, the project reflects a way of understanding translational research: "identifying real medical needs together with clinicians, generating scientific knowledge and transforming it into solutions that can improve clinical practice and therefore benefit patients."
The project also incorporates a digital innovation component with the participation of the Digital Transformation and Health Directorate of the Hospital Germans Trias, which is working together with the Nephrology clinical team to develop content for patients with chronic kidney disease to be integrated into the eSalut app. The aim of these materials is to facilitate more detailed monitoring of the condition by professionals and to empower users through the self-management of their health, making them active participants in their care process.
On the occasion of World Kidney Day, the hospital will also carry out awareness-raising activities aimed at patients and the general public to promote knowledge about kidney disease, its early detection and the importance of medical follow-up. One of these activities takes place today, 12 March in the morning, in the hospital's main lobby, where, in addition to an information stand, Nephrology professionals measure urine albumin levels in users who wish to take part. This test helps detect kidney damage or disease at an early stage, particularly in people with diabetes, hypertension or high cardiovascular risk.
Project funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities / State Research Agency / ERDF, EU.