ADDNET - Paradigm shift from kidney biopsies to advanced molecular diagnostics from patient urine (Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health) (2004-01-01 - 2006-12-31) (»add to infobox)

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria is a sign of kidney involvement in association with common infectious, inflammatory, immunological or metabolic (diabetes) diseases. When persisting, proteinuria leads to scarring and end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or renal transplantation. Both treatments are chronically debilitating, increase risk for severe secondary complications and are extremely expensive. Altogether, kidney complications constitute more than 15% of total health-care costs in most Western countries, mainly due to increasing prevalence of diabetes-associated kidney disease. PROBLEM: Earlier diagnostics is urgently needed to target intensive treatment efforts and to avoid the projected explosive increase in the number of kidney patients in near future. Due to the demographic trends, kidney diseases are a particular problem for Europe. At present, the diagnostics include serum markers (mostly non- sensitive, non-specific) and urine analysis (too late markers) but relies mainly on patient kidney biopsy samples. Although accurate, this procedure is severely inconvenient, invasive and carries a notable risk for complications. SOLUTION: We propose to use the latest molecular information of verified pathogenetic routes, proprietary bioinformatics platforms, well established in vivo models as well as extensive human sample repositories together with the SME activities to establish and validate new diagnostics. This includes the identification of an expanding set of key molecular markers directly from patient urine to yield novel measurables for early and accurate non-invasive diagnostics. With the set of markers accurately reflecting pathophysiologic changes we expect to replace the traditional kidney biopsies with more patient-friendly, accurate and economical diagnostics directly from urine, easily accessible source. Development will also allow construction of distant monitoring diaqnostic platforms to prevent permanent kidney # Keywords: proteinuria, glomerulus, kidney, bioinformatics, dialysis, transplantation, experimental models

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