Our Research
Pioneering Leadership in Computational Biomedicine and Data Analytics
Much of the work at RRI involves the development of advanced mathematical models aimed at improving the care of dialysis patients and creating value for Fresenius Medical Care. Mathematicians at RRI, in collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care's Global Research and Development (GRD) division, have spearheaded the concept of virtual clinical trials (VCTs).
Treatment algorithms are developed and tested in large-scale VCTs using mathematical simulations of patient's physiology. In collaboration with the Fresenius Medical Care Global Medical Office, VCT-derived algorithms have been implemented at Fresenius Kidney Care (FKC) clinics throughout North America, potentially benefiting over 160,000 FKC patients.
The computational biomedicine group works with other branches of RRI, including the clinical and laboratory research groups, data analytics team, and Fresenius Medical Care GRD. A substantial proportion of the work undertaken by the RRI teams is specifically designed to validate concepts and insights derived from the computational biomedical research and to generate data used to inform mathematical models.
RRI's data analytics team includes highly specialized research design statisticians and epidemiologists, who can further our understanding of patient and population outcomes. The team has mastered a broad range of statistical methods, including descriptive analysis, longitudinal multidimensional models, predictive analytics, machine learning, and deep-learning neural networks. While the team's research portfolio involves a wide range of chronic kidney disease research initiatives, its primary focus is on improving kidney care through quantitative analysis. For several years, the team has been integral in the analysis of Crit-Line® data. Insights gleaned from the team’s work resulted in novel, ground-breaking research into the dynamics of intradialytic arterial and venous oxygen saturation, fluid overload, inflammation, sodium, blood pressure, and lipids.
Our Research Lab
The RRI laboratory is at the center of our clinical trials and advanced data analytics. The lab employs sophisticated tools and methodologies to dig deeper, looking at questions and factors critical to the development of cutting-edge technologies, new medical devices, and innovative therapeutic methods.
Patent Highlights
RRI has a long history in creating intellectual property. Since its inception, over 140 patents have been issued to RRI inventors. Here are a few recent examples:
Virtual kidney donation (U.S. Patent 10,391,220):
This invention describes allo-hemodialysis, a method where a patient's blood is dialyzed against the blood of a healthy subject (“buddy”). Allo-HD drastically reduces the complexity and cost of hemodialysis and may thus help to address the global shortfall in dialysis therapy
Method of removing protein-bound deleterious substances during extracorporeal renal replacement treatment (U.S. Patent 8,419,943):
This invention describes a novel concept to remove protein-bound solutes by means of a displacer molecule that competes with the solute at its binding site. The effectiveness of that approach has been shown in a clinical study by Madero et al.
System and method of modeling erythropoiesis and its management (U.S. 10,319,478):
This invention describes a method of attaining a target hemoglobin level using an erythropoiesis stimulating agent regimen. It is central to virtual trials as conceived by Fuertinger et al.
