http://en.people.cn/n3/2025/0314/c90000-20289424.html

Researchers from Peking University have launched the “Kidney Imageomics Project” to develop a “digital kidney” — a comprehensive digital atlas of the organ — using multi-modal imaging technology and artificial intelligence algorithms. This “digital kidney” will enhance the visualization of kidney disease mechanisms, paving the way for more precise diagnoses, the development of new medicines, and targeted treatments.

The most significant features of the “digital kidney” are dynamic simulation, panoramic visualization, and multidimensional visibility. The “digital kidney” can be regarded as a “transparent organ” presented on digital imaging, capable of overcoming the limitations of spatial resolution and information dimensions in traditional pathological examinations. It allows for a layer-by-layer dissection of the kidney, simulating normal function and detecting symptoms of kidney disease with precision.

In terms of clinical practice, the “digital kidney” can help precisely locate the source of the lesion and construct a personalized digital model by integrating the patients’ clinical data.

The researchers expect to construct a digital animal kidney within three years and a digital human kidney within 10 years. At present, they have successfully mapped imaging data across multiple modalities, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and pathology, and have integrated the imaging data from each modality.

China currently has over 120 million chronic kidney disease patients, with higher risk factors among those aged 65 and above.