Susi Sandeman, Carol Howell, Yishan Zheng and team in the Biomaterials and Medical Devices Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, were pleased to receive a grant from the National Institute for Health Research to investigate "An Adsorbent Device to Promote Toxin Removal during Haemodialysis (ADEPT)" in association with colleagues from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Free Hospital and MAST Carbon International Ltd.

When asked about the funding Dr Sandeman said "We were really pleased to receive further funding from the NIHR i4i Product Development Awards to progress this exciting new technology which could improve the quality of life for the 2 million plus patients currently receiving haemodialysis worldwide".

ADEPT project team.
Left to right: Dr Susan Sandeman, Dr Carol Howell, Dr Yishan Zheng

When the kidneys fail they are no longer able to remove waste products normally cleared in urine. Dialysis is a well-established treatment for patients but can only effectively remove small, water soluble waste products. Larger molecules and those which are not water soluble accumulate over time and result in reduced life expectancy. Many of these larger molecules can be removed by sticking them to a porous surface; termed 'adsorption'. No cost effective adsorption devices are currently available. However a range of novel adsorbent materials have been developed which are able to remove larger molecules, as well as protein bound compounds. These can be produced relatively cheaply for use alongside haemodialysis. The adsorbent device will be optimised within the project and, when fully tested, could enhance dialysis technology to offer a more effective therapy for kidney failure.

For more information about the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, please email pharmacy@brighton.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 1273 642090.