A life-savin project has teen shape as e University o Glesga’s first nae-for-profit social enterprise spinoot. KEPsoft Collaborative, born fae the wark o fower European research institutions, plans tae boost e odds for kidney patients tae fin life-chyngin matches wi livin donors. E venture sprang fae the jynt wark o the University o Glesga, INESC TEC in Portugal, e Budapest-based HUN-REN Centre for Economic an Regional Studies (KRTK), an Óbuda University.

E new company offers a saftware platform aat helps connect fowk in need wi transplant options. E plan has aaready bin eesed by national groups rinnin kidney exchynge programmes tae tie donors tae recipients. In e United Kinrick, algorithms devised by Professor David Manlove an colleagues steered e UK Livin Kidney Sharin Scheme, Europe’s lairgest o its kin. Reports estimate aat atween 2008 an 2024, these plans paved e wey for aroond 600 extra kidney transplants compared tae methods afore.

Short-term plans centre on transplant groups in Europe, yet mony lands want sic donor-swap schemes. Wi an estimated 850 million fowk warldwide facin kidney problems, KEPsoft Collaborative aims tae shed licht on a grave need.

A new project cawed EURO-KEP is set tae back national an international kidney exchynge programmes in Europe. E endeavour, led by the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (Spanish National Transplant Organisation) an co-backed unner e EU4Health programme, will further shape the KEPsoft platform. E project team his earned praise wi a prize fae the Converge Create Change Challenge in 2024.

Vijay Luthra, CEO o KEPsoft Collaborative an a renal transplant recipient, said: “E social enterprise model allous us tae focus on e needs o the maist important stakehaaders, nammely kidney patients waitin for a transplant. It recognises e collaborative naiture o the wark, includin oor foondin memmers. Oor goal is tae mak kidney transplantation mair accessible tae patients aroon Europe an ayont, an tae aat eyn we are maist gratefu for e financial an operational support provided by E Challenges Group Ventures Lab an by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS).”

Professor David Manlove, Scientific Adviser tae KEPsoft Collaborative at e University o Glesga, said: “Ayont e foondin institutions, e project his enjoyed wide collaboration includin e ENCKEP COST Action (funded by the European Union) fit hid 28 pairticipatin kintras. KEPsoft his hid inpit fae stakehaaders fae a range o disciplines, includin policy makers, clinicians, surgeons, nephrologists, immunologists, computer scientists an economists.”

University o Glesga Heid o Commercialisation Mel Anderson said: “E KEPsoft saftware platform his e potential tae transform lives by significantly improvin e nummer o kidney transplants throu optimisin donor-tae-patient matchin. Wi its pairtner varsities in Portugal an Hungary, e University o Glesga his created KEPsoft Collaborative, a nae-for-profit social enterprise tae drive deployment an adoption o this important platform. Iss is e first o the University’s nae for profit social enterprise ventures aimed at deliverin social gweed fae research-led innovation. We wish e KEPsoft team ivray success.”

This fresh venture staunds as a firm effort tae ease the harsh toll o kidney failure an tae mend lives wi smairt, weel-aimed donor matchin.