SINGAPORE: AWAK Technologies on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University Children's Hospital Tubingen, Germany, for clinical trials of automated wearable artificial kidneys on paediatric patients.
AWAK Technologies was incorporated in 2007 in collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore to design and develop Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney (AWAK) to address end-stage renal disease market.
This marks AWAK's automated wearable artificial kidney's first trial on paediatric patients and the beginning of long-term collaboration in advancement of paediatric renal research.
The collaboration between AWAK Technologies and University Children's Hospital Tubingen aims to bring a much more effective and efficient therapy that suits the life of children while having dialysis.
Children on dialysis tend to have poor appetite which limits their nutritional intake. With little energy intake, this can lead to decreased in activity and resistance to infection.
AWAK's automated wearable artificial kidney allows for better dietary protein intake.
Typical centre-based dialysis requires paediatric patients to spend four hours, three times a week at the centre. The new wearable artificial kidney allows children to undergo dialysis anytime and anywhere.
The greatest benefit of the wearable artificial kidney to paediatric patients is their ability to travel freely, allowing them to attend school and participate in family and social activities.
SPRING Singapore facilitated the meeting between AWAK Technologies and University Children's Hospital Tubingen during a Germany business mission trip in 2009.
"The automated wearable artificial kidney is a major breakthrough in the care of children with renal insufficiency. The children become independent from dialysis centres and will be able to continue a normal life with their families and friends.
"It is an honour that AWAK has chosen our paediatric centre to bring this highly innovative and ground-breaking technique to clinical application," said Professor Rupert Handgretinger, Medical Director of General Paediatrics, Haematology, Oncology (Department I) and Managing Medical Director of the University Children's Hospital Tubingen.
"It is great honour to be able to partner University Children's Hospital Tubingen, a world renowned medical institution of paediatric care and research in the application of automated wearable artificial kidney.
"In our visits to Tubingen, facilitated by SPRING Singapore, we were impressed by the innovative, leading-edge paediatric medicine and great medical care through the leadership of Prof Rupert Handgretinger. I believe the enthusiasm of both parties in bringing an innovative therapy to the world will greatly benefits paediatric ESRD patients," said Mr Neo Kok Beng, Chief Executive Officer and President of AWAK Technologies.
The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive of SPRING Singapore and Dr Tim Philippi, Executive Director, Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
- CNA/de
Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
AWAK Technologies' wearable artificial kidney on clinical trials
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