The Renal Research Institute

02/17/2026

Wishing a happy and healthy Lunar New Year to those celebrating around the world.

This season represents renewal, reflection, and hope, values that align closely with our shared commitment to progress and discovery in science and healthcare.

02/16/2026

On Presidents’ Day, we reflect on leadership, service, and the responsibility to advance progress for future generations.

Innovation in healthcare and research depends on long-term vision, collaboration, and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making.

02/16/2026

If you haven’t watched our latest episode yet, here’s your reminder.

Jaime Osborn breaks down the shift from hardware-led solutions to full digital ecosystems and the real-world challenges of scaling innovation in healthcare. The conversation covers workflow wins, prediction models, co-design with clinicians, and why global platforms still need local flexibility.

Watch or listen anytime.

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_ZzMCs-MpnU

🎧 Or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kzqKjkMOjyRyFINqsQHQ6

02/11/2026

Today we recognize the essential role women and girls play in science, research, and innovation.

Supporting representation, access, and opportunity in STEM strengthens discovery and drives better health outcomes for all.

02/02/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

The future of MedTech goes far beyond devices. It’s about building connected digital ecosystems that reshape how clinicians deliver care and how patients experience it.

In this new episode of Frontiers in Kidney Medicine and Biointelligence, Jaime Osborn, VP of Strategy and Digital Solutions at Fresenius Medical Care, explains how digital ecosystems work, why data hygiene is essential for AI, and what it takes to turn early innovation into real clinical impact.

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_ZzMCs-MpnU

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kzqKjkMOjyRyFINqsQHQ6

02/01/2026

Today and every day, we honor the contributions, resilience, and leadership of Black scientists, clinicians, researchers, and innovators whose work continues to advance health equity and medical discovery.

At Renal Research Institute, we recognize that progress in science is stronger when it reflects diverse voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. Black history is medical history. Black excellence drives innovation.

01/27/2026

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 | 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

In this Research Spotlight, Linda Hanna Ficociello discusses findings from a large international retrospective cohort study examining hospitalization outcomes with on-line hemodiafiltration (HDF) compared with high-flux hemodialysis.

Co-authored with colleagues from the Renal Research Institute and Fresenius Medical Care NephroCare, the study analyzed real-world data from more than 70,000 patients treated across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

After adjusting for baseline differences, patients treated with HDF experienced:

• 20% fewer hospital admissions

• 20% fewer hospital days

These benefits were consistent across patient subgroups, including patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and across cause-specific hospitalizations such as fluid-, cardiovascular-, and infection-related admissions.

Together, these findings add to a growing body of real-world evidence supporting the clinical benefits of high-volume HDF

🔗 Read the full study: https://journals.lww.com/cjasn/fulltext/9900/real_world_hospitalization_outcomes_with_on_line.821.aspx

🎥 Watch Linda share her findings here: https://youtu.be/oQLmO3xIR9Y

In this Research Spotlight, Linda Ficociello discusses findings from a large international retrospective cohort study examining hospitalization outcomes with...

01/21/2026

If you missed our recent Frontiers in Kidney Medicine and Biointelligence episode with Felicia Speed, PhD, LMSW, it’s worth taking a moment to watch. Felicia brings more than 26 years of nephrology social work experience to a powerful conversation on aging, end-of-life realities, grief, and depression in patients living with kidney disease.

Her insights remind us that care goes far beyond numbers and clinical markers. It’s about listening, honoring the whole person, and understanding the emotional journey behind chronic illness.

Catch up on the full discussion on our YouTube channel.

▶️ Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Llhwjn14dIs
🎧 Or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kzqKjkMOjyRyFINqsQHQ6

01/20/2026

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 | 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

Clinical documentation remains one of the biggest barriers between physicians and meaningful patient interaction. In a new study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, RRI researchers explore how large language models can help change that.

The paper, led by Luca Neri, Global Lead of Operational AI and Generative AI at Renal Research Institute, examines an automated “digital scribe” designed to extract structured medical data directly from real outpatient nephrology conversations. Instead of clinicians focusing on notetaking, the tool is designed to allow visits to remain centered on dialogue while capturing medically relevant information in the background.

In a pilot clinical study conducted in the Czech Republic, the system achieved nearly 90 percent accuracy across five hours of recorded encounters, with zero hallucinations observed.

This work highlights how thoughtfully applied generative AI can support clinicians without replacing clinical judgment, and how documentation burden can be reduced without compromising accuracy or care quality.

Read the full paper here: https://journals.lww.com/jasn/fulltext/2025/10001/automated_structured_medical_data_extraction_from.3878.aspx

🎥 Watch Luca Neri explain why this research matters and how it can reshape the clinical encounter. https://youtu.be/XTe-OLylKvc

Clinical documentation remains one of the biggest barriers between physicians and meaningful patient interaction. In a new study published in the Journal of ...

01/19/2026

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His commitment to justice, equity, and service continues to inspire progress across communities, science, and society.

At Renal Research Institute, we reflect on the responsibility we share to advance knowledge, improve lives, and work toward a more equitable future for all.

01/05/2026

In this episode of Frontiers in Kidney Medicine and Biointelligence, Len Usvyat sits down with Felicia Speed, PhD, LMSW, Vice President of Social Work Services at Fresenius Medical Care, for a powerful conversation about aging, end-of-life realities, and how depression affects people living with kidney disease.

Felicia shares stories from more than 26 years in nephrology social work and reminds us that behind every data point is a person navigating grief, hope, fear, and the desire to leave a legacy. She also explains the difference between grief and depression, the emotional weight of caregiving, and why listening may be the most important skill we have in patient care.

This episode offers a compassionate look at the human experience of chronic illness and what it truly means to support patients and families through some of life’s hardest moments.

Watch the full conversation here.

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Llhwjn14dIs
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kzqKjkMOjyRyFINqsQHQ6

01/01/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲

As we welcome 2026, we remain committed to advancing science, strengthening collaboration, and creating meaningful impact for patients around the world.

Wishing you a bright, healthy, and hopeful start to the year ahead.