DeepNephro provides a scalable, modular kidney organoid platform that reproduces key structural and functional features of the human kidney, including glomerular filtration and tubular albumin reabsorption. Built from expandable nephron and ureteric‑bud progenitors, the system delivers reproducible, assay‑ready readouts for disease modeling, nephrotoxicity testing, and therapeutic discovery, enabling more predictive preclinical studies aligned with emerging FDA NAM guidelines.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Preclinical kidney drug testing relies heavily on animal models and low‑throughput cell cultures that do not accurately replicate human kidney structure or function, leading to poor translation of safety and efficacy data to clinical outcomes.
Solution
DeepNephro offers a modular, scalable human kidney organoid platform engineered from expandable nephron and ureteric‑bud progenitors. The organoids feature spatially patterned nephron and collecting‑duct compartments, including mature glomeruli with Bowman's space, and demonstrate key physiological activities such as glomerular filtration, tubular albumin reabsorption, and renin secretion. This human‑relevant architecture enables reproducible disease modeling, predictive nephrotoxicity assessment, and therapeutic discovery within screening‑ready workflows. By providing assay‑ready readouts that align with emerging New Approach Methodology (NAM) standards, the platform helps bridge the gap between preclinical discovery and human clinical success in kidney disease.
Target Audience
Primary customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing kidney therapeutics, as well as academic and contract research organizations conducting disease modeling and nephrotoxicity testing.
Features
- Spatially patterned 3D architecture with reproducible nephron and collecting‑duct compartments, including functional glomeruli
- Demonstrated physiological functions: glomerular filtration, albumin reabsorption, and renin production
- Enhanced cellular complexity and maturity reflecting diverse human kidney epithelial cell types
- Progenitor‑driven, expandable system that is modular and compatible with high‑throughput screening formats
- Disease‑relevant phenotyping with assay‑ready readouts for conditions such as polycystic kidney disease
- Peer‑reviewed validation published in leading scientific journals