Research undertaken in the UK in collaboration with the Disability Innovation Institute UNSW has been nominated for the NHS Innovation Award.
Organ Quality Assessment, referred to as OrQA, is a developing new technology that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess and evaluate the quality of donated kidneys and livers for human transplant. Uncertainty around the viability of donated organs is a contributing factor to increased waiting times as well as failed operations.
The technology developed within the National Health Service of the UK (NHS) in collaboration with the University of Bradford and Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals revolutionises the transplant process, giving more information and support to medical staff in assessing organ suitability for patients.
Director of the Disability Innovation Institute UNSW and Professor of Bioethics Jackie Leach Scully has been collaborating with the OrQA team for over a year. Her role has been to investigate the responses of transplant surgeons, transplant recipients, and potential donors to the idea of AI involvement in organ transplantation. It is important work for Jackie, who is a recipient of an organ transplant and is able to provide valuable insights into the process as well as her academic contributions.
The awards hosted by independent healthcare company Medipex showcase the best new ideas and technologies to improve service delivery for patients of the National Health Service in the UK. Organisers of the awards look for innovative, practical solutions that address common medical problems.
The OrQA team are currently working on expanding the use of technology to include the assessment of more organ types.
The Medipex NHS Innovation Awards will take place online on 13 March 2024.
Read more about the OrQA project here.
Image: A liver being assessed by the technology.