Abstract

BRIMP (Blue Renal Health for Maritime Populations) is an innovative project that responds to two critical needs: advancing non-invasive diagnostic technologies for kidney disorders and addressing the unique health challenges faced by maritime workers and coastal communities. By leveraging the expertise of DEBIOS Diagnostics in state-of-the-art biomarker discovery and non-invasive genitourinary diagnostics, the project will extend these breakthroughs to environments where healthcare support is limited and operational conditions are extreme. The initiative will focus on the adaptation and integration of diagnostic devices within the maritime setting, making them robust against environmental factors such as humidity, salinity, and vibration, while ensuring high diagnostic reliability in early detection and monitoring of conditions like Chronic Kidney Disease and transplant dysfunction.

The consortium brings together six highly competent partners from across the maritime regions of Europe. DEBIOS Diagnostics, acting as the project coordinator, will lead the overall management and drive the core technological development. In collaboration with a specialized clinical research partner, the project will conduct targeted clinical trials and real-world evaluations aboard maritime vessels and in coastal healthcare facilities to assess the performance and usability of the diagnostic devices. With technological input from industry leaders in maritime adaptations and IoT-based data analytics, the project seeks to embed these diagnostic systems into existing maritime infrastructures. Furthermore, dedicated partners will address the socio-economic and policy implications, ensuring that the innovations are accepted by seafaring communities and supportive local authorities.

BRIMP is structured around six comprehensive Work Packages (WPs) that cover project management, technology development, system integration, clinical evaluation, data analytics, and dissemination. This coordinated approach ensures a robust transfer of knowledge, direct engagement with end-users, and effective exploitation of results, stimulating smart specialization in the sustainable Blue Economy. By aligning clinical innovation with the maritime operational environment, BRIMP will pioneer the integration of advanced healthcare diagnostics in maritime regions, ultimately fostering healthier workforces, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and catalyzing regional economic development based on smart, sustainable innovation.