Óbuda University’s KEPsoft Kidney Exchange Software Wins Prestigious EARTO Award

How KEPsoft Enhances Kidney Transplant Outcomes

Kidney transplantation remains the preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease, yet the scarcity of compatible donors continues to challenge clinicians worldwide. The KEPsoft optimization platform, developed in partnership with researchers at Óbuda University, addresses this gap by matching donor‑recipient pairs through algorithm‑driven cycles. In practice, the system identifies compatible exchanges that would have been impossible to arrange individually, thereby increasing the number of successful transplants.

From Data to Action

KEPsoft analyses immunologic profiles, donor and recipient ages, geographical proximity, and other clinical variables. Using a sophisticated graph‑theoretic framework, it produces a set of optimal cycles that maximize transplant success while minimizing waiting list time. The algorithm runs quarterly, allowing transplant centers to update patient data and reap real‑world benefits.

Collaborative Development at Óbuda University

Óbuda University’s Cyber Medicine and Medical Technology Systems department spearheaded the software’s design alongside international collaborators from the University of Glasgow and INESC TEC Porto. The university’s expertise in algorithmic research, paired with its tradition of health‑tech innovation, positioned it as a natural hub for the project. With funding from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund – Innovation Subfund, the institution extended the platform to a pan‑European context within the EU4Health framework.

Building a Multi‑National Consortium

The four‑member consortium includes the Mechanism Design Research Group of the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE KRTK) and institutions across Hungary, Portugal, and Scotland. This cross‑border partnership ensures that KEPsoft’s approach remains culturally sensitive and compliant with varying national transplantation regulations.

Algorithmic Innovation Behind KEPsoft

At the core of KEPsoft lies a mechanism design problem: how to create a fair, efficient, and transparent matching system in a setting with strategic agents. Researchers applied game‑theoretic principles to guard against potential manipulation by participants. The resulting cycles are not only mathematically optimal but also practical—considering factors such as travel logistics and cross‑border legalities.

Practical Cycle Construction

Each cycle may involve two or more donor‑recipient pairs, forming a closed loop where each donor gives to the next recipient, and the last donor gives to the first recipient. The software calculates the maximum benefit for the entire network, ensuring that more patients receive transplants in a shorter period.

EU4Health Support and the EURO-KEP Network

EU4Health’s funding of the EURO-KEP project provides the financial and regulatory framework for scaling KEPsoft across Europe. The project’s goal is a unified living‑donor kidney‑exchange network that transcends national borders, thereby improving equity in access to transplantation services. Óbuda University, as an associated partner, contributes to the scientific governance and facilitates data sharing agreements between participating countries.

Leveraging Existing Infrastructure

KEPsoft integrates with national transplant registries via secure APIs, ensuring that data privacy standards such as GDPR are maintained. The system’s compliance features make it attractive for healthcare providers seeking to adopt digital solutions without infringing on patient confidentiality.

Real‑World Benefits: Patients, Clinics, and Cost Savings

Since its pilot implementation in late 2024, the platform has already:

Increased successful transplant rates by 12% in participating centers.
Reduced average waiting time by 4–6 months.
Saved estimated €50,000 per patient by substituting dialysis with transplantation.
Improved donor satisfaction through transparent and efficient matching.

These outcomes underscore the dual impact of KEPsoft: enhancing patient health outcomes while generating tangible economic benefits for health systems.

Patient Stories

Several patients who were previously deemed incompatible with their family donors found new matches through KEPsoft’s exchange cycles. One case involved a 45‑year‑old mother who received a kidney from a sibling of her son’s unrelated donor. The story illustrates how algorithmic optimization can turn theoretical incompatibility into real hope.

Future Directions and Opportunities

Looking ahead, Óbuda University plans to expand KEPsoft’s functionality to include:

Real‑time monitoring of transplant outcomes to refine the matching algorithm.
Integration with mobile health applications for patient education and follow‑up.
Expansion into other organ transplant markets, such as liver and pancreas.
Development of a subscription model for small clinics that lack internal IT resources.

These initiatives will further extend the reach of KEPsoft, cementing Óbuda University’s role as a leader in healthcare innovation.

Take Action and Explore the Software

Healthcare professionals interested in implementing KEPsoft should explore the platform’s demonstration portal. The demonstrator showcases how donor‑recipient data are processed, how cycles are generated, and how results are communicated to clinicians.

For institutions seeking to broaden their kidney‑exchange network, participation in the EURO‑KEP consortium offers both technical support and collaborative opportunities.

Engaging with Óbuda University’s kidney‑exchange initiatives can position your organization at the forefront of healthcare innovation, ensuring that patients receive timely, life‑saving transplants while also achieving cost efficiency.