# Advanced virtual simulator for real-time ultrasound-guided renal biopsy training

> **NIH NIH R44** · KITWARE, INC. · 2020 · $728,371

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 The objectives of the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) project are to create a kidney
tissue atlas, define disease subgroups, and identify critical cells, pathways and targets for novel
therapies by obtaining and evaluating kidney biopsies from participants with acute kidney injury
(AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The overall prevalence of CKD in the general population
is approximately 14 percent with more than 661,000 Americans having a kidney failure. As part
of this effort, there is a need for new technologies that improve the safety of the human kidney
biopsy as well as the quality and diagnostic yield so that the biopsy tissue yields useful research
or clinical information. Ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy is a critically important tool in the
evaluation and management of renal pathologies. The goal of this project is to develop a virtual
simulator to train clinicians to improve procedural skill competence in real-time ultrasound-guided
renal biopsy.
 In our Phase I award, we developed KBVTrainer (Kidney Biopsy Virtual Trainer), a low-cost,
virtual simulator for ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy training. KBVTrainer is intended to train
radiologists, nephrologists, and interventional radiologists to improve procedural skill competence
in real-time ultrasound-guided renal biopsy. This advanced virtual simulator for real-time
ultrasound-guided renal biopsy training provided several advantages including acceleration of the
training of ultrasound-guided renal biopsy in a risk-free environment to improve the safety of
kidney biopsy and ensuring that the biopsy procedure yields high quality specimen.
 Our clinical evaluation at Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) with pediatric cases has
shown that the developed system can benefit trainees in two ways: (a) Improve three dimensional
and dynamic ultrasound imaging interpretation during needle biopsy and (b) Improve manual
dexterity while handling the needle with the aid of tactile feedback. The Phase I project has
successfully achieved its aims and provided a solid understanding of the challenges involved and
the improvements needed to develop the system to explore commercialization opportunities. In
this Phase II project, we will improve our technology based on the Phase I evaluation feedback,
develop automated skill assessment and tracking modules that can be deployed in a web-based
application, and conduct a clinical validation study with clinicians who are involved with performing
pediatric and adult kidney biopsy from Children's National Medical Center (CNMC), Johns
Hopkins Medical Institution (JHMI) and Georgetown University (GU).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9994980
- **Project number:** 5R44DK115332-03
- **Recipient organization:** KITWARE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Andinet Asmamaw Enquobahrie
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $728,371
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-13 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9994980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9994980, Advanced virtual simulator for real-time ultrasound-guided renal biopsy training (5R44DK115332-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9994980. Licensed CC0.

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