On June 6, 2025, the Inaugural Meeting of the Kidney Transplantation Intelligence Research Alliance and the First AI Frontier Forum on Kidney Transplantation were grandly held at Zhongshan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai. The forum brought together over 30 experts, scholars, and medical professionals from both China and abroad in the fields of kidney transplantation and artificial intelligence to explore innovative applications and future development of AI technologies in kidney transplantation.
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, its applications in the medical field are becoming increasingly widespread. Kidney transplantation, as a critical treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, faces multiple challenges, including donor matching, postoperative rejection monitoring, and long-term prognosis assessment. In response to these evolving demands, the Kidney Transplantation Intelligence Research Alliance (hereinafter referred to as “the Alliance”) has been officially established.
Kidney Transplant AI Alliance Emblem
The Alliance was jointly initiated by the Institute of Intelligent Medicine at Fudan University and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, in collaboration with leading domestic clinical institutions, research institutes, and intelligent technology enterprises. Its mission is to respond to the national “Healthy China” strategy and promote innovative applications of intelligent technologies in the field of kidney transplantation.
During the conference, Professor Zhu Tongyu—Chair of the Forum, Vice Dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, leading expert in kidney transplantation at Zhongshan Hospital, and Director of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation—held a roundtable discussion with numerous experts and scholars from both China and abroad. The dialogue focused on key topics such as patient management in kidney transplantation, technical challenges, scientific research development, and clinical implementation. The group also explored the Alliance’s founding purpose, charter, and other core matters.
Forum Opening
Focusing on the Integration of AI and Kidney Transplantation to Advance Precision Medicine
On the morning of June 6, the opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Liu Lei, Executive Vice Dean of the Institute of Intelligent Medicine at Fudan University. Professor Rong Ruiming from the Department of Kidney Transplantation at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, delivered the opening remarks. He extended a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all participating experts, and provided an overview of the background of AI in kidney transplantation as well as the purpose of the forum.
Professor Zhu Tongyu delivered the keynote speech, exploring the broad prospects of AI in the areas of refined kidney transplantation, precision donor-recipient matching, and departmental management. He provided a detailed overview of the progress made by the Kidney Transplantation Department at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, in the application of AI technologies.
Professor Zhu shared practical experience in deploying the intelligent departmental management platform Youmed, which has now become increasingly mature. The coordinated use of Youmed’s patient-side and physician-side interfaces has laid a solid foundation for refined departmental operations and AI-assisted postoperative care in kidney transplantation.
He also introduced “Yizhi”, a specialized AI model developed for organ transplantation, which is expected to be launched soon to help address real-world challenges for both doctors and patients.
“Through AI, we transform statistical data into scientifically valuable research data. By closely integrating historical and current datasets, we can drive progress in both clinical care and scientific research,” said Professor Zhu.
Highlighted Presentations
Cutting-Edge Achievements Shared, Driving Innovation in the Field
The keynote presentation session was chaired by Professor Yang Cheng, Associate Chief Physician of the Kidney Transplantation Department at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Experts from the fields of artificial intelligence, transplant pathology, bioinformatics, and transplant immunology—including Professor Wu Feizhen, Professor Zhang Weijia, Professor Cai Junchao, Professor He Yungang, Chief Operating Officer Wang Ziyang, and Professor Peng Bo—delivered a series of in-depth reports.
Their presentations showcased the latest advancements and promising prospects of AI in kidney transplantation, including gene screening, pathological research, precision matching, data analysis, intelligent departmental management, and postoperative outcome prediction.
Successful Conclusion
A New Chapter of Innovation in Kidney Transplantation
The successful hosting of this forum marks the beginning of a new era of intelligence and precision in the field of kidney transplantation. As Professor Zhu Tongyu remarked in his closing speech:
“Our work is ushering in a brand-new era. The deep integration of kidney transplantation and AI technology will undoubtedly elevate the discipline to a higher level, delivering more precise and safer treatment solutions for patients with end-stage renal disease around the world.”
