Landmark partnership launches world-first digital twin project for the NHS

A groundbreaking partnership between Nexus and the Health Innovation Network Yorkshire & Humber, West Yorkshire ICB, and Kidney Research UK is set to transform how chronic kidney disease (CKD) is diagnosed and treated across the NHS.

The organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch the world’s first population health digital twin – a virtual model that mirrors real-world health systems, allowing experts to test interventions safely and effectively before applying them in clinical practice. The project will begin by focusing on CKD, one of West Yorkshire’s most urgent health challenges.

CKD affects millions across the UK, yet remains under-recognised despite its close links to diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory disease. In West Yorkshire alone, the annual need for dialysis is expected to double within five years – creating a huge strain on NHS capacity and costing billions.

By applying digital twin technology, the partnership aims to:

• Detect CKD earlier and improve patient outcomes.
• Enable timely, targeted interventions.
• Help the NHS allocate staff, equipment, and technology more effectively.
• Reduce costs and ease pressure on health services.

Chosen as one of just eight international testbeds by the global Digital Twin Consortium, the project is already gaining national and international recognition, with the potential to scale across the NHS.

The initiative was born from conversations between Nexus and the Health Innovation Network Yorkshire & Humber, recognising the urgent need for innovative solutions to the growing CKD challenge.

“The power of collaboration is at the heart of this pioneering approach to innovation,” said Amy Lochtie, West Yorkshire Innovation Hub Director at Health Innovation Network Yorkshire & Humber. “By uniting the NHS, academia, charities, and industry, we have a unique opportunity to transform the outlook for people living with chronic kidney disease while accelerating the ambitions set out in the 10-Year Plan.”

Nathan Berry, Head of Collaboration and Healthtech Lead at Nexus, added:

“This partnership shows what can be achieved when innovation communities, health specialists, and research charities unite behind a shared vision. West Yorkshire is a driver for healthtech innovation, and we are proud to play a leading role in a collaboration that could improve lives across the UK, and beyond.”

Dr. Sunil Daga, ’Clinical Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist, LIRMM, University of Leeds, explained the potential:

“Digital twin technology is a real leap forward – letting us safely explore interventions and predict outcomes before making changes to patient care on the ground. If successful, this approach could revolutionise how we manage not just kidney disease, but other complex health conditions too.”

Katherine Forbes, Director of Health System Partnerships at Kidney Research UK, said:

“This partnership reflects a shared vision and commitment to collaboration. By laying the groundwork for a population health digital twin model, we have the potential to transform care across the NHS and improve outcomes for kidney patients.”

This first-of-its-kind collaboration demonstrates the strength of West Yorkshire’s health innovation ecosystem. The long-term ambition is to expand the digital twin model beyond CKD to incorporate wider social determinants of health – such as poverty, education, air quality, and lifestyle – in alignment with the NHS 10-Year Plan and the UK’s Life Sciences and AI strategies.

With NHS England closely monitoring progress, the project has the potential to become a national model for digital innovation in healthcare – placing Leeds and West Yorkshire at the forefront of global healthtech breakthroughs.