UP Diliman Graduates Win James Dyson Award for Home Dialysis Innovation

Two University of the Philippines Diliman graduates, Andrew Jacob Buensalido and Allyson Cabrestante, have won the Philippine national James Dyson Award 2026 for BiDaKidney, a semi-automated machine designed to simplify and improve home peritoneal dialysis for Filipino patients. Their innovation aims to make critical treatment more accessible and safer, addressing the growing number of kidney disease patients in the country.

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University of the Philippines Diliman graduates Andrew Jacob Buensalido and Allyson Cabrestante have been named the Philippine national winners of the James Dyson Award 2026 for their invention, BiDaKidney. This low-cost, semi-automated peritoneal dialysis machine is designed to make home-based treatment simpler, safer, and more accessible for Filipino patients managing chronic kidney disease. The project was awarded P398,280.00 to support its continued development.

BiDaKidney addresses the challenges of traditional home peritoneal dialysis, which often requires manual and repetitive fluid exchanges by patients or caregivers. Unlike hemodialysis, which is typically center-based, peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdomen to filter blood and can be performed at home. BiDaKidney automates several steps of this process through a controlled pump and built-in weight sensors, working with standard dialysis supplies. This system aims to reduce manual handling, lessen record-keeping, and lower the risk of contamination, allowing patients to manage their care with greater confidence and independence.

The innovation comes at a critical time for the Philippines, where the burden of kidney disease is escalating. According to figures cited by the award organizers, the number of people undergoing dialysis in the country surged by 22%, from 53,296 in 2023 to 64,845 in 2024. Kidney disease also remains one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the Philippines, underscoring the vital need for accessible and improved treatment options.

Buensalido and Cabrestante plan to utilize the prize money to further enhance BiDaKidney's usability and safety features, including exploring battery-powered operation to ensure functionality during power interruptions. The device will also undergo formal clinical testing and broader patient evaluation as it progresses. The Philippine entries, including BiDaKidney and runners-up Sentinel and OrthoFlex, will now advance to the international stage of the James Dyson Award, following a tradition of Filipino ingenuity recognized by the prestigious competition, such as Mark Kennedy Bantugon's Pili Adheseal in 2021 and John Carlo Luna Reyes' SolAsin in 2025.

The competition's top 20 international projects are scheduled for announcement on October 14, with the global winners, who will each receive P2.39 million, to be declared on November 4.