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 developing a low-cost, semi-automated machine designed to make home dialysis simpler and safer.

Their invention, BiDaKidney, is designed for patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home. The machine automates key steps in managing dialysis fluid, using a controlled pump and built-in weight sensors to move the fluid and monitor its volume.

The developers said the system aims to reduce the manual work involved in handling tubing, managing fluid flow and recording fluid volumes, potentially lowering contamination risks and the burden on patients and caregivers.

“When we started BiDaKidney, we were thinking about how we could help patients spend less of their lives managing dialysis and more of their time living it,” Buensalido said.

The invention was developed in response to challenges faced by patients and families dealing with long-term dialysis, including treatment costs, frequent trips to dialysis centers and the need for continued support at home. The number of Filipinos undergoing dialysis reached 64,845 in 2024, up 22 percent from 53,296 in 2023, according to data cited in the release.

BiDaKidney received P398,280 as the national prize, which the team plans to use for further development and commercialization. The developers also plan to improve the machine’s usability and safety features, explore battery-powered operation during power interruptions, and prepare for formal clinical testing and broader patient evaluation.

“The award means a lot because it helps us continue building BiDaKidney with the people who may need it one day in mind,” Cabrestante said.

The Philippine national runners-up were Sentinel, a building damage sensor designed to detect concrete cracks remotely, and OrthoFlex, a portable robot-assisted elbow rehabilitation device for stroke survivors.

All three Philippine entries will advance to the international stage of the James Dyson Award. Dyson engineers will select the international Top 20 shortlist, which is scheduled to be announced on 14 October, while global winners will be announced on 4 November.