Liver and kidney: diagnostics with algorithms from Roche

Chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys can progress unnoticed for years until irreversible damage has occurred. Roche aims to address this silent progression with the navify Algorithm Suite, which automatically condenses routine lab values into risk scores. These algorithms will be a topic at the upcoming MEDICA.

In an interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Julian Müller shares his perspective on the precision diagnostics of the future and previews his participation in the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM at MEDICA in November.

Mr. Müller, which diseases do Roche’s algorithms focus on for diagnostics?

Julian Müller: The navify Algorithm Suite supports the early detection and management of chronic diseases that progress unnoticed over long periods. The focus here is on kidney and liver diseases.

For the kidney, we offer the Kidney Klinrisk and KFRE algorithms, for example. For liver diseases, the spectrum ranges from assessing the severity of fibrosis (FIB-4 and ADAPT) to supporting the detection of liver cancer at early stages with the GAAD algorithm.

These algorithms, however, are just a fraction of a much broader portfolio. Going forward, we will be tackling the cardiology space, focusing in particular on coronary heart disease and the rapid rule-out of a heart attack in the emergency room.

How would you explain – very concisely – what these algorithms achieve for early detection/earlier diagnosis?

Müller: They combine routine lab values and patient data into scores, enriching the diagnostic information. This makes it possible to detect kidney damage, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer at early, symptom-free stages – so action can be taken in time, before irreversible damage occurs.

How can these algorithms be integrated specifically into lab work or everyday clinical practice? What kind of infrastructure/IT systems are needed?

Müller: That’s exactly where the key advantage lies: the algorithms run fully automated in the background of the existing workflow. The physician orders them like a routine lab test – the navify Algorithm Suite then pulls the required values – for example eGFR, urine ACR, age, sex, or liver values or biomarkers – calculates the risk score and returns it directly and clearly in the report. There’s no additional effort involved.

Technically, everything runs on a secure cloud platform (SaaS) that connects to the existing lab or hospital information system via standardized interfaces (HL7/FHIR) – in compliance with the highest data protection and GDPR standards.

Looking ahead five years: how will precision diagnostics change the doctor-patient relationship and the healthcare system as a whole?

Müller: What we’re already making technically possible today with navify will become the new standard in five years: the shift from reactive medicine to true prevention. For kidney and liver diseases, this means we can identify at-risk patients years earlier, prevent severe organ damage, and avoid costly follow-up treatments like dialysis or transplants.

For the doctor-patient relationship, this brings a real gain in transparency. Patients no longer just receive individual lab values, but an understandable risk assessment. This builds trust, improves treatment adherence, and allows physicians to initiate guideline-based therapies earlier and more precisely.

What will visitors to the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM specifically take away from your talk?

Müller: You’ll see how the path from silent disease to proactive care already works in practice today. The talk showcases proven best practices from Germany on how navify addresses the shortage of skilled workers: through automation, faster identification of high-risk patients, and fewer unnecessary referrals.

At the same time, it becomes clear how Roche reduces complexity for clinics and labs. We take care of the regulatory requirements (IVDR) and high security standards in the background – so that data-based precision diagnostics reach patients directly, without technical or organizational hurdles.