DeCure's autonomous Nephrology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for renal agenesis — screening already-approved drugs against its 11-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleRenal agenesis maps to a 11-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for renal agenesis is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
BicC family RNA binding protein 1 (BICC1) — BICC1 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet xpedrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6GY4 · 1.986 Å · ligand 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27-NONAOXANONACOSANE-1,29-DIOL (XPE). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Unilateral renal agenesis is the complete absence of development of one kidney, accompanied by absence of the ureter and renal vessels. Its incidence is estimated at around one in two thousand, and the condition is slightly more common in males than females. The cause is failure of the ureteric bud to induce development of metanephric blastema, or absence of the nephrogenic ridge. Most patients are asymptomatic if the remaining kidney is fully functional, and the condition is often detected by chance during ultrasound for a urinary tract infection or in adults presenting with hypertension. Diagnosis can be made in utero with antenatal ultrasound, but normal amniotic fluid and urine in the bladder mean the diagnosis is frequently missed unless specifically sought. Imaging modalities including postnatal ultrasound, CT, and MRI demonstrate absence of a kidney and compensatory hypertrophy of the single kidney; colour Doppler can show absence of renal arteries.
Two case series from 1976 and 1987 report an association between unilateral renal agenesis and multiple skeletal abnormalities. The skeletal malformations are described as easily detectable, and the authors suggest their presence should prompt further urological investigation. The 1976 paper proposes that the same pathologic agents act on both the skeleton and the urogenital system. A 1964 series of four cases illustrates the difficulty of diagnosing renal agenesis: two were proven cases, one was probable, and the fourth was a small, fibrosed, functionless kidney due to tuberculosis. All three agenetic cases presented with pain or discomfort on the left side, and the author notes a preponderance of left-sided agenesis.
A 2015 report describes unilateral renal agenesis associated with an anomaly of left testicular venous return. The paper reiterates that renal agenesis is occasionally associated with genital tract anomalies on the same side and that other organs may show anomalies as well. Careful examination is needed to rule out an ectopic kidney, which is more common than renal agenesis, and to ensure a single kidney does not represent crossed fused renal ectopia. No treatment or intervention is discussed in any of these abstracts.
What is still missing is any prospective trial or systematic registry that tracks long-term outcomes for patients with a solitary kidney, including blood pressure, renal function decline, and cardiovascular risk. No randomised or controlled studies exist to guide surveillance intervals or to test whether any intervention alters the natural history. Patient stratification by associated anomalies, genetic testing, and sex has not been performed in a standardised way. Funding for a multicentre observational cohort would be needed to move beyond case reports and small series.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Southern Medical Journal · 1976 · 6 citations
Unilateral Renal Agenesis Associated With Multiple Skeletal Abnormalities
AbstractTwo cases are presented in which an association between unilateral renal agenesis and multiple skeletal abnormalities is found. The pathologic agents responsible for the URA act similarily on other organ systems, including the skeleton. The skeletal abnormality can be diagnosed easily and promptly and may be an indicator for anomalies in other systems as well, especially the urogenital system.
Skeletal Anomalies Associated with Unilateral Renal Agenesis
AbstractUnilateral renal agenesis is sometimes associated with skeletal anomalies. The skeletal malformations are easily detectable and, if found, should suggest further urological investigations. The embryological aspect of the association is explored. Two cases are presented and the relevant literature is reviewed.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF SOLITARY KIDNEY: CONGENITAL OR ACQUIRED?
AbstractSUMMARY The diagnosis of renal agenesis is often difficult. Four cases are presented, two of which are proved cases of unilateral agenesis and appear to sattsfy the criteria for the condition, one is a probable renal agenesis, and the last a small, fibrosed, functionless kidney, of tuberculous disease. The three agenetic cases all presented with pain or discomfort on the affected side, i.e. , the left side, the reason for this being obscure. They amply illustrate the appearances found at various stages of investigation, and the diffiqulties experienced in interpreting the results and findings. There appears to be a definite preponderance of renal agenesis on the left side. I wish to thank Mr W. S. Mack for affording me the opportunity of presenting these cases, and for his invaluable criticisms and suggestions in the preparation of the article; and Mr Gabriel Donald for the excellent illustrations.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2015 · 0 citations · open access
Unilateral Renal Agenesis Associated With Anomaly of Left Testicular Venous Return
AbstractUnilateral renal agenesis is the most common congenital abnormality of the urinary tract [1, 2] and is characterized by the complete absence of development of one kidney accompanied by an absence of ureter and renal vessels. The incidence of unilateral renal agenesis in each year it is estimated at around one in two thousand and the incidence in male is slightly higher than females. Renal agenesis is caused by failure of the ureteric bud to induce development of metanephric blastema or by absence of the nephrogenic ridge [3]. The condition is usually asymptomatic and is commonly detected as a chance during renal ultrasound for the evaluation of a urinary tract infection, or in adults who present with hypertension. Most patients are asymptomatic if the other kidney is fully functional. Renal agenesis is occasionally associated with genital tract anomalies on the same side and also the other organs may show anomalies as well [4-6]. With the widespread use of antenatal ultrasound, renal agenesis can be identified in utero, although the presence of normal amounts of amniotic fluid and urine in the bladder results in the diagnosis being frequently missed, unless specifically and routinely looked for the features like absent kidney, absent ipsilateral renal artery and care must be taken not to mistake the low lying adrenal gland which is large in fetuses compared for a kidney. Careful examination of the rest of the abdomen should be carried out to ensure that an ectopic kidney is not present (more common than renal agenesis) as well as of the 'single' kidney to ensure it does not represent crossed fused renal ectopia. All imaging modalities such as postnatal ultrasound, CT and MRI will demonstrate the absence of a kidney, with the associated hypertrophy of the single kidney. Color Doppler interrogation may aid in showing absence of renal arteries.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2015 · 0 citations · open access
Unilateral Renal Agenesis Associated With Anomaly of Left Testicular Venous Return
AbstractUnilateral renal agenesis is the most common congenital abnormality of the urinary tract [1, 2] and is characterized by the complete absence of development of one kidney accompanied by an absence of ureter and renal vessels. The incidence of unilateral renal agenesis in each year it is estimated at around one in two thousand and the incidence in male is slightly higher than females. Renal agenesis is caused by failure of the ureteric bud to induce development of metanephric blastema or by absence of the nephrogenic ridge [3]. The condition is usually asymptomatic and is commonly detected as a chance during renal ultrasound for the evaluation of a urinary tract infection, or in adults who present with hypertension. Most patients are asymptomatic if the other kidney is fully functional. Renal agenesis is occasionally associated with genital tract anomalies on the same side and also the other organs may show anomalies as well [4-6]. With the widespread use of antenatal ultrasound, renal agenesis can be identified in utero, although the presence of normal amounts of amniotic fluid and urine in the bladder results in the diagnosis being frequently missed, unless specifically and routinely looked for the features like absent kidney, absent ipsilateral renal artery and care must be taken not to mistake the low lying adrenal gland which is large in fetuses compared for a kidney. Careful examination of the rest of the abdomen should be carried out to ensure that an ectopic kidney is not present (more common than renal agenesis) as well as of the 'single' kidney to ensure it does not represent crossed fused renal ectopia. All imaging modalities such as postnatal ultrasound, CT and MRI will demonstrate the absence of a kidney, with the associated hypertrophy of the single kidney. Color Doppler interrogation may aid in showing absence of renal arteries.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
