Dialysis is a lifeline for millions of people living with kidney failure, but it comes with challenges. Treatments take hours, several times a week, and standard dialysis filters can only do part of the kidney’s work. While transplants remain the best option for survival, not everyone is eligible, and waitlists are long. That’s why researchers are testing a new dialysis filter that could make a big difference in how patients feel and how long they live.*

What the Researchers Are Testing

A Canadian research team at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has launched a five-year clinical trial to study a new dialysis filter called Elisio HX™.

Unlike the standard filters used today, this new filter is designed to remove a broader range of toxins from the blood. Researchers believe this may help patients live longer and experience fewer health problems, especially heart-related issues that often affect people on dialysis.

[Above: Dr. Roshanov holding a dialysis filter called Elisio HX™one of being tested in the clinical trial. Source: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute] 

The DIALEX Trial

The trial, known as DIALEX, is one of the largest dialysis studies in Canada.

• It will involve up to 4,800 patients at more than 100 dialysis centers across the country.
• Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard filter or the new Elisio HX™ filter.
• Researchers will compare survival rates, hospitalizations (for conditions like heart attack, stroke, or infection), and how patients feel day to day.

Dr. Pavel Roshanov, nephrologist and lead scientist for the trial, explained:

“We want to know if eliminating more toxins through these new filters improves survival and reduces hospitalizations—and most importantly, if patients feel better overall.”

Why This Study Matters

Most clinical trials are based in large teaching hospitals, but DIALEX is different. It’s designed to include community hospitals across Canada, giving patients in rural areas the chance to participate without having to travel far.

“This study is about putting patients first,” Dr. Roshanov said. “By expanding access, we ensure our findings reflect the real dialysis population, and we give patients the chance to access treatments they otherwise wouldn’t.”

What It Means for People Living With CKD

If successful, the new Elisio HX™ filter could:

• Help people on dialysis live longer.
• Reduce hospitalizations and complications like heart attacks, strokes, and infections.
• Improve how patients feel during and after dialysis sessions.

For now, the study is still ongoing, and it will take time before we know the results. However, the launch of DIALEX demonstrates that researchers are working diligently to enhance dialysis, not only for survival but also for improved quality of life.

Share Your Experience

If you’re living with kidney failure and on dialysis, how has treatment impacted your daily life? What changes would make dialysis easier for you?

👉 Share your story in the comments or join the conversation in Responsum for CKD’s Community Chat, where you can connect with others, stay updated on research like this, and find support from a community that understands.

*News Medical Life Sciences. (September 22, 2025) “New dialysis filter shows promise for improving survival and health in kidney failure patients” https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250922/New-dialysis-filter-shows-promise-for-improving-survival-and-health-in-kidney-failure-patients.aspx

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