Kidney disease disproportionately affects underserved, underrepresented, and minoritised communities, yet current data, research practices, and innovations too often fail to reflect or address these disparities. More focus is needed to understand kidney disease and its effects on Black and South Asian communities, people living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, older adults, children with inherited kidney conditions, people with rare kidney diseases, Traveller, Roma and Boater communities, and those living in geographically isolated areas.

This Theme aims to build a shared, community-led understanding of kidney health inequities across researchers, data scientists, clinicians, patients, and affected communities. By aligning expertise with lived experience, it seeks to reshape data science and AI priorities so they are inclusive, representative, and focused on real-world impact.

The long-term vision is a future in which kidney research and data science help close these gaps rather than reinforce them. Through equitable, transparent, and responsible use of data, the Theme will support better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and help drive fairer outcomes and improved lives for people affected by kidney disease.