Kidney Beam: Driving better outcomes in kidney care
Find out how Kidney Beam is turning transforming how people with cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) conditions access rehabilitation and self-management support, and their journey as a Fellow.
Founded by Sharlene Greenwood, Kidney Beam is redefining rehabilitation for people living with cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) conditions by combining clinical excellence, digital accessibility, and economic sustainability.
As part of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, Kidney Beam is leading a global shift towards accessible, data-driven, and patient-centred rehabilitation to help people live well with CKM disease today and in the future.
What is Kidney Beam and what problem does it solve?
Kidney Beam is the world’s first scientifically proven exercise, education, diet, and coaching app tailored for people living with CKM disease.
The platform empowers patients to manage their health through a combination of evidence-based movement, nutrition, and education, improving physical function, quality of life, and confidence in self-management. In doing so, it helps health systems reduce hospital admissions and long-term care costs.
In a clinical trial published in The Lancet Digital Health, Kidney Beam was shown to improve quality of life, physical function, and patient activation while being 88% cheaper than face-to-face services and delivering a £6 return on investment for every £1 spent.
To date, the platform has delivered over 30,000 live and on-demand classes to around 6,000 patients, achieving an impressive 4.7/5 satisfaction rating.
“We are helping people with CKM conditions live well, not just longer. Kidney Beam makes rehabilitation accessible, affordable, and effective for everyone, everywhere.”
“We are helping people with CKM conditions live well, not just longer. Kidney Beam makes rehabilitation accessible, affordable, and effective for everyone, everywhere.”
What was your inspiration and motivation?
The idea for Kidney Beam came from decades of clinical and academic experience. As an NHS clinical academic with over 20 years researching and implementing rehabilitation programmes, the Sharlene had seen too many patients struggle to access support due to geography, capacity, or cost.
Kidney Beam was designed to bridge that gap, bringing proven interventions directly into patients’ homes and communities through digital innovation.
“After 20 years working to improve access to rehabilitation, it was clear that traditional models couldn’t reach everyone. Kidney Beam was born from the need to change that both nationally and globally.”
Sharlene Greenwood, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Kidney Beam
Why did you become a Fellow?
Becoming part of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) has been a defining moment in Kidney Beam’s journey. The fellowship has provided credibility, visibility, and access to a community of experts and peers all working to deliver meaningful change in healthcare.
The NIA’s network of mentors and system leaders has helped strengthen the company’s strategy for scaling within the NHS and beyond, while giving the team the confidence and support to grow sustainably.
“Being an NIA fellow has made a huge difference to our credibility and our ability to scale. It’s a community that genuinely wants to help innovations succeed.”
Looking ahead
Over the next five years, the team hopes that NICE will follow Health Technology Wales in recommending Kidney Beam for routine adoption across England. The goal is to see the platform commissioned centrally and embedded into CKM care pathways across the NHS.
Beyond the UK, Kidney Beam aims to expand internationally, with a focus on ensuring equitable access to digital rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries, where the need for scalable solutions is even greater.
“Our vision is for Kidney Beam to become part of routine care worldwide, providing accessible, evidence-based rehabilitation that’s designed around people’s lives.”
Want to find out more? Visit the innovation page where you can contact the innovator directly, or check out their website.
