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< BACK Insights from iPROLEPSIS 4th Plenary meeting Jul 3, 2024 iPROLEPSIS Plenary Meeting 2024 Recap The 4th iPROLEPSIS plenary meeting took place on 1-2 July 2024 in Munich, Germany, drawing partners from across Europe. The focus was on discussing progress updates and planning future actions towards developing a novel personalised digital care ecosystem for people with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Agenda included: WP overviews, updates and planning next steps General Assembly & External Advisory Board sessions Workshop on : - IDBV (Inflammation digital biomarkers validation study) study: Overview of outcomes, data collection decisions, next steps; - PPIDC (Prevention of PsA inflammation through digital care: an intervention study) study: Objectives, cohort characteristics, study design. WP3 research activities and upcoming deliverables; - iPROLEPSIS ecosystem co-creation, usage scenarios identification, requirements definition; - Serious games co-creation: Introduction to iPROLEPSIS Games app, demonstrations, interactive feedback session. Special Acknowledgment: Gratitude to our patient partners who joined the Serious Games co-creation workshop online and provided valuable insights, ensuring our solutions are truly patient-centric. 1/10 PREVIOUS NEXT

< BACK iPROLEPSIS at Health Data Summit 2025 Feb 12, 2025 Trustworthy AI in Digital Health iPROLEPSIS is excited to join AI-PROGNOSIS and other Horizon Europe research and innovation projects - T RUSTroke, SmartCHANGE, and STRATIFYHF - at the Health Data Summit 2025 in Brussels. Together, these projects will focus on practical approaches for building trustworthy AI-enabled digital health tools aimed at assessing disease risk and progression. During the workshop titled " Trustworthy AI in Digital Health: From Guidelines to Practice" on 19-20 March 2025, iPROLEPSIS will join experts in discussing the importance of ensuring data quality, addressing bias, and applying ethical AI principles in healthcare solutions. The workshop will cover frameworks, methods, and techniques across the AI system development lifecycle, emphasising how to build AI tools that are robust, fair, transparent, and protect privacy. Key discussion topics include: Ensuring data quality and mitigating bias in AI-driven healthcare Applying ethical AI principles throughout AI system development Balancing fairness, privacy, transparency, and robustness The session will be an opportunity for iPROLEPSIS and its partners to contribute to advancing the responsible use of AI in healthcare and discuss solutions for improving digital health tools. Event details: Health Data Summit 2025 Programme details: Summit Programme 1/1 PREVIOUS NEXT

< BACK Innovating Psoriatic Arthritis Care with iPROLEPSIS Oct 29, 2024 Insights Shared in Psoriasis Magazine: An Interview with Psoriasis Patienten Nederland We are pleased to share that we were interviewed by Psoriasis Patients Netherlands ( https://psoriasispatientennederland.nl/ ) and featured in their Psoriasis Magazine . This dedicated volunteer organisation advocates for over 300,000 people in the Netherlands affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Supporting Patients Psoriasis Patients Netherlands provides clear, unbiased information on managing chronic conditions and serves as a vital link between patients, healthcare providers, and the latest research. Their focus is on patient support, offering resources like their magazine, social media, and direct support channels, creating an invaluable network for those navigating these challenging conditions. Digital Health Innovation The Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, through the iPROLEPSIS Consortium , is developing an app to help patients with psoriatic arthritis monitor their condition using digital health tools. Over 600 patients across four countries will use the app and smartwatches to track their heart rate, activity, and symptoms daily, along with periodic video analyses and healthcare visits. Key Research Areas The key research areas include exploring the roles of genetics, gut microbiome, and lifestyle factors. Collaborations with organizations like HPOS will soon allow individuals with psoriasis to contribute their data, supporting predictive models for earlier diagnosis. Empowering Patients Through Partnership The Erasmus MC’s iPROLEPSIS study is not just about technological development; it is driven by the stories of patient partners like Elaine and Wendy. Their lived experience with psoriatic arthritis informs our work, ensuring that the tools we develop support their needs and enhance their well-being. With patient partners at the core of the iPROLEPSIS initiative, we are creating a future where digital tools empower psoriatic arthritis patients. 1/1 PREVIOUS NEXT

Learning Hub Explore resources to help you understand and manage psoriatic arthritis. Learning hub Key Facts Handbook News Feed Quizzes Search What causes psoriatic arthritis? See related Handbook section PREVIOUS NEXT

< BACK iPROLEPSIS Games Selected for HiTech 2025 Feb 13, 2025 Transforming Research into Real-World Solutions The iPROLEPSIS consortium partners from FMH/IST-ULisboa are pleased to announce that iPROLEPSIS Games has been selected as one of the 16 teams for the HiTech 2025 Program . HiTech 2025, organised by HiSeedTech , supports research teams in transforming deep tech innovations into market-ready solutions . This selection marks an exciting step forward for iPROLEPSIS Games , reinforcing our commitment to bridging the gap between scientific research and practical applications . 🔗 Read more about the program: HiSeedTech: Programs 1/1 PREVIOUS NEXT

< BACK Highlights from IEEE EMBC 2024 Sep 5, 2024 Showcasing AI-Based Solutions for Psoriatic Arthritis Care Our project partner, PLUX Biosignals, participated in the 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), held in Orlando, Florida, USA, from July 15-19, 2024. During this prestigious event, PLUX presented the innovative work of the iPROLEPSIS project, which focuses on developing a novel, personalised digital care ecosystem for individuals with psoriatic arthritis. The world's largest international biomedical engineering conference, IEEE EMBC 2024 featured an extensive range of scientific tracks covering cutting-edge research and innovations in biomedical engineering and healthcare technology. Topics included women and children's health, translational clinical research, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and biomedical engineering education. This event provided a valuable platform for showcasing the potential of AI-based solutions in improving care for psoriatic arthritis patients and highlighted the role of digital tools in revolutionizing personalised healthcare. 1/2 PREVIOUS NEXT

< BACK The protocol for iPROLEPSIS-PDPID study approved in the Netherlands Nov 12, 2023 Ongoing preparation for iPROLEPSIS-PDPID study initiation In November 2023, the protocol for the PsA Digital Phenotyping and Inflammation Drivers Study (iPROLEPSIS-PDPID) received ethical approval In the Netherlands. Approvals in the UK, PT and GR are in progress. The research will be conducted in the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal and Greece. The primary objective of the iPROLEPSIS-PDPID is to establish a development cohort to create smartphone and smartwatch-based, AI-driven digital biomarkers for the remote assessment and monitoring of individuals with psoriatic arthritis. Two action types will occur in the development cohort: measure and predict. Measure: To develop novel smartphone and smart device digital biomarkers for the assessment of inflammatory symptoms with a particular focus on the recognition of changes in movement patterns, pain, fatigue, and morning stiffness in comparison to the gold standard – medical evaluation by clinical evaluation of the joints, tendons and skin. Predict: To predict the change from uninflamed to inflamed using three triggers that may cause longstanding inflammation in psoriatic arthritis patients at risk for flare. Those three triggers are stress, mechanical stress and changes in the gut microbiome. To achieve these objectives, iPROLEPSIS-PDPID will leverage cutting-edge technology and a comprehensive set of products, such as a mobile phone app and a smartwatch. The miPROLEPSIS phone app, which will be used in this study, is currently under development. The app will be installed on the patients’ smartphones and utilised as a data collector before being used to develop and train algorithms. mIPROLEPSIS app.png mIPROLEPSIS app.png 1/1 PREVIOUS NEXT

Learning Hub Explore resources to help you understand and manage psoriatic arthritis. Learning hub Key Facts Handbook News Feed Quizzes Search Psoriatic Arthritis Handbook Intimacy, Reproductive Health and Family Life Handbook How will psoriatic arthritis affect me? RELATIONSHIPS AND SEX Psoriatic arthritis can present a number of challenges in a relationship, namely: reduce your enjoyment of sex and other activities you share with your partner; affect your mood and self-esteem; impact your ability to contribute to household and family related duties; lead to financial worries if your condition affects your ability to work. Although your relationship may change because of psoriatic arthritis, you should remember that most couples go through phases in their relationship that are more or less positive, depending on a number of factors such as stress, work-life balance, or other health conditions. See related Key Facts section h4.1 h4.3 Talking to your partner about any changes or challenges you may be facing is a great way to improve communication in the relationship and arrive at solutions to please both of you. If you are not in a relationship and worry about how your condition may affect your prospects of finding a romantic partner, especially if you have visible signs of the condition, keep in mind that most relationships develop gradually and that shared interests are more important than physical considerations. While sex will not make your psoriatic arthritis worse, it can sometimes be painful when you move an affected joint. Besides the physical aspect, psoriatic arthritis may decrease your sex drive, affect your self- confidence, or make you feel less attractive. Psoriatic arthritis can sometimes lead to a dry vagina, and thus to uncomfortable sex. If this is the case, water-based lubricants can help you and/or your partner. Oil-based lubricants may irritate your skin or damage condoms. To help you overcome difficulties with sex, you should: talk openly with your partner about your physical and/or emotional concerns; keep active as physical exercise can help you strengthen your muscles and support your joints; take painkillers approximately one hour before having sex to minimise pain; try different positions and use cushions, pillows, or furniture to support your body; remember that there are multiple ways to achieve sexual satisfactions, such as kissing, caressing, mutual masturbation, oral stimulation, or even sex aids such as vibrators. See related Key Facts section FERTILITY, PREGNANCY, AND BREASTFEEDING If you are planning to start a family, you should discuss your treatment plan with your rheumatologist, as some medications are not safe in pregnancy. It is completely normal to feel concerned about the effect of your condition on your ability to start a family. People with arthritis may take slightly longer to become pregnant. It is best to try for a baby when your condition is not very active. There is a genetic contribution to psoriatic arthritis, that is, the presence of certain genes makes a person more likely to develop the condition. However, this is not a strictly hereditary condition. There are many factors involved in the development of psoriatic arthritis, not just the genes inherited from parents. Therefore, in the vast majority of cases the chances of passing it on to your children are relatively low. FERTILITY In women, there is no evidence to support that psoriatic arthritis affects fertility (51). However, a recent study indicated that untreated inflammatory arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis, may decrease male fertility (52). In both women and men, fertility does decrease with age or may be affected by other health conditions. h4.2 Therefore, some people living with psoriatic arthritis will need fertility treatments. If your psoriatic arthritis is under control, there should be no problem to initiate fertility treatments. Discuss any plans for fertility treatments with your rheumatologist. They can offer specific advice, review your treatment plan, and liaise with the medical team responsible for your fertility treatment. See related Key Facts section PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING Discuss your plans to start a family with your rheumatologist so that your treatment plan can be adjusted. If you become pregnant unexpectedly, talk to your rheumatologist as soon as possible. All women get aches and pains during pregnancy. As the baby grows, you may feel additional strain on some of your joints, especially on your hips and knees. While there is not a lot of information on the effects of pregnancy in psoriatic arthritis, studies have shown that the majority of women living with rheumatoid arthritis experience some form of symptom improvement during pregnancy. However, some women will have a flare after giving birth. Psoriatic arthritis usually does not affect delivery and you can still give birth through your vagina. If you are considering a caesarean, you should discuss this with your doctors (rheumatologist and obstetrician). It may be necessary to stop some of your medications before the surgery. You should continue anti-rheumatic drugs that are safe in pregnancy during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This will reduce your chances of any complications during pregnancy and will make flares less likely after giving birth. Many mothers feel sad, tearful, or anxious in the first two weeks after having a baby. However, if these symptoms last for longer or start later on, you may have post-natal depression, which affects 1 in 10 women after giving birth. It is important to seek medical help if you feel this way. See related Key Facts section h4.4 Remember that you are not alone. If you need extra support, please speak to your GP or Health Visitor. More information can be found below: NHS Mental Health Services https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ NHS Postnatal Depression https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ conditions/post-natal-depression/overview/ Be kind to your joints and your mind. See related Key Facts Previous page Next page

Ethics, legal and exploitation team Dr. Ioannis Drivas DIADIKASIA BUSINESS CONSULTING SYMVOULOI EPICHEIRISEON AE (DBC) Position Principal researcher focusing on the development of digital biomarkers and their translation into healthcare tools and interventions. What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Project Manager What are your main activities in the project? As Project Manager, I coordinate all iPROLEPSIS-related activities assigned to DBC. What is your motivation? My motivation stems from a strong commitment to upholding ethical and legal standards in research while maximizing the impact and real-world use of the iPROLEPSIS results. Coordination Clinical Experts Data Science Software Development Ethics, Legal and Exploitation Dissemination and Communication

Software development team Francisco Cardoso PLUX Position Software Developer What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Monitoring Engineer What are your main activities in the project? I define SLIs/SLOs, design telemetry (metrics, logs, traces), build alerts and dashboards, run incident response/postmortems, and align data retention and security with compliance. What is your motivation? I’m motivated by making complex systems trustworthy. Turning real-time signals into fast decisions that reduce downtime and protect participants and data. Hugo Humberto Plácido da Silva PLUX Position Founder & Chief Innovation Officer What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Principal Investigator representing PLUX. What are your main activities in the project? Internal management of the project at the board/administration level. Our team is making substantial contributions to the development of digital biomarkers (dBMs) that can be acquired using a smart belt. Furthermore, we are responsible for the iPROLEPSIS system orchestration, verification, and monitoring. What is your motivation? Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a highly conditioning disease that currently affects a significant number of patients globally. Existing assessment and management methods are mostly bound to a clinical setting, involving complex protocols, therefore only of limited access to patients. For as long as I can remember, my work has been centered around purpose-driven innovations in the healthcare space; the possibility to explore novel dBMs as a way of improving the lives of PsA patients constitutes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and purpose like none other. Sofia Balula Dias Faculdade de Motricidade Humana Position Principal Investigator representing FMH partner What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? As Principal Investigator, I lead the design and development of a serious games-based intervention tool specifically tailored to support individuals living with Psoriatic Arthritis. What are your main activities in the project? Our multidisciplinary team is leading the development of the iPROLEPSIS serious games application to support Psoriatic Arthritis patients. Through co-creation with patients and collaboration across research, clinical, and design fields, we’re tailoring game mechanics and biofeedback features to meet real needs and preferences. Our work involves prototyping, testing, and refining therapeutic content designed to improve mobility, support pain management, reduce stress, and promote self-management, ultimately contributing to a more holistic and patient-centered approach to chronic care. What is your motivation? I am driven by the opportunity to improve the lives of PsA patients through non-pharmacological, technology-driven interventions. Serious games present an innovative and empowering method for symptom management and patient engagement. To date, there are no serious games specifically tailored to the needs of individuals with PsA, making this work both timely and impactful. Rodrigo Duarte Braga PLUX Position Research Collaborator What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Systems Engineer What are your main activities in the project? I coordinate system orchestration, verification, and monitoring. I also lead the Smartbelt's technical development, from data acquisition and processing device data to building machine learning models. What is your motivation? Tackling complex challenges and developing innovative solutions and medical devices that create tangible value. Sérgio Lopes da Fonseca PLUX Position Project Manager What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? PLUX’s contribution to iPROLEPSIS management. What are your main activities in the project? Aligning timelines, deliverables, and resources across partners. I manage work-package commitments, budget and risks, and represent PLUX in steering and technical meetings to keep decisions action-oriented and on schedule. What is your motivation? To turn research into deployable, user-centred solutions. I’m driven by projects that measurably improve clinical workflows and patient outcomes—while creating a clear path from prototype to scalable product. iPROLEPSIS is a chance to do all three: integrate wearable biosignals seamlessly, prove value in real settings, and accelerate European med-tech competitiveness. Coordination Clinical Experts Data Science Software Development Ethics, Legal and Exploitation Dissemination and Communication

Dissemination and communication team Kristina Leipuviene SmartSol SIA Position Project manager What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Dissemination/Communication lead What are your main activities in the project? Leading and planning communication and dissemination activities. SmartSol team also supports networking and clustering with stakeholders. What is your motivation? As leaders of WP6, SmartSol aims to increase awareness of iPROLEPSIS and make it accessible to everyone. We focus on sharing information, raising awareness about psoriatic arthritis, and making a lasting impact through thoughtful planning and engagement with the public. Coordination Clinical Experts Data Science Software Development Ethics, Legal and Exploitation Dissemination and Communication

Coordination team Vasilis Charisis Signal Processing & Biomedical Technology Unit (SPBTU) – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Position Principal researcher focusing on the development of digital biomarkers and their translation into healthcare tools and interventions. What is your role in iPROLEPSIS? Scientific and Technical Coordinator. What are your main activities in the project? I manage the project's day-to-day operations and scientific coherence, driving the timely delivery of outcomes. Our team (SPBTU) is pioneering the use of AI and digital biomarkers from everyday smart devices to create predictive models for PsA symptoms. We are also developing a dedicated mobile app that supports patients by improving sleep patterns using binaural beat technology. What is your motivation? My motivation is rooted in a long-standing commitment to improving chronic disease management through accessible, non-invasive technology. In iPROLEPSIS, I am driven to apply advanced AI and biomedical engineering principles to address the significant challenges faced by PsA patients. We aim to create tangible, personalized digital tools that not only predict disease flares early but actively enhance patients' quality of life, ensuring our cutting-edge research delivers real clinical benefits. Coordination Clinical Experts Data Science Software Development Ethics, Legal and Exploitation Dissemination and Communication