How could we improve the monitoring of patients with axSpA by implementing solutions that involve healthcare professionals and patients to ensure an adequate control and management?

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has a strong impact on the patient’s quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Hence the importance of constant monitoring and follow up of the patient’s evolution supported by evidence-based questionnaires. The ideal solution to this challenge should be addressed to patients and/or doctors.

On one hand, patients need a tool that allows them to take control over the evolution of their disease through a monitoring system that integrates notifications, as well as a platform that encourages them to adopt healthy habits. Exercising, controlling sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and giving up habits such as smoking, can significantly improve the patient’s perception of the disease.

From a medical perspective, the solution should function as a tracking tool that integrates notifications that potentially collects patient information, integrates it into the medical record and enables bidirectional communication between the patient and the healthcare professional.

Beyond Rheum welcomes applications from suitable start-ups or projects that:

• Have a proof of concept, market validation and prototype that matches the challenge (TRL 5-9)
• Have a solution with the potential to address axSpA unmet medical needs, backed by strong science and technology
• Are active in the field of medtech or digital health
• Own and/or are entitled to use the intellectual property (if applicable) that is the basis for the project or product
• Be legally incorporated and established in one of the Horizon Europe countries
• Are not in a situation of concurrent submission or implementation of another project targeting the same objectives

Applications to Beyond Rheum are currently closed. Please take a look to our other EIT Health programmes that may be a good fit for your start-up

This programme is supported by Novartis, through Novartis BIOME, a global network that facilitates interactions between the company and the digital health ecosystem, enabling them to provide innovative and high-impact solutions to patients, healthcare professionals and the national healthcare system.