New diagnostic assays and a decision support system for individualized care in rheumatoid arthritis
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Karolinska Institutet - Reumatologenheten, Institutionen för medicin, Solna |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 000 000 |
| Project duration | June 2016 - May 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Our aim is to improve the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with new techniques facilitating earlier diagnosis and earlier correct treatment. Through development and validation of a new antibody-based multiplex assay, clinically useful algorithms and an e-health based visualization tool, new knowledge about prediction of RA risk and prognosis and the impact of healthy lifestyle can be implemented into patient flows leading to an effective, patient-centered healthcare.
Expected results and effects
There is a high need for personalized care for RA patients, where many different, expensive drugs are used based on general guidelines without utilizing known predictors of risk and response. Implementation of our solutions can lead to major savings and improvements in health-care, not only in Sweden but internationally. Furthermore, informed patients who gain understanding and can decrease their risk or improve outcome, through e-health solutions, do better and save cost in the healthcare system.
Planned approach and implementation
Development and validation of: WP1: a new assay (academy, industry and healthcare). WP2: prediction models incorporating the assay and clinical, biomarker, life style and genetic predictors in multiple study populations (academy). WP3: an e-health based visualization tool, to be validated and implemented into patient flows in three counties for further evaluation (academy, healthcare and a digital design company). The strength of the project is joint efforts between academy, industry and healthcare.