This is an overview of the latest project deliverables and achieved, showcasing the progress and efforts made by the STRATA-FIT consortium.

• Project Handbook

The Project Handbook contains an overview of the non-scientific aspects of the project, providing a guide to the consortium. The handbook highlights the:
– Governance and Management structure of the project. UMC Utrecht coordinates the consortium, which involves several work packages (WPs) and a structured governance system, including a General Assembly, Executive Board and the Management Support Team.
– Reporting and Communication, which includes internal and external reporting procedures, regular project meetings, WP meetings, internal communication tools, communication with the European Commission and dissemination and exploitation of results.
– Legal and Financial aspects. The project is governed by the Grant Agreement and Consortium Agreement, with provisions for amendments if necessary.
– Risk Management procedure to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, with regular evaluations and updates.

• Project Website

The website, serves as a central platform to share information about the project, its consortium, progress, and outputs, while also providing resources for patients and details about networking events with other EU projects. The website functions as a key communication tool, offering clear and up-to-date information on the project’s developments, resources such as newsletters, publications, and scientific achievements, as well as dynamic content like videos, images, and media to enhance engagement. Patient Research Partners (PRPs) and EULAR contribute to creating content tailored for patients and the general public, including lay summaries. The website is continuously updated to ensure it remains a valuable resource, maximizing the scientific and societal impact of STRATA-FIT.

• Ethical Requirements

Regarding the ethical implications, we were particularly concerned about the potential adjustments to medical treatment for participants in the clinical pilot using the final decision aid tool. It was concluded that since only approved treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis will be utilized, any treatment adjustments would primarily aim to better tailor existing RA treatments to patients, resulting in minimal risk. Adverse events and patient dissatisfaction from these adjustments will be monitored during the clinical pilot. Following the pilot, the recommendations on D2T RA will be revised based on any observed adverse effects related to the use of the decision aid in clinical decision-making.

• Stakholder Map/DECP

The STRATA-FIT project combines stakeholder mapping with a strategic Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication Plan (DECP) to enhance its impact. Stakeholder mapping identifies and prioritizes individuals, groups, or organizations with an interest in the project, ensuring effective communication and engagement throughout its lifespan. The DECP outlines strategies for disseminating project results, transferring knowledge, engaging the public, and establishing collaborations. It also includes an exploitation plan for key outputs, such as decision aids, biomarker panels, and computational models, with tailored pathways for commercialization and academic dissemination. As the project progresses, a sustainability plan, AFTER-STRATA-FIT, will ensure the long-term impact of these outputs through continued partnerships and exploitation strategies.

• Federated Learning Analysis

A key innovation in STRATA-FIT is the use of federated learning, a privacy-preserving method of decentralized data analysis. This allows the project to securely integrate and analyze health data from different centers without transferring sensitive patient data to a central location.

• Collaborative Research Workshops

Collaborative research workshops aim to strengthen the collaboration between patient research partners and researchers. Two workshops were conducted in 2024. The first, held online in May, delved into the broader aspects of collaboration in international research projects. Emphasis was placed on how to effectively contribute to the project as a cohesive group, managing expectations, and leveraging insights from past research collaborations. The second workshop, conducted in person in Vienna in June, provided an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the patient involvement strategy, discuss feedback, and identify areas for improvement. 

Feedback from these workshops revealed several strengths in the current approach. PRPs appreciated the strong support provided by EULAR facilitators and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the project. However, certain challenges were also identified. Some participants found the technical aspects of the research overwhelming, while others felt their roles and responsibilities were unclear. Additionally, a need for more frequent updates on the project’s progress was identified. These challenges will be addressed by the project team during the upcoming year. 

Moving forward, EULAR will continue organizing workshops to refine the patient involvement process and enhance collaboration. These workshops will provide both patients and researchers with opportunities to share insights, strengthen their partnership, and ensure that the project’s goals align with patient needs.

11 December 2024

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Funded by the European Union (grant agreement no. 101080243). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
The project has also received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and from Hungary’s National Research, Development and Innovation (NRDI) Fund.