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Dear all,

As we step into a new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on our progress throughout 2024. It’s been a year full of impressive achievements, teamwork, and overcoming challenges. With the constant support and help of Brenda Bley Folly, Chiara Ripepi and the executive team, and all consortium members, we have taken big steps this year. Let’s celebrate some of the key milestones we’ve reached together:

In WP2, we created a thorough codebook and data handling manual were created, allowing us to harmonise data across centres in a FAIR manner. Ivan’s involvement with the Karolinska team, including Katerina, Johan and many others, was critical in ensuring that data was seamlessly integrated into the federated learning system. This allowed us to deliver on time and undertake the first statistical analysis on real data. We also assigned Node administrators to ensure data security in the federated learning environment.

This year, we successfully welcomed the Hungarian partner Semmelweis University back to the consortium, allowing Gyorgy Nagy, Kinga Kohalmi, and András Dorgó to officially join the team after their incredible input throughout the year. All legal and administrative documentation was completed, confirming their involvement in our federated learning system, and already helpful collaboration in WP5.

WP3, coordinated by Paco Welsing and Chiara Ripepi, developed a Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) to answer our consortium’s three main research questions and reaching the final objective of identifying, stratifying and predicting D2T RA as a prerequisite for better tailoring treatment to these patients. Formal training in federated learning with Vantage6 has already begun, facilitated by MDW and with valuable contributions from Andre Dekker, Luis, and Ivan Zhovannik. These activities have provided the groundwork for the major assessments scheduled for the following year.

In WP4, we made significant progress on the Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which focused on intervention types useful for envisioned subgroups of D2T RA and included three unique PICOs. Four PhD students (from respectively Vienna, Sweden, Hungary and The Netherlands), supported this work led by Paul Studenic and Caroline Duerrschmid’s, significantly. Their passion has helped to propel this project ahead.

WP6, under the expertise of Hendrik Schulze-Koops and Christina Gebhardt, successfully evaluated the essential biobanking methods, while WP5 developed the concept for the next pilot study, setting the groundwork for future research attempts.

WP8 arranged and filmed our first collaborative research session ahead of the EULAR 2024 Congress, which our partners in Vienna sponsored. This training gave a wonderful platform for cross-WP conversations, which has strengthened our collaborative spirit. Furthermore, WP8 created a strong social media presence, effectively documenting our growth and accomplishments through 2024.

Looking ahead to 2025, WP3 will use the federated learning setup to conduct in-depth statistical analysis toward addressing our first critical objective—to determine the presence, incidence and prevalence of D2T RA. We will continue to prioritize training on federated learning and data management, enhancing expertise across all centers.

WP5 will complete the pilot study’s planning and launch preparations, with the final goal of gaining meaningful information on therapies for D2T RA. WP4 aims to complete the systematic literature review and publish findings on intervention types for D2T RA subgroups. We also intend to have a second research workshop and increase our visibility at important conferences, including EULAR. WP8, in collaboration with PRPs, will continue to enhance our public profile through social media and outreach activities, ensuring our work is visible to both the scientific community and the broader public.

Let’s maintain this momentum into 2025, expand on our successes, continue helping one another, and accomplish even more. We want to thank each and every one of you for your outstanding work, perseverance, and devotion. By working together, we are making significant progress in diagnosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis, which is a disease that is challenging to treat.

Wishing everyone a happy and successful new year!

Warm regards,
Jaap van Laar, Coordinator of STRATA-FIT

Achievements of 2024:

  • WP1: Directed and Executed

Thanks to Brenda and the executive board many issues were solved and discussed. Every deliverable was accounted for and provided in a timely manner in addition to expense reports and all necessary documents needed throughout each WP. Two milestones of WP2 and WP6 have also been successfully achieved.

  • WP2: Data Harmonization Success

– A comprehensive codebook and data handling manual has been developed, harmonising data across centers in a FAIR format.

– Ivan’s collaboration from MDW (WP7) side together with Karolinska ensured a smooth integration of this data into the federated learning system, enabling timely deliverables and the first statistical analysis with real data.

– Established Node administrators for the safe handling of data within the FL.

– New Consortium Member: Semmelweis University, from Budapest, Hungary.

– We successfully welcomed Semmelweis University back to the consortium this year, with all legal and administrative documentation completed—solidifying their role as a data node within the federated learning infrastructure.

  • WP3: Statistical Analysis Plan and Training

– WP3, led by Paco and Chiara, has created a Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) to answer the three key questions of our consortium.

– Formal training in federated learning using Vantage6 has begun, facilitated with the help of MDW and the great help of Andre, Luis and Ivan.

  • WP4: Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

– Significant strides in the SLR focusing on intervention types stratified by D2T type with three distinct PICOs.

– The work has been supported by 4 PhD students under the guidance of Paul and Caroline in Vienna.

  • WP5 and WP6: Pilot Study & Biobanking

– WP6 in Munich, led by Hendrik and Christina, completed the evaluation of necessary biobanking procedures.

– WP5 drafted the plan for the upcoming pilot study, laying the groundwork for future research.

  • WP8: Workshops & Social Media Presence

– Organized and filmed the first collaborative research workshop ahead of the EULAR conference, hosted by our partners in Vienna, which was an excellent opportunity for cross-WP discussions.

– Established a notable social media presence, capturing the progress and achievements throughout 2024.

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Challenges Overcome:

  • • Data Harmonization and Federated Learning

– Despite challenges with data extraction and harmonization, the coordinated efforts of all partners and the guidance of MDW made this endeavor a success.

  • Administrative Integration of Semmelweis University, from Budapest, Hungary

– Navigated complex legal and administrative processes to onboard Hungary smoothly, strengthening the consortium’s overall capacity.

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Plans and Objectives for 2025:

  • Data-Driven Insights: WP3 will leverage the federated learning setup to conduct in-depth statistical analyses answering the first (incidence and prevalence of D2T) research question, providing critical insights for D2T RA.
  • Training & Skills Development: Continue training in federated learning and data management, enhancing the expertise across all centers.
  • Pilot Study Preparation: Finalize planning for observational phase of the pilot study from WP5 and prepare for launching the observational and the interventional phase of this pilot, with a goal of gathering actionable insights on interventions for D2T RA.
  • SLR Completion: WP4 will aim to complete the systematic literature review and publish findings on intervention types useful for D2T RA subtypes.
  • Further Workshops and Conferences: Expand collaborative opportunities by organizing a second research workshop and strengthening our presence at major conferences like EULAR.
  • Growing Media Impact: WP8 will continue to enhance our public profile and engagement through social media and outreach activities in tangent with the PRPs, ensuring our work is visible to both the scientific community and the broader public.

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.