A team of researchers from NOVA Medical School has recently secured funding from the portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to develop the RheumAID project - Referral of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Informed by Artificial Intelligence. This support was granted under the "Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cybersecurity of Relevance in Public Administration" call, reinforcing the importance of digitalization in the public sector while contributing to the improvement of patients’ quality of life and the sustainability of the National Health System.
The diagnosis of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) remains a challenge, often delayed due to insufficient recognition of signs and the nonspecific nature of symptoms, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Primary healthcare plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis and management of these conditions. However, in Portugal, general practitioners (GPs) face challenges such as insufficient training in RMDs and limited consultation time.
To address this issue, RheumAID aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence-based algorithm to support GPs in the early identification and referral of patients with suspected RMDs, improving access to timely and accurate diagnoses.
The project is led by Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, in partnership with NOVA Medical School, through the EpiDoc research unit, coordinated by Ana Rodrigues, professor and researcher.
The FCT call "Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cybersecurity of Relevance in Public Administration" aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the public sector and strengthen innovation in Portugal.