PsA-vINGEST: Relieving Chronic Inflammatory Diseases.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects both the skin and the musculoskeletal system. Around 200,000 people in Germany are affected. The disease can present and progress differently in women and men. Treatment success and quality of life can also differ. These gender-specific differences have so far not been sufficiently taken into account in care. Yet they are important for detecting the disease early and tailoring treatment individually to those affected. This is where the PsA-vIngest research project comes in: the aim is to support medical professionals in better recognising individual disease courses and gender-specific differences and taking them into account in treatment.

How does PsA-vIngest work?

The project is developing an interactive analysis and visualisation system that clearly brings together different information about the disease. This includes, for example, routine medical data and information that affected people provide themselves about their health status and quality of life. Interactive visualisations make complex relationships easier to understand. In this way, medical professionals can grasp important information at a glance, better follow individual disease courses and recognise possible gender-specific differences. The system also serves as an interactive interface for interdisciplinary care. It supports exchange between different medical specialties and can also help discuss treatment results and disease courses together with those affected.

Developed together for individual care

PsA-vIngest is being developed together with the different groups who will use the system later. These include medical professionals as well as people who are themselves affected by psoriatic arthritis. The active participation of users ensures that the visualisations are understandable, practical for everyday use and aligned with the actual requirements of care. At the same time, the technology is intended to improve communication between patients and their treating physicians.

Prospects for gender-sensitive PsA care

In the long term, PsA-vIngest is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the individual course of disease. The systematic analysis of the data can help to better identify gender-specific factors influencing the disease course and treatment success. The findings gained and the technology developed are intended to help make the care of people with psoriatic arthritis more individual and more gender-sensitive. PsA-vIngest combines data analysis, interactive visualisation and the perspectives of affected people and professionals – for PsA care that makes individual differences visible and takes them better into account.

Project information

Consortium coordinator Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, and the Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, Darmstadt) Dr. Christina Gehbauer

Partners DFC Systems GmbH, Munich Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main - Department 16 Medicine and University Hospital - Centre of Internal Medicine - Medical Clinic 2 - Rheumatology

Volume €1.59 million (96% funded by BMFTR)

Duration 11/2025 - 10/2028