Continuing the Journey: HIPPOCRATES Sets the Course for the Future of Psoriatic Disease Research

While the HIPPOCRATES project has not yet reached the end of its current EU funding period, partners from across the consortium have already come together for a dedicated Sustainability Sandpit Meeting to shape the future of collaboration and research in psoriatic disease (PsD).

Bringing together a diverse group of academic researchers, industry representatives, and patient research partners, the meeting centred on one key question: How can the consortium sustain and build on the remarkable progress achieved in HIPPOCRATES so far?

Over the course of the project, HIPPOCRATES has established a strong foundation and generated significant momentum in PsD research. Among its key accomplishments is the development of a database, now the largest of its kind in Europe for psoriatic arthritis. In addition, the project has delivered cutting-edge technologies and rich datasets that are expected to drive future discoveries. Beyond these tangible outputs, participants highlighted a less measurable but equally important success: the shared energy, commitment, and collaborative spirit across disciplines, which continue to fuel ambition for what comes next.

“The HIPPOCRATES Consortium has established a remarkable foundation upon which to build an exciting future for people with psoriatic disease. It has created the largest database of psoriatic arthritis patients in Europe and developed innovative technologies and data sets to advance the search for a cure. Brilliantly led by the co-leads Oliver and Steve, the project’s most significant achievement has been the energy, chemistry, and commitment of its multidisciplinary community, which continues to drive momentum for future outstanding research and sustainability,” emphasises Professor Iain McInnes, University of Glasgow.

Discussions during the Sustainability Sandpit Meeting explored how to ensure the long-term sustainability of key assets such as HPOS, as well as how to build on advances in areas like spatial biology. A central focus was the translation of clinical and biological data into predictive tools for disease risk and progression. Partners also addressed the next steps needed to move Clinical Decision Support Tools from early-stage development into real-world clinical application.

Looking ahead, the consortium is aligning around the most pressing research questions that can be pursued using the resources and datasets already created. In this context, the Sustainability Sandpit Meeting marks an important milestone – not an endpoint, but a transition towards the next phase of impactful, collaborative research in psoriatic disease.