The SmartCHANGE consortium convened in Rome on 18–19 November 2024 for its fourth meeting since the project's start, hosted by Engineering. This two-day event provided an essential forum for partners to evaluate progress, tackle emerging challenges, and prepare for the upcoming review meeting in January 2025.
Key Highlights from the Meeting
At the 18-month mark of this 48-month project, discussions centred on advancing the co-design and implementation of the project’s e-health tools. These tools aim to engage children, families, and healthcare professionals to predict risks and encourage healthier lifestyles, particularly in combating cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.
Significant updates included:
- Study Preparations: Progress on the five planned studies was reviewed, each focusing on various age groups and set to run over 7–9 months. Recruitment efforts are ongoing through schools and healthcare specialists.
- Ethics Board Meeting: The newly appointed Ethics Board held its inaugural in-person meeting. The board addressed critical issues, including data collection methods, app usage ethics, and user engagement. The board is working on a series of recommendations that the project will take into account.
- Collaboration Progress: Plans for synergies with sister projects and participation in international events are well underway, including co-hosting conferences and workshops in 2025. Collaborative efforts are fostering greater alignment across the consortium to maximise impact and visibility.
Looking Ahead
The next few months are critical for achieving ethical approvals, completing software development, and preparing for study launches. The project will also lead efforts to create synergies with sister projects and international collaborations.
The next consortium meeting is scheduled for June 2025 in Jyväskylä, Finland, hosted by JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
Stay connected for more updates as SmartCHANGE continues to drive innovation in healthcare through co-design and AI-powered solutions.