During year 2, the IMPROVE project transitioned from foundational design and methodological definition to technical operationalization and initial real-world validation. The consortium achieved critical milestones in the deployment of the platform, the harmonization of health datasets, and the activation of clinical pilot sites.
The technical core of the project, driven by WP3 and WP4, made significant progresses in operationalizing the data integration layer. Diverse real-world datasets were successfully harmonized using HL7-FHIR standard to ensure semantic interoperability. Technical implementation was validated through Proofs of Concept (PoCs), specifically utilizing the Picasso ETL tool for automated data modeling and the CKP platform for the formalization of clinical guidelines. The needs and methodologies for additional data collection were defined (D4.1) and the update and maintenance of the platform were implemented (D3.6 D3.10). The IMPROVE dashboard also reached a mature design phase, moving from functional requirements to high-fidelity mock-ups and initial prototyping (D3.8 D3.9).
Supporting these technical advancements, the IMPROVE knowledge warehouse (WP2) was significantly expanded through a 2nd Screenathon event. This human–AI collaborative screening of over 12000 meta-analyses facilitated the preparation of updated systematic review reports (D2.3) and the identification of real-world practices for PGHD collection (D2.7). To enhance sustainability, the project initiated the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate the monitoring of emerging scientific and policy trends.
In terms of stakeholder engagement, WP6 finalized the co-creation process by conducting 33 in-depth interviews with patients, clinicians, and researchers. This process led to the structured assessment of stakeholder requirements (D6.1) and a systematic fit assessment (D6.2) to evaluate the alignment between stakeholder needs and the project’s technical tools. All technical and clinical activities were conducted under the updated ethical and data protection framework reported in D1.7.
A major operational milestone was reached by WP5, which moved from pilot design into the active implementation phase. With 90% of study designs and ethical approvals secured across multiple pilot sites.
Finally, the project’s strategic reach was expanded through the activities of WP8. The consortium established an Exploitation Working Group to drive the long-term vision of the framework toward Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC), identifying potential Key Exploitable Results (KERs).
