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Here’s a look back at the key highlights, SYNAPSE’s contributions, and the collaborative spirit that will drive PROBE’s mission to transform osteoarthritis (OA) care through data-driven innovation, federated learning, and patient-centric tools.

After the project launch back in December 2025, we shared an outline of the project, its patient-focused approach, main objectives, and future vision.

The kick-off meeting held in Rotterdam marked the first step toward these goals, uniting partners to align on scientific objectives, governance, and collaborative workflows.

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SYNAPSE’s Leadership: Driving Communication

As leader of WP6 (Communication and Sustainability), SYNAPSE took centre stage to present our vision for disseminating PROBE’s outputs and engaging stakeholders. Our presentation focused on dissemination and communication strategies, developing a multi-channel approach to reach patients, clinicians, regulators, industry, and researchers in a coherent and effective manner:

• Social media campaigns, newsletters, and press releases to amplify PROBE’s progress and findings.
• Scientific publications, policy briefs, and white papers to translate technical outputs into actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Project logos, corporate style guides, dissemination and communication policies, and templates to ensure continuity and coherency across PROBE outputs.
• A project website (launching soon) as the central hub for updates, resources, and stakeholder engagement.
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"We’re excited to play an important role in this journey with all of the world-leading experts, vital stakeholder specialists, and cutting edge researchers represented in this Consortium and look forward to sharing updates on our progress as PROBE moves forward. Together, we’re not just advancing OA research—we’re redefining how data, technology, and collaboration can improve lives." - Chris James, Project Manager at SYNAPSE

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SYNAPSE’s Expertise: Guiding Coordination

Alongside with Erasmus MC, SYNAPSE plays a key role in ensuring the project’s smooth execution, strategic alignment, and operational efficiency. Our contributions include:

• Assisting in aligning the six work packages, refining activities with WP leads, and integrating feedback from advisory boards to keep the project on track.
• Providing operational support, including work plan monitoring, risk mitigation, and conflict resolution, while helping to set up collaboration tools (e.g., document repositories, meeting calendars) for seamless partner interaction.
• Supporting financial tracking, periodic reporting to IHI, and legal compliance to ensure deliverables meet quality standards and deadlines.

SYNAPSE’s experience in managing complex consortia ensures that WP1’s foundational work—coordination, risk management, and compliance—remains robust, setting the stage for PROBE’s success.

‍Looking ahead: SYNAPSE’s Next Steps in PROBE

The kick-off was just the beginning. Over the coming months SYNAPSE will focus on:

• Finalising the Project Handbook and launching collaboration tools to support seamless partner interaction.
• Developing a dissemination plan and the project website, ensuring it serves as a dynamic resource for all stakeholders.
• Organising the first PROBE newsletter and social media activity to highlight early progress and engage the broader OA community.
• Participating in cross-WP task forces to address emerging challenges, e.g., stakeholder engagement channels in WP2

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For more information, check PROBE website and follow the project on LinkedIn.

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