(American College of Rheumatology) Response Criteria (ACR20 / ACR50 / ACR70) — a way to measure improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. For example, ACR20 means a 20% improvement in symptoms such as swollen joints, pain and blood tests.

How well a person follows their prescribed treatment plan.

Any unwanted medical problem that happens during a study.

A step-by-step set of instructions used by a computer to analyse data and make predictions. In MDR-RA, algorithms are used to analyze complex patient data and predict treatment response.

The total number of deaths during a study, regardless of cause.

A condition where there are not enough red blood cells, which can cause tiredness.

Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies are in the blood. These are also called “autoantibodies” because they are abnormal proteins that attack the body’s healthy cells by mistake instead of protecting the body.

Antibodies made by the body against a biologic medication, which may reduce its effectiveness.

Computer systems that analyse large amounts of data to identify patterns and make predictions.

Stands for “area under the curve”. In terms of taking medications, the amount of the drug in the blood (called the concentration of the drug) rises, peaks, and then gradually decreases as the body processes it. If the concentration levels are placed on a graph over time, the total area under the curve of this graph line represents the body’s total exposure to the drug from the moment it is taken until it is fully cleared.

The starting measurements taken at the beginning of a study.

Reduces the number of B-cells involved in autoimmune responses.

A type of cell that belongs to the immune system and originates from inside bone marrow. Also called “B-lymphocyte”.

Very large and complex sets of information that require advanced computer tools to analyse. Big data often requires AI methods for interpretation.

A biologic medicine that targets specific parts of the immune system.

A measurable biological sign (for example a blood test) that gives information about disease activity.

Highly similar versions of original biologic medicines, developed after the original patent expires. They have comparable safety and effectiveness.

A very strict definition of remission where several measurements must all be below specific limits.

A way of organising and understanding how healthcare is delivered for a specific condition — from diagnosis to long-term follow-up. It helps identify where improvements can increase patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary costs.

A structured framework or approach used in healthcare to deliver patient care. It defines how care is provided, how resources are allocated, and the roles of healthcare professionals involved in the care process.

A score that measures RA activity using joint counts and patient/doctor assessments.

A health information technology system that provides clinicians with patient-specific data, evidence-based guidelines, and decision-making support to improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. It can be a digital dashboard that assists clinicians in the care of complex patients, including rules and algorithms that help take the next step.

A research study testing treatments or medical tools in people.

A collaborative, participatory approach to creating solutions by bringing together designers, experts, and, most importantly, the people directly affected by the problem. Although similar to co-design, in co-creation, stakeholders have a more active role and direct involvement in the different phases of the design process and production.

An approach to design experiences, solutions or products in which stakeholders are treated as equal collaborators in the design process, i.e., a design process aimed at actively and intentionally involving relevant stakeholders in the design process to ensure that the outcome meets their needs. (Also known as co-operative design or participatory design.)

Another disease or health condition that exists alongside RA.

A factor that may influence study results and make interpretation difficult.

Traditional medications made through chemical processes. Example: methotrexate.

To compare different interventions in terms of their cost and health benefits.

A blood marker of inflammation.

Small proteins that help immune cells communicate and drive inflammation.

A common RA disease activity score based on joint counts and blood tests.

Combining different types of information (clinical, laboratory, imaging, patient-reported data).

An advanced form of AI inspired by how the brain works.

Collecting highly detailed biological and clinical information about patients.

The potential of a test to correctly detect the presence or absence of a disease.

Digital health means using modern technology to support health and medical care. This includes things like smartphone apps, online health services, and wearable devices that track activity or health signals. These tools help people manage their health, talk to doctors from home, and handle medical information.

A medication that slows disease progression.

When multiple treatments fail to control the disease.

The network of organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, policymakers, data systems and technologies that work together to deliver healthcare and research.

A characteristic (such as age or sex) that changes how well a treatment works.

How well a treatment works under controlled study conditions.

A subgroup of patients defined by specific biological mechanisms causing disease.

Phenotype: Observable characteristics or traits of a patient. Endotype: The underlying biological mechanism driving those traits.

The active involvement, energy and commitment that stakeholders (patients, researchers, clinicians, policymakers) bring to a project.

A blood test that measures inflammation.

Artificial intelligence systems designed to provide transparent, understandable, and interpretable outputs, building trust in clinical decision-making.

External influences such as environment, lifestyle, smoking, stress, diet or access to care.

A questionnaire measuring fatigue severity.

Incorrect test results.

Cells that are responsible for maintaining the structure of the joint and repairing damaged tissue.

Thickening or scarring of tissue.

A diverse group of people assembled to participate in a guided discussion about a particular product before it is launched, or to give ongoing feedback, for example a new scientific article or program.

A type of radiation-free brain scan that shows which parts of the brain are active. It works by watching how blood flows in the brain. When a part of the brain is working harder, it needs more oxygen, so more blood goes there. The scan highlights these busy areas during specific tasks.

Information carried in DNA that influences disease risk and treatment response.

The complete set of genetic information in a person.

Quality standards for laboratory research.

Research studying costs and value of healthcare interventions.

Liver damage caused by medication.

Differences between patients in disease features or treatment response.

A description of how tissue looks under a microscope, showing patterns that help understand how healthy the tissue is or how a problem might behave.

An allergic reaction to a medication.

An AI-based clinical decision support tool developed in MDR-RA to predict optimal treatments.

Block interleukin-6, another important inflammatory protein.

The ability of a drug to trigger an immune response.

A chain of immune reactions that lead to inflammation.

Internal biological characteristics such as genetics, immune system features, age or sex.

Targeted drugs that block inflammation-related signals inside cells.

This score is used to assess the severity of synovitis that occurs in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. A higher score indicates more severe inflammation.

This uses a statistical approach to uncover unobserved or unrealized groups (i.e., “latent classes”) that exist within a population. By looking at patterns in symptoms, test results, or imaging, it groups patients who naturally share similar disease features. These “hidden” groups can help researchers better understand why the disease looks or behaves differently from person to person. (See doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.05.008.)

White blood cells involved in immune defence.

A study that follows patients over time.

A form of AI where computers learn patterns from data.

A commonly used first-line RA treatment.

A cell type belonging to the immune system. These cells can be categorised by the presence or absence of specific receptors on their surfaces. For example, CD14 and CD16.

A group of professionals from different specialties working together.

The combined study of different biological layers such as genes, proteins and metabolites.

Low levels of a specific type of white blood cell.

A study observing patients without assigning treatment.

A measurable result used to evaluate treatment success.

Research carried out with or by patients and the public, rather than to, about or for them.

The full experience of a patient across the healthcare system — from first symptoms and diagnosis through treatment decisions, monitoring and long-term care. Mapping the patient journey helps identify gaps, delays or burdens in care.

Information directly reported by patients about their symptoms or quality of life.

A person living with a disease collaborating as an equal member of the research team.

Tailoring treatment based on individual characteristics.

Observable disease characteristics (symptoms, lab results, imaging findings).

An inactive treatment used for comparison in clinical trials.

Taking multiple medications simultaneously.

A computational tool that estimates the probability of future outcomes based on patient data. Prediction indicates likelihood, not certainty.

The study of proteins in the body.

A measure combining life length and quality of life.

How health affects daily living, wellbeing and independence.

Studies how the nerve endings are working. It is helpful for problems such as numbness, pain, and tingling.

A structured set of questions used to measure specific aspects of health (for example pain, fatigue or quality of life). It produces a score that helps researchers assess outcomes.

Assigning participants to study groups by chance.

Health information collected outside clinical trials.

A structured database collecting patient information over time.

Very low or no disease activity.

When a Rheumatoid Factor test finds higher than normal levels of a protein in the blood called Rheumatoid factor (RF). This protein made by the immune system can mistakenly attack healthy tissues. RF positivity is often linked to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, it’s not a perfect indicator: some healthy people can test positive, and some people with autoimmune diseases can have normal (negative) RF levels.

A chronic autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation.