The EpiDoC Unit is a multidisciplinary research group that integrates epidemiology, clinical research, behavioral science, and digital health to better understand and reduce the burden of rheumatic and other chronic non-communicable diseases, while promoting healthy and active ageing.
Our team — that includes physicians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and biostatisticians — works collaboratively to translate scientific evidence into practical solutions.
We conduct large population-based studies, advanced secondary data analyses, and community-engaged initiatives that strengthen health literacy and encourage participation. In parallel, we co-design digital tools with patients and healthcare professionals to ensure they are accessible, usable, and relevant in everyday care.
By combining scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and close collaboration with communities, we aim to support healthier ageing, enhance wellbeing, and help reduce the impact of chronic non-communicable diseases.
Projects
- iPROLEPSIS – Psoriatic arthritis inflammation explained through multi-source data analysis guiding a novel personalised digital care ecosystem
Aims to develop a personalised digital care ecosystem for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), combining real-world data with explainable AI models to identify key factors in the transition from psoriasis to PsA, supporting earlier and more effective clinical intervention.
01/2023 – 12/2026 | European Commission, Horizon Europe | Grant: 101095697 | DOI: 10.3030/101095697
- PREVENTABLE – Sustainable care for rare tumour risk syndromes
Aims to evaluate the clinical, social, and financial impact of multidisciplinary specialised care to prevent advanced disease in families with rare tumour risk syndromes.
01/2023 – 06/2026 | European Commission, Horizon Europe | Grant: 101095483 | DOI: 10.3030/101095483
- RheumAID – Referral of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Informed by Artificial Intelligence
Aims to develop an AI-based referral algorithm to support primary care clinicians in the early identification of suspected RMDs, improving access to timely and accurate diagnoses.
02/2025 – 01/2026 | FCT | Grant: 2024.07650.IACDC.2024
- POLIFLAMME_PD – Development of a Portuguese food frequency questionnaire to measure (poly)phenol intake and inflammation in Parkinson’s disease
Aims to create a validated tool to assess dietary (poly)phenols in Portugal and investigate associations with inflammatory markers in people living with Parkinson’s disease.
2025 – 07/2026 | FCT | Grant: 2023.13420.PEX
- PORTHOS – Portuguese Heart Failure Prevalence Study
Aims to determine the prevalence of heart failure in people aged 50+ living in mainland Portugal, providing critical evidence for healthcare planning and resource allocation.
2021 – 2026 | Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia & AstraZeneca
- Healthy Bone – Improving Osteoporosis Treatment Adherence Using ICTs: The Healthy Bone Program
Aims to promote adherence to pharmacological and lifestyle treatment recommendations among older adults with osteoporosis, through a web-based platform co-designed with users.
2019 – ongoing | Unrestricted Grant from Amgen & Research Grant from CHRC
- TwinCare – AI-Driven Digital Twins for Clinical Decision Support in Osteoarthritis and Primary Care High Utilizers
Aims to co-develop a digital twin-powered tool to enhance decision-making and optimise patient management for knee and or hip osteoarthritis and high healthcare utilizers.
03/2025 – 03/2026 | FCT | Grant: 2025.01440.DT4ST
- HealthInnovAI – AI in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Aims to explore how AI, particularly generative AI, can responsibly support patients and caregivers in healthcare innovation, fostering more effective, human-centred solutions.
2025 – 2029 | FCT | Grant: (to be added)
- VA|PREVENTION
Aims to develop an innovative digital intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults, centered on the individual and based on evidence and theory; Evaluate this intervention in real-world settings in terms of effectiveness, implementation, and cost-effectiveness.
2023-2026| FCT | Grant: Refª 2022.02969.PTDC
Publications
- Barcelos A, Gonçalves J, Mateus C, Canhão H, Rodrigues AM. Costs of incident non-hip osteoporosis-related fractures in postmenopausal women from a payer perspective. Osteoporos Int. 2023 Dec;34(12):2111-2119. doi: 10.1007/s00198-023-06881-w. Epub 2023 Aug 19. PMID: 37596433
- Lopes DG, Mendonça N, Henriques AR, Branco J, Canhão H, Rodrigues AM. Trajectories and determinants of ageing in Portugal: insights from EpiDoC, a nationwide population-based cohort. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 17;23(1):1564. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16370-8. PMID: 37592343
- Costa D, Lopes DG, Cruz EB, Henriques AR, Branco J, Canhão H, Rodrigues AM. Trajectories of physical function and quality of life in people with osteoarthritis: results from a 10-year population-based cohort. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jul 21;23(1):1407. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16167-9. PMID: 37480019
- Gomes LA, Gregório MJ, Iakovleva TA, Sousa RD, Bessant J, Oliveira P, Branco JC, Canhão H, Rodrigues AM. A Home-Based eHealth Intervention for an Older Adult Population With Food Insecurity: Feasibility and Acceptability Study. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Aug 31;23(8):e26871. doi: 10.2196/26871. PMID: 34463638
- Gomes LA, Rodrigues AM, Branco JC, Canhão H, Cruz EB. Clinical courses, impact and prognostic indicators for a persistent course of low back pain: Results from a population-based cohort study. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 17;18(3):e0265104. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265104. PMID: 36930625
- Dias SS, Rodrigues AM, Gregório MJ, de Sousa RD, Branco JC, Canhão H. Cohort Profile: The Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Cohort (EpiDoC). Int J Epidemiol. 2018 Dec 1;47(6):1741-1742j. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyy185. PMID: 30212889
- Branco JC, Rodrigues AM, Gouveia N, Eusébio M, Ramiro S, Machado PM, da Costa LP, Mourão AF, Silva I, Laires P, Sepriano A, Araújo F, Gonçalves S, Coelho PS, Tavares V, Cerol J, Mendes JM, Carmona L, Canhão H; EpiReumaPt study group. Prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and their impact on health-related quality of life, physical function and mental health in Portugal: results from EpiReumaPt- a national health survey. RMD Open. 2016 Jan 19;2(1):e000166. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000166. PMID: 26848402
Prizes and Awards
- 2024 | European Society for Clinical Investigation: ESCI - Exploratory Research Grant- Nuno Mendonça
- 2016 | GRANDE PRÉMIO BIAL DE MEDICINA 2016 - Obra: “EpiReumaPt – the dream of a generation in a decade of work”. Branco JC, Rodrigues A, Gouveia N, Eusébio M, Ramiro S, Machado P, Laires P, Tavares V, Mourão AF, Silva I, Araújo F, Sepriano A, Sousa R, Sousa S, Coelho PS, Mendes JM, Canhão H.
Open Positions
Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a “Licenciado” degree enrolled in a Master - Ref. ª SAI/2025/05
There is an open call for applications for a Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a “Licenciado” degree enrolled in a Master, under reference SAI/2025/05 in the scope of the project PI-IF-2023.13420.PEX - development of a POrtuguese Food Frequency questionnaire for (POLy)phenol Intake and its association with infLAMMation in Parkinson’s Disease, at the institution Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS) from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), supported by income from the above mentioned project, financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.).
Field of study: Nutrition and Epidemiology
Link for EURAXES: Notice SAI/2025/05
Colaborations
- Diederik De Cock – Research Centre for Digital Medicine – Public Health Sciences – Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Lucinda Cash-Gibbs – JHU-PPC Public Policy Center, Johns Hopkins University – Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
- Francisco Tarazona-Santalbina – Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr
- Laura Coates – Oxford Psoriatic Arthritis Centre (Ox-PACE), University of Oxford
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Erasmus MC – Erasmus University Medical Center
- AINIGMA Technologies
- Faculty of Human Kinetics – University of Lisbon
- Cicero Rheumatology
- CERTH – Centre for Research & Technology Hellas
- Technical University of Munich
- DBC Diadikasia
- SMART SOL
- Wellics
- pluX Biosignals
- University of Oxford
- Lisbon – A City for All Ages
- Arroios Parish Council
- Portuguese Society of Rheumatology
- Portuguese League Against Rheumatic Diseases
- Patient Innovation
- Value for Health CoLAB (VOH.CoLAB)