Award-winning research into rheumatism treatment using an app
09/15/2026Rheumatologist Dr Patrick-Pascal Strunz from the University Hospital has been awarded the Rudolf Schoen Prize – for his research into the therapeutic efficacy of an app developed in Würzburg.
The Foundation of the German Society for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology has honoured Dr Patrick-Pascal Strunz, a Privatdozent at Würzburg University Hospital, for his outstanding research work. On 9 September 2026, at the 2026 German Rheumatology Congress in Leipzig, the Foundation presented him with the Rudolf Schoen Prize.
The prize is intended to support young researchers in the field of rheumatology. Patrick-Pascal Strunz shares the award, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, with Dr Christina Bergmann from Erlangen University Hospital. The research carried out by both has direct implications for the treatment of people with rheumatic diseases.
New insights into the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatic diseases are more than just painful joints. The term ‘rheumatic diseases’ refers to a group of different conditions that are often accompanied by inflammation and can significantly impair the daily lives of those affected.
One such condition is axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), also known as ankylosing spondylitis. This is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the spine and often begins at a young age. In Germany, around 700,000 people are affected by this condition.
Alongside anti-inflammatory medication, regular exercise plays a key role in treatment – not only in physiotherapy, but also in everyday life. This is precisely where the Axia app, developed in Würzburg, is designed to support those affected – and, according to studies by Patrick-Pascal Strunz, it can do just that.
The Axia app supports physical activity in everyday life
“Axia reduces disease activity, lessens limitations in everyday life and has been shown to improve the functional ability and quality of life of those affected,” says the Würzburg-based rheumatologist. He has demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of the digital health application in a study involving 200 patients with axSpA. The results were published in the specialist journal *Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases *.
Almost simultaneously, the study team published the results of a complementary study in the journal *Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease *. This showed that spinal mobility and back muscle strength improved whilst using the app, without any significant safety concerns, and that disease activity decreased.
Developed by students and computer scientists from Würzburg
Axia was approved as a digital health application (DiGA) in early 2026. It is the first prescription-only app for an inflammatory rheumatic disease to be available as part of standard care in Germany.
The digital therapy aid was developed by Würzburg medical students Maxime Le Maire and Tobias Heusinger, together with Robert Leppich from the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Würzburg, as part of the Start Applimeda start-up, in collaboration with the Rheumatology Department at Würzburg University Hospital and the German Bechterew’s Disease Association.
Publications
- An app-based non-pharmacological intervention improves patient-reported disease activity, functionality, and quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a randomised controlled trial, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2026.02.016
- Association of an app-based intervention with improvements in mobility, trunk muscle strength and patient-reported disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis: a 24-week pre–post study. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease 2026, DOI 10.1177/1759720X261453287
