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Artificial intelligence in rheumatology

Guest Editors

George Boateng, PhD, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Angie Botto-van Bemden, PhD, LATC, CSCS, Musculoskeletal Research International, USA

BMC Rheumatology called for submissions to our Collection on Artificial intelligence in Rheumatology.  

This Collection aimed to highlight the latest research, innovations, challenges, and future directions in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to address various aspects of rheumatic diseases. The rapid progress in AI offers unprecedented potential to transform the diagnosis, treatment, and management of rheumatic diseases by employing machine learning and natural language processing for early detection, personalized treatment, and predicting disease progression. Recognizing AI's significance in rheumatology is crucial for clinicians, researchers, and patients seeking improved diagnoses and tailored therapies amid rising disease prevalence and persistent challenges in AI integration in healthcare.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and  amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. 

Meet the Guest Editors

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George Boateng, PhD, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Dr George Boateng is a Computer Scientist, Engineer, Educator, and Social Entrepreneur recognized as one of the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe, and 2021 MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35. He is a Lecturer, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Core Director of Wearable AI for Rheumatoid Arthritis Management (WARAM) at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. His research spans ubiquitous computing, applied machine learning, mobile health, and education, and has resulted in 35+ peer-reviewed publications. He is also the CEO and Co-founder of Kwame AI Inc. He was a Visiting Researcher at the University of Cambridge and an Applied Scientist at Amazon. He has a BA and MS in Computer Science/Engineering from Dartmouth College, and a PhD in Applied Machine Learning from ETH Zurich.

Angie Botto-van Bemden, PhD, LATC, CSCS, Musculoskeletal Research International, USA

Dr Botto-van Bemden is a patient advocate first and foremost. She is the CEO/Founder of Musculoskeletal Research International and Clinical Research Experts, leading patient access to better treatment options by focusing on what matters most– the voice of the patient. Her primary purpose is to help clinicians & patients around the globe implement the best evidence available for the prevention of disease progression while employing informed shared decision-making when treatment decisions are paramount. Dr Botto van Bemden serves as the Chairperson for the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation (ICRS) Patient Registry Steering Committee, American College of Rheumatology Global Engagement Committee, ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research Patient-Centered SIG leadership team, ISAKOS Education Committee and is most content helping as a EUPATI Fellow Patient Expert on HTA4Patients working group. From 2017 to 2019 she was the Head of Osteoarthritis Programs for the Arthritis Foundation. She has graciously served as an Editorial Board Member for BMC Rheumatology since April 2021.

About the Collection

BMC Rheumatology called for submissions to our Collection on Artificial intelligence in Rheumatology. 

With the rapid advancements in AI technologies, there is an unprecedented opportunity to revolutionize the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and management of rheumatic diseases. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and other AI techniques can facilitate early detection of rheumatic conditions, improve personalized treatment plans, predict disease progression, and enhance patient outcomes. Understanding the potential of AI in rheumatology is crucial not only for clinicians and researchers but also for patients who stand to benefit from more accurate diagnoses and tailored therapies. 

As the prevalence of rheumatic diseases continues to rise globally, particularly with aging populations, the need for innovative and efficient approaches to diagnosis and management becomes increasingly urgent. Despite rapid innovation, challenges persist in the development and implementation of AI technologies within healthcare. We invited submissions from rheumatologists, data scientists, bioinformaticians, ethicists and patient advocates working at the intersection of AI and rheumatology to submit original works on topics including but not limited to:

  • AI-driven diagnostic tools for rheumatic diseases
  • Predictive modeling of disease progression and treatment response
  • Natural language processing applications for analyzing electronic health records and patient-reported outcomes
  • Image analysis and computer vision for musculoskeletal imaging interpretation
  • Virtual assistants and chatbots for patient education and support
  • AI-guided drug discovery and repurposing for rheumatologic conditions
  • Ethical considerations surrounding the integration of AI into clinical practice
  • Wearables combined with machine learning for monitoring and predicting disease progression
  • Clinical decision support tools for diagnosis, treatment and management of rheumatic diseases
                                                                       

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. 
 

Image credit: © LALAKA / stock.adobe.com

  1. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), are revolutionizing medical practice, including rheumatology. However, their diagnostic capabilities remain underexplored in the A...

    Authors: Yannick Laurent Tchenadoyo Bayala, Wendlassida Joelle Stéphanie Zabsonré/Tiendrebeogo, Dieu-Donné Ouedraogo, Fulgence Kaboré, Charles Sougué, Aristide Relwendé Yameogo, Wendlassida Martin Nacanabo, Ismael Ayouba Tinni, Aboubakar Ouedraogo and Yamyellé Enselme Zongo
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2025 9:54
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Artificial intelligence in Rheumatology" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.