The app has been developed in collaboration with research departments from nine countries, coordinated by University Medical Centre Utrecht, with researchers from the WeCare Chair representing Spain. Researchers and healthcare professionals from Granollers General Hospital, a university hospital affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, are also taking part in this phase of the project. Their work includes recruiting patients in Spain and monitoring participants during the pilot study.

Patients who require ongoing palliative care due to chronic illness will use the app to record their day-to-day symptoms, treatments, needs and concerns from their own homes. “From home, and with the support of this app, patients will keep a ‘diary’ that clinicians can follow in real time from their consulting rooms, allowing them to respond to patients’ needs without unnecessary travel or tests,” explained Dr Juan Correa, researcher at the WeCare Chair.

This phase represents a key step prior to large‑scale evaluation, which will begin in 2027 and will make it possible to assess whether this new approach to patient care is viable and effective in routine clinical practice. The RAPHAEL project is part of the Health cluster under Pillar 2 of the Horizon Europe programme and has received total funding of €6,207,365.50. Of this amount, €392,337 has been allocated to the research group led by Dr Cristina Monforte, co-director of the WeCare Chair and vice-rector for Planning, Quality and Strategic Development at UIC Barcelona. 

Dr Monforte leads the project and is recognised nationally and internationally for her work in end-of-life research, the core focus of the WeCare Chair at the University.