Philadelphia, PA — Nov 19, 2024 — Polygon Health Analytics LLC is proud to announce its award of a $295,924 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The funding will support a groundbreaking project titled “Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.”

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations, disproportionally affects racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Black and Hispanic populations. These groups experience worse outcomes, including heightened disease activity, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality rates –largely due to unmet social determinants of health (SDoH).

In collaboration with professors Jiang Bian and Serena Guo from the University of Florida, Polygon Health Analytics is developing iSMILE (Individualized Social Risk Management in Systematic Lupus Erythematosus Care), a cutting-edge digital health tool. Leveraging real-world data (RWD) from the OneFlorida+ network and an innovative exposome database that captures contextual SDoH, iSMILE aims to bridge clinical and social care to improve SLE outcomes.

“This project demonstrates our strong commitment to addressing health disparities in SLE,” said Dr. Lixia Yao, CEO of Polygon Health Analytics LLC. “By integrating artificial intelligence and RWD, we aim to create a transformative, patient-centered solution that addresses unmet social needs and drives better health outcomes for underserved populations.”

Polygon Health Analytics LLC welcomes collaboration with institutions dedicated to advancing lupus treatment and improving patient care. For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact info@polygonhealthanalytics.com.