Nia Health and the University of Augsburg receive €30,000 in funding from the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The innovative ADEN platform combines Copernicus environmental data with patient data to identify personal risk factors for skin conditions.
BERLIN, October 21, 2025 – A project by Nia Health and the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the University and University Hospital Augsburg, is researching how satellite data can be used to predict and treat skin diseases. The project, named ADEN, is a data-driven platform designed to transform the management of atopic dermatitis and other chronic skin conditions by combining real-time symptom tracking with high-resolution environmental and climate data from Copernicus satellites.
The Problem: Environmental Factors as Invisible Triggers
For millions of people with chronic skin conditions like atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema), environmental factors are crucial yet often unpredictable triggers for disease flare-ups. Scientific studies, such as the Davos and Augsburg-based ProRaD study, have already demonstrated the strong link between the course of the disease and external influences. Until now, however, it has been extremly complicated for patients to identify these personalized risks in their daily lives and act proactively.
The Solution: Personalized Risk Profiles Through Data Fusion
ADEN takes a crucial step forward by integrating data from the European Copernicus Earth Observation Programme with individual health data. This allows for the identification of personal risk profiles and triggers for flare-ups. By analyzing environmental factors such as air pollution, UV radiation, and pollen levels alongside patient-reported symptoms, the platform will provide both patients and physicians with more precise predictions of eczema flare-ups, enabling better prevention.
Machine Learning for Prevention and Disease Management
Thanks to the Cassini funding, the combination of environmental information with patient symptoms is now being converted into personalized insights via machine learning. The process involves implementing environmental data, analyzing its correlation with symptoms, and then building predictive models. The more patients share their data for the project, the more accurate the models will become. The ultimate goal is a precise, personalized forecast that empowers both patients and doctors with better prevention strategies and more targeted disease management.
„We are delighted that our vision of bringing environmental satellite data directly into healthcare is now becoming a reality. By understanding how individual circumstances and environmental conditions influence disease progression, we are creating the foundation for a medicine that is both scientifically precise and relatable for daily life,“ says Prof. Dr. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Director of the Institute of Environmental Medicine and Integrative Health at the University of Augsburg’s Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital.
Tobias Seidl, CEO of Nia Health, adds: “This award validates our innovative approach of leveraging advanced technologies to empower patients to take greater control of their health.”
About the Institute of Environmental Medicine at University Hospital Augsburg
The Institute of Environmental Medicine (EMIH) at the University Hospital Augsburg is a leading research institution dedicated to studying the complex relationships between environmental factors and human health. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, the institute focuses on interdisciplinary research into chronic inflammatory diseases such as allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. The EMIH aims to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies for environment-related diseases through scientific excellence.
About Nia Health
Nia Health is a Berlin-based digital health company specializing in the development of digital solutions for chronic skin conditions. The company’s flagship product is the award-winning Nia App, which serves as a “personal companion” for individuals with atopic dermatitis. Nia Health’s mission is to sustainably improve patient care through technology-driven, personalized solutions.
Contact for the ADEN Project
Selina Reinknecht
email: selina.reinknecht@niahealth.ai