CHU de Nice Launches SKIN Experimentation Third-Place

The French government has selected the Skin Experimental Hub as the first third-party experimentation site dedicated to skin health. Led by the Nice University Hospital (CHU de Nice), this initiative is designed to test and validate digital health solutions to improve the management of dermatological conditions.

The program is part of the France 2030 national digital health acceleration strategy and is supported by the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region and its regional health agency. The project’s selection was announced during the National Digital Health Innovation Day held in Issy-les-Moulineaux.

Funding and Strategic Goals

The broader Experimental Hub program is funded with €63 million. These funds are allocated over a five-year period covering the Call for Proposals from 2023 to 2027.

The Skin Experimental Hub aims to address significant gaps in dermatological care. According to the French Society of Dermatology, You’ll see 6,500 identified pathologies affecting the skin. Data indicates that over 20 million French citizens suffer from at least one skin disease.

Access to care has become a critical issue in France. The average waiting time to consult a dermatologist is three months, though this delay is often significantly longer in specific regions. This lack of accessibility has led approximately 46% of French individuals to forgo necessary treatment.

Implementation and Collaborative Framework

The Skin Experimental Hub is deployed across the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica regions. It functions as a collaborative ecosystem involving healthcare professionals, researchers, patient associations, and private companies.

The consortium is led by CHU de Nice and includes several key members:

• Eurobiomed competitiveness cluster
• URPS Médecine libérale PACA
• Association de Dermatologues Libéraux (ADL)
• Fédération Française de la Peau
• INRIA Sophia-Antipolis
• RESAH
• Issého

This partnership is designed to co-construct care pathways and evaluate digital experiments to ensure they can be sustained and developed over the long term.

Digital Innovation in Dermatology

The hub focuses on a wide spectrum of skin-related health issues, ranging from clinical pathologies to cosmetic care. A primary objective is to provide health personnel with more effective tools and to improve the overall patient experience.

One of the central technological focuses is the analysis of various types of medical images. These digital solutions are intended to facilitate more accurate patient diagnosis and more efficient monitoring of skin conditions.

For the initial experimental projects, the program plans to include up to 6,000 patients.

Future Developments

The Skin Experimental Hub serves as a precursor to a more permanent institution. Upon the conclusion of the Tiers-Lieu program, the results and activities are expected to be integrated into the Skin Institute.

The opening of the Skin Institute is currently scheduled for 2027.