As SYNTHIA completes its first year, we spoke with Holger Fröhlich from Fraunhofer, who leads the project’s Alzheimer’s disease use case and serves as a member of the Executive Committee. His dual perspective, both scientific and strategic, offers valuable insight into how the project has progressed and what lies ahead. 

Year One: Securing Data and Building a Roadmap 

Reflecting on the first year, Fröhlich highlighted the consortium’s early challenges, particularly around data access. “SYNTHIA during its first year had of course to get access to data, and that was one of the main challenges,” he explained. Ensuring that the project’s use cases could draw from real clinical datasets was a critical first step. 

Fortunately, the consortium succeeded. As Fröhlich noted, this achievement has already enabled multiple teams to begin generating realistic synthetic data from the Alzheimer’s disease domain and other areas. Another foundational milestone was the development of detailed study protocols. “We came up with a clear plan for each of the six use cases—what should actually be done with the help of all of the data coming from the data-holding organisations,” he said. These protocols now guide the scientific approach for the entire project. 

Priorities for Year Two 

Looking ahead, Fröhlich emphasises that the focus now shifts toward demonstrating clinical value. “The priorities are for the use cases to really deliver and demonstrate that synthetic data has value from a clinical point of view,” he said. Showing tangible impact, aligned with the plans defined in the study protocols, will be essential as SYNTHIA moves into more advanced phases of development. 

In parallel, several technical work packages will continue maturing SYNTHIA’s core assets: curating suitable algorithms, expanding the conceptualisation of the SYNTHIA platform, and strengthening quality assurance and privacy assessment frameworks for synthetic data. 

What Makes SYNTHIA Unique 

For Fröhlich, SYNTHIA stands out for its ambition and breadth. “What makes SYNTHIA special for me is that it entails something like a 360° view on the use of synthetic data,” he explained. Unlike projects that focus on a single application area, SYNTHIA explores a wide spectrum—from data sharing to data augmentation, oversampling minority groups, counterfactual simulations, and multiple disease-specific clinical scenarios. 

This comprehensive approach, he noted, is essential for generating meaningful clinical impact. It is also what differentiates SYNTHIA from other initiatives he has worked on, a point he emphasises often when communicating about the project. 

Watch the full video interview with Holger Fröhlich