Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology (research)

The research of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology is focused on translational medicine in immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, in particular rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. The overall aim is to understand the (epi)genetic, molecular and cellular pathophysiology of these disorders and to translate this knowledge (the so-called 'immunotype') into clinical applications such as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and novel treatments.

The approach is focusing on direct analysis of human samples from the affected target tissues and on pre-clinical and early clinical development of novel targeted therapeutic interventions. The research pogram is conducted by 8 independent project leaders in close collaboration with a large network of internal, national and international partners. With an output of over 250 peer-reviewed publications over the last 5 years and very succesful external funding (including 3 Veni, 1 Clinical Fellowship and 1Vidi grant from the NWO), the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology has been nomainated as Center of Excellence by EULAR and FOCIS.

  • Towards preventive intervention Immunopathology of chronic synovitis
  • Pathogenesis, prediction and prevention
  • Outcome in Spondyloarthritis
  • Regulation and outcome of inflammatory arthritis
  • The role of NF-kappaB Adaptive immune responses