I am very proud that we can start the first UCAN platform in Utrecht. UCAN is a special initiative started 3 years ago by Dr. Rae Yeung with the support of Canadian Arthritis Network. UCAN brings together researchers, doctors and patients – with a common goal: improving the perspectives of children with arthritis through enabling basic and translational research. We are now beginning to understand a little bit more about the pathogenesis of arthritis. But this is only the beginning. To assure a more safe future for children with childhood arthritis we need to find answers to burning questions. Why do some children respond to therapy, while others do more poorly? What are long-term side effects of current therapies and which children are especially vulnerable for developing these side effects? And, most importantly, we need to find a cure for arthritis.

UCAN-U will be the first platform within UCAN, and we will do our utmost best to make it a success. We hope that UCAN-U will be a catalyst for UCAN, and will be the first of more UCAN centres. I believe that this can be done. It simply has to be done. The key to real progress will be a paradigm shift in thinking about science. Instead of working in relatively small isolated research groups we will need large consortia bringing together complementary expertise to answer the challenges. Indeed, pediatric rheumatologists all over the world have shown that they can work together very effectively.

Our team in Utrecht is ready to take up the challenge. I have great confidence in this team, as it consists of very capable researchers and doctors who are used to team work. We are eager to open the doors and share knowledge and expertise with the scientific community. We do not expect it to be easy in the beginning, but we believe that this is the future. Together we can make a difference.

Berent Prakken on behalf of the UCAN-U team:

• Erica Roks
• Femke van Wijk
• Mark Klein
• Nico Wulffraat
• Wilco de Jager