October 19th 2012 Marlies Allewijn publishes SchEef, a novel about a 14-year-old girl with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The novel is funny, entertaining and gripping at the same time, and gives insight into the world of an adolescent girl with arthritis. A must read! Marlies Allewijn is a freelance journalist, TV-producer ... read more

PREVENT study brief outline - Dirk Föll   With MTX therapy, remission can be induced in the majority of JIA patients. Those continuing medication can remain symptom-free (also referred to as “remission on medication”) and up to 50% of such patients reach a continuous status of remission after discontinuing medication ... read more

Since their discovery over 15 years ago, intensive research has focused on the presence, phenotype and function of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in autoimmune disease. The questions whether Treg deficiencies underlie autoimmune pathology and whether or how Treg-related therapeutic approaches might be successful are still subject of a vivid ... read more

Thesis: Adipose tissue as an immunological organ - Implications for childhood obesity Author: Henk Schipper - Pediatric immunology department (‘Prakken group’) - Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands The immunological actions of adipose tissue (AT) are highly relevant for children with rheumatoid disorders like Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), next to obese children. As ... read more

Thesis: Vive La Résistance!? – How T cells escape regulation in autoimmune inflammation Author: Ellen Wehrens - Pediatric immunology department (‘Prakken group’) - Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands FOXP3+ regulatory T cells can suppress the activation and effector functions of a wide range of immune cells and are ... read more

Cytokines are key components of the innate and adaptive immune system. As pivotal players in the progression or regression of a pathological process, these molecules provide a window through which diseases can be monitored and can thus act as biomarkers. In order to measure cytokine levels, a plethora of protocols ... read more

  Report on the visit to CMCI, UMC Utrecht I spent a week in Center for Molecular and Cellular Immunology & Intervention (CMCI), Department of Pediatric Immunology in UMC Utrecht from 24 to 29 June 2013. I was invited by Prof. Berent Prakken, MD, PhD. The visit falls within the ... read more

Science, especially medical science is failing in the field of translational research. This is not just medical science, but the same counts for science at a whole. The newly launched Science in Transition websites provides important information and could be a platform for discussion.So check it out, unfortunately only in ... read more

From Bench To Bedside (and back again) In Pediatric Rheumatology September 18-20, 2015 - Villa Quartara, Genoa, Italy   ... read more

The Eureka Institute will organize it’s 9th highly acclaimed course in Translational Medicine in Siracusa, Italy, from April 23rd till April 29th 2017 (www.eurekainstitute.org). UCAN-U will offer a bursary for 1 student who wants to visit the course, but lacks the necessary financial support. The candidate should: 1. Fulfill the selection criteria ... read more

The Eureka Institute will organize it’s 9th highly acclaimed course in Translational Medicine in Siracusa, Italy, from April 23rd till April 29th 2017 (www.eurekainstitute.org). UCAN-U will offer a bursary for 1 student who wants to visit the course, but lacks the necessary financial support. The candidate should: 1. Fulfill the selection criteria ... read more

Developing translational medicine professionals: the Marie Skłodowska-Curie action model Petrelli_et_al-2016-Journal_of_Translational_Medicine ... read more