Research at the department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology is conform the strategy (2010-2015; UMC Utrecht 3.0) of the University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht), and fits within the research policy of the Division of Internal Medicine & Dermatology (DIGD) as described in their 
reserach policy plan 2007-2010 entitled “Talent in Focus” and care policy plan "Select to be selected" (see down load in Dutch). Our research fits fully with two of the six focus areas of the UMC Utrecht; 'Regenerative Medicine - Stem cells' and 'Disturbed defense' as indicated in the figure left by red circles. Within our department, research in both focus areas also involves epidemiologic approaches.