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Ongoing research

The Dutch Arthritis Foundation financially supports 18 professors in rheumatology (including pediatric rheumatology) orthopedic surgery and immunology to investigate vital research concepts.

Already since the eighties of the previous century, the Dutch Arthritis Foundation supports Dutch professors in rheumatology. With this support they could build their research departments.

And with success, because at this moment Dutch arthritis research is ranked among world's top.  To maintain that top position, the Arthritis Foundation continues to support the research concepts of the professors, for three years in the first instance.

After a visitation this can be extended with five years. The professors each have their own research specialty. One performs genetic studies in arthritis, one other is particularly involved in immunity. Another one focuses on special types of arthritis, like SLE or vasculitis or JIA. 

The wide spectrum of arthritis research is covered, including psychosocial or paramedic care, improvement of imaging techniques of the joints and research that results in new therapies.  

Since 2005, four orthopedic research centers are supported by funding from the Arthritis Foundation for further research. The professors of these centers all investigate, using different approaches, what they can do about the consequences of osteoarthritis. The most important research questions relate to the recovery of cartilage, refinement of surgical techniques for joint replacement surgery and the improvement of joint functionality after the operation.