Rheumatology Research Network

The goal pursued by the rheumatology research network is to accelerate the transfer of research results from bench to bedside for the benefit of patients. The network has been designed to improve medical care for rheumatic patients and to make German rheumatology research internationally competitive. The most important underlying philosophy is that close cooperation is necessary between scientists at research institutes, teaching and rheumatology hospitals as well as private practitioners who are rheumatologists.

Research work focuses on the most important rheumatic diseases, that is, the inflammatory rheumatic systemic diseases. They are caused by a dysregulation of the immune system, which destroys joints and tissues.

The rheumatism research network comprises five areas:

• rheumatoid arthritis, which affects numerous joints, particularly the small joints of the hands and feet;
• spondyloarthropathies, which are characterized by inflammation of the joints and inflammatory back pain;
• immune vasculitides, that is, inflammations of blood vessels and connective tissue, frequently leading to tumors;
• experimental rheumatology, which studies the molecular biology causes of rheumatic diseases, and finally
• health care research, which is to assess the quality of medical care and to identify deficits.

> Rheumatology Research Network

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