Child research

CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM UMC UTRECHT
By collaborating
we can multiply
our
success.
- Anneke van der Brug
Societal impact
In the past few decades, the field of
pediatrics has been successful in
combating disease and the life expectancy
of many disorders has significantly
improved. Unfortunately, although children
may survive their disease, they’re
burdened with long-term physical and
mental consequences. This requires drastic
changes for future healthcare: Pediatrics
should focus on the development of children
towards healthy and balanced adults.
Our Child Health Program is dedicated to
developing disease prevention strategies,
as well as safe treatment options for
children, which requires intensive
collaboration and cross-fertilization
between our basic and clinical scientists.
But most importantly, our program is
constantly interacting with children
themselves and with the environment in
which they grow up, including their family,
school, sports clubs and broader living
environment. Our program is an active
participant in the midst of a child’s society.
Research
Areas
The Child Health Program of the University
Medical Center links top referent care for
pediatric patient groups to interdisciplinary
research. This ranges from fundamental to
translational to longitudinal applied medical
research. All chronic diseases within the focus of
our program are similar in that they emerge
early, in the beginning of life and can have
consequences far into adulthood. Our research
areas high lighted in this magazine are:
Ante- and perinatal damage
This program has a life-cycle character hosting several
Centers of Excellence. It provides high quality care and
research through the periconceptional, antenatal and
perinatal phases up to neonatal intensive care, aiming for
the best long-term outcome of child health. Women,
babies and their families are the center of our service as
we strive for excellence and innovation.
Congenital and hereditary disorders
Many disorders of genetic origin are rare and require
academic specialist care. The Child Health Program
focuses in particular on congenital diseases of the heart,
liver and kidney and plays a key role in respective
European Reference Networks.
Severe inflammatory disorders
We host several Centers of Excellence for children with
sustained severe inflammatory disorders, such as Juvenile
Idiopathic Arthritis, Cystic Fibrosis, Inflammatory Bowel
Disease and Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections.
Post-oncology
Treatment of cancer in children can result in severe
physical and psychosocial consequences later in life. The
Child Health Program closely collaborates with the
Princes Máxima Center to improve long term outcomes of
cancer treatment.
Let’s collaborate on a culture
of trust and innovation.
- Kors van der Ent
UMC Utrecht - Child research 7