Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUNMC) key strengths in medical life-sciences and clinical practice, and an impressive infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art technology platforms and (translational) research facilities mean that RUNMC is therefore uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the new healthcare paradigm of prediction, prevention and personalised medicine and in the emerging Euregio and Dutch healthcare infrastructure.
The six research institutes of the RUNMC and its close collaborations with the Radboud University allow the perfect platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and access to state-of-the-art resources - all on one campus for academic researchers and SME's alike - so that this new health paradigm can be realised.
The RUNMC focuses on the scientific health challenges of today but also with an eye on emerging diseases of the future. In line with national and international 'Roadmap' initiatives the RUNMC can identify key strategic areas:
- to focus on research and development of new devices to promote health, prevention, early diagnosis and treatments of chronic diseases like cancer, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease, as well as rare diseases, and more specifically:
- to pursue ways to make effective vaccines for deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria.
- to progress the understanding of the immune system which may lead to new ways to treat and cure diabetes, arthritis, asthma and allergies.
- to find more precise ways to treat cancer, such as drugs that zero in on abnormal proteins in cancer cells.
- to understand energy processes within the mitochondria of cells for development of novel therapies to treat inborn errors of metabolism.
- to quantitatively determine how molecules, cells, organelles, organs and organisms cooperate in time and space to allow biological processes to proceed (i.e. systems biology).
- to improve imaging techniques to be able to look inside the body painlessly (minimally invasive) and to detect disease in its earliest stages when it is often most effectively treated.
- to further develop the great potential of medical imaging in a closer cooperation between doctors, scientists and industry.
- to strengthen investigator-driven clinical trials in Europe in an international perspective.
- to implement the results of scientific research into real improvements in healthcare.
The RUNMC in research aims:
- to create a leading centre for medical research and patient care.
- to continually improve the quality of research output by training and coaching young research staff.
- to keep top talent at RUNMC by offering 'tenure-track' models and bonuses.
- to recruiting research staff worldwide.
- to focus on societal relevant and representative diseases.
- to organise and maintain state of the art infrastructural facilities and technology platforms.
- to augment international cooperation and cooperation with industrial partners such as SME's by making ourselves attractive to large multi-partner national/EU/international projects, e.g. FP6/7, CTMM, BMM, ERANET.