Welcome to the LuVaCs website of our Nephro-Immunology group! On this website you find more information about the research we conduct in our group, how we are involved in education and information about how we function as center of expertise for systemic auto-immune diseases. The LuVaCs center of expertise is acknowledged by the Dutch Federation of University Medical Centers (NFU) and by the European Reference Networks (ERN).
LuVaCs is an acronym for three complex systemic autoimmune diseases: Lupus, Vasculitis and Complement-associated Systemic Diseases. This acronym brings together 3 conditions, aligned with the LUMC’s long-standing expertise on systemic autoimmune diseases.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): including patients with lupus nephritis, cerebral or neuropsychiatric SLE or SLE patients with a desire to have children ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (AAV): also called small vessel vasculitis: including patients with granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA, formerly Wegener’s disease), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis (eGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss disease). Complement-mediated systemic diseases: including patients with C3 glomerulopathy, atypical haemoytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), dense deposit disease and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
The LUMC harbors a clinical, multidisciplinary team providing expert Care for patients with (severe) systemic autoimmune diseases involving collaborations with the departments of Rheumatology, Vascular medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hematology, Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT), Pulmonology and Immunology. In addition to a multidisciplinary strategies within our hospital, we also initiated the regional ‘LuVaCs Shared Care’, embracing that we work together as hospitals to deliver the optimal treatment for LuVaCs patients.
Our LuVaCs center of expertise distinguishes two different categories of Science: clinical trials and general research themes. We conduct clinical trials focusing on the development of novel treatment strategies in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. We combine this with fundamental and translational research focused on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), B-cells and complement biology. In addition, there is also attention for digital health and the use of real-world data. Read more on our science page.
Furthermore, we are involved in the Education programs for medicine and biomedical sciences, as well as the training of specialists in internal medicine and nephrology at LUMC/Leiden University.
Meet our two Principal Investigators:
“Complex and rare diseases require exceptionally strong and multidisciplinary (international) collaborations.”
Prof. Dr. Y.K. Onno Teng – Professor in Nephrology on Renal Autoimmune Diseases
“By investigating and understanding the fundamentals of immunity, we can provide the best possible care for our patients”
Prof. Dr. Cees van Kooten – Professor in Experimental Nephrology and Transplant Immunology
