The University Hospital Antwerp (UZA) is a university centre providing highly specialised, patient-centred care, high-quality academic education, and innovative scientific research with a strong international focus. Each year, more than 27,000 patients are hospitalised and over 600,000 outpatient consultations take place across 39 highly specialised medical departments. It is internationally recognized as a top-level academic institute and possesses the full infrastructure to facilitate clinical research efforts. As an accredited level 1 trauma center, UZA can offer specialised trauma care 24 hours a day. Research is supported by the Clinical Trial Center, Biobank Antwerp, and a dedicated Data Protection Officer (DPO).

Rare diseases individually affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 people, yet more than 500,000 individuals in Belgium live with a rare condition. At UZA, over 15,000 patients with a rare disease are diagnosed and treated annually, including both patients seeking a diagnosis and those with a confirmed condition. Care at UZA is based on multidisciplinary collaboration, accessible services, and structured cooperation across hospitals and national borders, enabling improved outcomes through shared expertise.