Amsterdam hosts a new European organization, "http://www.eatris.eu/SitePages/home.aspx" EATRIS. Its goal is to bridge the gap that currently divides the worlds of scientific medical research and its application in the clinic. It is essential that European medical research finds its way quickly and safely to the patients that need it. EATRIS helps do exactly that.EATRIS aims to use close-knit European cooperation to turn the huge progress that has been made in the field of biomedical research into medical innovations with substantial benefit for patients. EATRIS is focused on translational research – research that translates outcomes of fundamental biomedical research into products like drugs and diagnostics for clinical application. The launch of EATRIS marks a significant step towards the improvement of European cooperation in the field of translational biomedical research.Via a 'one-stop-shop', more than 60 prominent academic institutions are involved in EATRIS, and will make their know-how, facilities and clinical research capabilities available to researchers from SME, academia and industry. They include organizations from Spain, Finland, Italy, Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, France, Norway and the Netherlands. After the decision to found EATRIS was made five years ago, the organization will now officially open its doors to the world.VHIR is the scientific coordinator of all the accredited biomedicine research institutes in Spain, together with Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). EATRIS will become a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a new legal entity created specifically for the execution of joint research projects on a European level. The work that EATRIS does will be especially beneficial to people suffering from rare diseases. Current progress in academic research takes a long time to be translated into clinical products or treatment – and at huge cost. EATRIS aims to shorten the route - and reduce the costs - that academic research will have to travel, thereby also increasing sustainability in the sector. A quicker translation of the biomedical research done will mean more products and treatments will become available to more people, at lower costs. In this inspiring example of European multidisciplinary cooperation, everybody wins.Amsterdam hosted the launch of EATRIS on June 3rd and June 4th.