This was the topic of the opining lecture of the PRES 2011 in Brugge, Belgium (http://www.pres2011.eu). To get a less biased selection of over 1000 papers (!) published with original data on Juvenile Arthritis from 2010-2011 Berent Prakken asked advice from a panel. This panel of renowned international experts gave a very personal selection of crucial papers in basic science. The selection of the different experts was remarkable similar and can be found here (What’s new in basic science opening lecture PRES 2011). However this certainly is not a complete selection. We urge you give us your selection of crucial papers in basic science in childhood arthritis and explain us why this paper is so important (mklein01@umcutrecht.nl).