The division Julius Center’s research activities focus on four research themes, i.e. the same three disease-related areas as the UMC Utrecht (Cardiovascular Disease, Infection & Immunity and Cancer) and one methodological theme (Theoretical Epidemiology & Biostatistics). Within these themes, there is further focus on subfields, such as research on (etiology and prognosis of) diabetes mellitus as part of the cardiovascular disease theme or on the effects of vaccinations within the infection & immunity theme.

All four research themes are headed by one research coordinator or two for the largest themes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Theoretical Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Importantly, the research activities of the (clinical or methodological) disciplines represented in the division Julius Center (Clinical Epidemiology, General Practice/Primary Care, Public Health, Biostatistics, Medical Technology Assessment, Medical Ethics and Nutritional Sciences) are also incorporated within these four research themes and not separately. 

The research methods for all of these disciplines can be broadly characterized as (clinical) epidemiological and this was one of the main reasons for these disciplines being combined within the division Julius Center. The research activities can, thus, be represented by a matrix structure, in which the horizontal axis comprises the four research themes and the disciplines are depicted in the vertical axis. The division’s policy is to concentrate its research as much as possible on the matrix’s overlapping areas so that each of its disciplines benefit most from the division's scientific and clinical expertise and the UMC Utrecht’s scientific themes as a whole are strengthened.