Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "The genetics and genomics of adaptation in an extreme generalist herbivore" "Thomas Van Leeuwen" "Department of Plants and Crops, Department of Crop protection" "True generalist arthropod herbivores, such as spider mites, are rare but important economic pests. The strong adaptive potential of this species was previously studied on the gene expression level, revealing unexpected plasticity. However, the genomic underpinning of adaptation has not been studied for complex traits, and are the subject of this proposal." "SCAVIGEN: Scalable visual analytics in genetics and genomics." "Jan Aerts" "ESAT - STADIUS, Stadius Centre for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics" "Exploring genetic diversity in green seaweeds using next-gen sequencing and comparative genomics" "Olivier De Clerck" Biology "Using transcriptomics based on next generation sequencing technologies we aim to ellucidate the cytological complexity which is encountered in green seaweeds (Ulva, Caulerpa, Dasycladales)." "BOF ZAP evolutionary genetics" "Nicky Wybouw" Biology "A professorship granted by the Special Research Fund is a primarily research-oriented position and is made available for excellent researchers with a high-quality research programme." "The hidden genetics of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: a multi-omics approach." "VIB CMN - Applied and Translational Neurogenomics" "The Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE) are a group of clinically and etiologically heterogenous disorders that are characterised by early onset seizures and neurodevelopment delay. Most often they have a genetic origin, but although > 100 DEE genes are known to date, around 50% of children remain without diagnosis after performing whole exome sequencing (WES). We hypothesise that non-coding or synonymous genomic variants can have a disruptive effect on gene expression, not only through a direct effect on transcription, but also by influencing DNA methylation. By generating a complimentary dataset of genomics, transcriptomics and methylomics data on a cohort of well-characterised trio WES negative DEE patients, we will not only decrease the diagnostic gap in DEE, but will also contribute to our understanding of the impact of genomic variation on regulation of gene expression." "BOF-ZAP professorship in the transmission genetics of pets" "Bart Broeckx" "Department of Veterinary and Biosciences" "A BOF-ZAP professorship granted by the Special Research Fund is a primarily research-oriented position and is made available for excellent researchers with a high-quality research programme." "Grant in 2018 from the Flemish Community to the Centers for Human Genetics" "Bruce Poppe" "Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and medical genetics" "geen abstract" "Minimally invasive technology for trans-vascular opto genetics" "Jan Vanfleteren" "Department of Electronics and information systems" "This ConcepTT project aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of an intravascular device that can be used as a light source for minimally invasive neuromodulation based on optogenetics." "Next-generation genetics of early-onset dementia to increase our appreciation of the molecular signatures of dementia." "Julie van der Zee" "VIB CMN - Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group" "There is a current paucity of effective prophylactic treatments for neurodegenerative dementia disorders and as such they represent one of the major classes of widespread diseases with increasing mortality rates in the developed world. Drug development programs have faced numerous problems. The clinical and biological complexity of dementia has long been underestimated. Evidence increases that patients with the same clinical symptoms develop disease through different biological processes. This implicates that intervention trials should be directed towards subgroups of patients that share the same molecular signature of disease biology. The proposed PhD project aims to further elucidate the genetic etiology and molecular signatures of dementia through the identification of novel genes and genetic disease modifiers. A better understanding of the molecular complexity of dementia will improve classification of patients based on their molecular disease signatures rather than on clinico-pathological symptomatology, which is expected to drastically improve development of effective diagnostic tools, biomarkers and targeted therapies.We will apply advanced genetic profiling strategies for novel gene discovery, including whole exome and gene panel sequencing focusing on the subgroup of early-onset dementia (EOD) patients. Because EOD patients suffer from a disease of the aging brain at a relatively young age, they have an extreme presentation of the disease and as such are expected to have a strong genetic heritage. Study of this subgroup of dementia patients will therefore more likely lead to identification of novel genes and molecular pathways. The research will build on an impressive collection of >4000 patients ascertained within the European Early-Onset Dementia consortium. Making use of these powerful genomic approaches in selected patient cohorts with strong genetic heritage, we aim to identify novel key genes and proteins and enhance our knowledge of the molecular signatures of neurodegenerative dementia. These signatures will be instrumental in pinpointing diagnostic biomarkers and drug targets for therapy development, will allow more accurate stratification of patient cohorts for follow-up translational research and clinical trials, and ultimately offer better perspectives for patients and families affected by dementia." "Translating genetics of neurodegenerative disorders into therapeutic strategies." "Bart De Strooper" "Laboratory of Synapse Biology (VIB-KU Leuven), Laboratory of Proteolytic Mechanisms in Neurodegeneration (VIB-KU Leuven), Laboratory of Neuronal Communication (VIB-KU Leuven), Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (VIB-KU Leuven)" "Neurodegenerative disorders are extremely debilitating conditions. They affect motoric (ALS, Parkinson) or cognitive systems (Alzheimer, Frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson in late stages). Curative therapy is much needed but only symptomatic treatment based on neurotransmitter substitution is available for Parkinson, and more limited, for Alzheimer. All in all, for the advanced stages of neurodegenerative diseases, only palliative help can be offered. However, this grim perspective should change in the future. Research, especially in human genetics, has indeed yielded a dazzling amount of new insights. These, together with the progress in imaging and early diagnosis (especially in the Alzheimer field, other areas will follow) will lead to early risk determination and early diagnosis. In the near future people will be healthier, more functional and younger when diagnosed with these scourges. However, these promising new developments call for an intensification of the research effort towards real prospects for therapy. Translating the growing genetic information into mechanisms of disease and appropriate animal models is a vast scientific challenge for the next years. Furthermore, developing medication will require much deeper understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms than we have today. Indeed, current drug development is frequently based on preliminary assumptions on the biology of the drug targets which have repetitively led to failures in clinical trials. In the new Methusalem grant we address these challenges."