Name "Responsible (Organisation)" "Activity (Organisation)" "Affiliation (Researcher)" "Immunity and Inflammation Research Group" "Paul Proost" "The main research topics include evaluation of leukocyte migration in inflammation and tumor biology with a main focus on chemokines. This includes biological and biochemical characterization of chemoattractants, their gene regulation and posttranslational processing, G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signal transduction, interactions with glycosaminoglycans and synergistic and antagonistic activities. The role of chemoattractants in (1) homeostatic and inflammatory leukocyte migration, (2) autoinflammation, autoimmunity and infection, (3) angiogenesis, (4) tumor development, (5) ischemia reperfusion injury, (6) allograft rejection and (7) fibrosis. They use mass spectrometry and protein sequencing (proteomics) for downstream processing of body fluids and chemical and recombinant protein production to determine the chemokine profile and activity in a wide range of animal models and diseases. A broad range of in vitro chemotaxis and signaling assays have been developed including the use of fluorescence and time-lapse video microscopy. In addition, they study the immunologic mechanisms underlying anti-tumor responses evoked by adoptive cell therapy following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Furthermore, the role of different immune regulatory cells (mesenchymal stem cells and myeloid suppressor cells) in immune events after transplantation is investigated." "Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis (VIB-KU Leuven)" "Max Mazzone" "The Lab of Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis aims to shed light on the genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate vessel shape remodeling and endothelial cell fate, with the overall aim of defining alternative therapeutic opportunities to improve anti-cancer therapy, as well as therapeutic angiogenesis for revascularization of ischemic tissues." "Translational Research in Immunology and Inflammation" "VIB Center for Inflammation Research" "Lambrecht Bart Norbert" "The scientific investigation of the various research groups in the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation research (IRC) is focused on molecular mechanisms of inflammation in pathologies such as allergy, autoimmune diseases, cancer, infectious diseases and senescence. At the heart of this research is the investigation of inter- and intracellular signaling pathways in innate and adaptive immune cells and barrier cells of the skin, lung and gut." "VIB CMN - Microglia and Inflammation in Neurological Disorders (MIND) lab" "Renzo Mancuso" "Microglia and neuroinflammation play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Our primary focus is to examine the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), with special focus on inflammatory networks and particularly the contribution of microglia. We use mouse models, iPSC and cutting-edge humanised mouse systems to determine the immune component of these disorders and determine how genetics alter microglial function and contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of brain disease." "Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group" "Dominique Bullens" "1. Allergy Clinical research, cohort based, on drug hypersensitivity Food allergy: clinical driven research into hidden allergens, co-factor enhanced food allergy, rare allergens (allergy to carmine, eatable insect allergens, WDEIA quality of life study etc…) Mastocytosis and hymenoptera venom allergy and treatment: clinical prospective follow-up over 30 years of a large database of patients with hymentoptera venom allergy – coincidence of mastocytosis – role of c-kit determination in peripheral blood in adults Children: (cutaneous vs systemic) mastocytosis: role of c-kit determination in peripheral blood; longitudinal study Role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in chronic intestinal inflammation and intestinal fibrosis (ongoing): intended to broaden ILC research to allergic diseases (food allergy, eosinophilic oesophagitis)2. Tolerance induction Tolerance induction towards allergens: development of both natural (longitudinal studies) and immunotherapy-induced tolerance: study of the role of regulatory T cells and adaptive immunity in environmental and food allergy3. Upper and lower airway hyper-reactivity Study of the impact on epithelial barrier dysfunction on chronic airway inflammation, including interaction with environment, microbiome and therapeutic targets) Study of neuro-immune mechanisms underlying chronic airway inflammation Lower airway inflammation (in close collaboration with lab of pneumology):- in house murine models of allergic asthma- development of new mouse models for non-allergic asthma- role of innate immunity (and ILCs) vs adaptive immunity in those models Translational research in patients with upper and/or lower airway inflammation: immune cells and cytokines recruited/expressed in upper and lower airway tissue: cross-sectional studies and studies after experimental provocation (allergen, exercise, cold air,...) " "Steven BIESMANS" "Clara Caenepeel" "Matthias Ceulemans" "Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders" "Greet De Vlieger" "Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine"