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Using molecular proximity to refine synapse quantification in neuronal cultures. University of Antwerp

Laboratory of cell biology and histology

Synapses are specialized connections between neuronal cells that determine the wiringpatterns, which are essential for memory and cognition. Synaptic dysfunction is a commonpathological hallmark of neurodevelopmental and - degenerative conditions. Thus, accurateand reliable quantification of synaptic state and number in neuronal networks is crucial. Inprevious work, we have shown that primary neuronal cultures from rodents preserve ...

Function and post-translational regulation of the PP2A methylesterase PME-1 in the cellular response to stress conditions KU Leuven

Veerle Janssens

Laboratory of Protein Phosphorylation and Proteomics

Cells have developed diverse mechanisms to protect themselves from acute damage by environmental stresses, such as nutrient or growth factor deprivation, oxidative stress and DNAdamage. In all these responses, stress-regulated protein kinases and phosphatases are commonly involved. Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a major cellular phosphatase with pleiotropic functions, including in stress signaling. Here, we aim to investigate how cellular ...

Pediatric biopharmaceutics: translating gastrointestinal characteristics into improved predictive absorption tools. KU Leuven

Patrick Augustijns

Drug Delivery and Disposition

Until recently, pharmaceutical companies have never been encouraged to perform clinical studies in the pediatric population; as a result, off-label use of drugs in children is still common. Regulatory authorities have recognized this problem and have introduced incentives and requirements for the pharmaceutical industry to include pediatric studies in their development programs. An efficient drug development process is guided by reliable ...

Crosstalk between enteric nervous system and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in colon cancer progression. KU Leuven

Gianluca Matteoli

Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders

Colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression is regulated by mechanisms of both innate and acquired immunity. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) support growth, survival, migration, and metastatic spread of cancer cells. While the interaction between cancer cells and immune cells, including TAMs, has well been established, the presence and role of innervation in the colonic tumor microenvironment represent an unexplored field. I have ...

Exploring the anti-inflammatory potential of Rothia mucilaginosa in chronic lung diseases. University of Antwerp

Paul Cos

Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH)

In this project, we will confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of Rothia mucilaginosa in complex and physiologically relevant in vitro models of CF and COPD lung inflammation, as well as in in vivo mouse models. The anti-inflammatory compound(s) produced by this bacterium will be identified and the mode of action unveiled.

Carboxypeptidase U - a new drug target for the improvement of treatment in acute ischemic stroke. University of Antwerp

Dirk Hendriks

Medical Biochemistry

Thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator remains the only approved pharmacological treatment for acute ischemic stroke, AIS. Besides the narrow therapeutic time window, its use is limited by its efficacy: in up to 50% of the treated patients, timely recanalization is not achieved. Moreover, administration involves serious side effects such as intracranial hemorrhage and neurotoxicity. Consequently, the search for new agents for improvement ...

Validation of the oxadiazolone isostere as a carboxylate replacement in caspase inhibitors: approaches involving Strecker-based synthetic methodology development and on-target strategies. University of Antwerp

Pieter Van Der Veken

Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)

Caspases are intracellular, aspartate selective cysteine proteases. Given their central role in cell death and inflammation, caspases have been studied intensively as drug targets to date. In spite of impressive preclinical results and significant investment in clinical evaluation, no caspase inhibitors have so far been approved as drugs by FDA or EMA. Two important reasons therefore are commonly cited: (1) The large structural homology of ...

Research in the field of pathophysiology. University of Antwerp

Tom Vanden Berghe

Pathophysiology

Unprotected iron can rust due to the attack of oxygen. Similarly, in our body, oxidative stress can kill cells in an iron-dependent way, which can give raise to organ injury or degeneration. This newly discovered type of cell injury or necrosis is referred to as ferroptosis. The study of how this type of cell death works at the molecular levels gains a lot of interest, due to its assumed high clinical relevance. On the one hand, our research ...

Research in the domain of toxicology University of Antwerp

Alexander van Nuijs

Toxicological Centre

The planned research activities are based on my experience accumulated in the field of bioanalysis. The research plan consists of further developing of my current research lines, as well as introducing new research directions in order to support a UA frontline (drug discovery and development) and emerging research domain (proteomics, genomics, and metabolomics). I hypothesize that biomarkers present in wastewater produced by communities provide ...

Characterization of occurrence, metabolism and contribution to human exposure of new chemicals present in the indoor environment. University of Antwerp

Adrian Covaci