Projects
Engineer development towards a bone tissue intermediate. KU Leuven
Materials Technology, Group T Leuven Campus, Department of Materials Engineering, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Biomechanics Section
Bone tissue engineering aims at repairing non-healing bone defects by stimulating local and/or systemic regeneration mechanisms. The current strategy, applied for the last two decades, focuses on seeding embryonal, mesenchymal or progenitor cells on biocompatible carrier structures, sometimes in combination with growth factors. However, up to date this strategy has led to a limited bone formation with an unpredictable clinical outcome. In this ...
Locomotor deficits after traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study examining the influence of brain injury on spatial-temporal gaze behavior and gait deficits during rehabilitation. KU Leuven
Here, we will examine the relationship between spatial-temporal gaze behavior and impairments in gait/locomotion after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies have shown that TBI causes problems in cognitive factors such as attention, planning skills and speed of information processing as well as deficits in eye movements/oculomotor control and impairments in walking and balance. Despite the importance of visual guidance for walking, no ...
The role of DIO2 in joint biology and pathology. KU Leuven
Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic musculoskeletal disorder and a cause of serious morbidity and disablement, particularly in the elderly population. The development of osteoarthritis is very complex, involves several signaling pathways and the tissues in the joint, and is influenced by genetic, and acquired or environmental risk factors. Polymorphisms in the type II selenodeiodinase gene, DIO2, were recently associated with ...
Exploration of the ectophosphodiesterase NPP1 as a target for the treatment of calcification diseases. KU Leuven
The integral membrane protein NPP1 (Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase-1) generates PPi by the hydrolysis of extracellular ATP. PPi is an inhibitor of calcification in soft tissues and prevents the disproportionate accumulation of hydroxyapatite in bones. An excess of PPi results in the deposition of pathological calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals (chondrocalcinosis), but also contributes to the development of hypophosphatasia, ...
The entheseal stress hypothesis: biomechanic factors and inflammation as key players in the onset and progression of ankylosing spondylitis. KU Leuven
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the best known form of spondyloarthritis (SpA), a group of common inflammatory and chronic musculoskeletal diseases. The burden of AS and related SpAs is substantial for both patients and society with an estimated prevalence between 0.3 and 1%. The long-term outcome of AS is determined by structural changes in the skeleton with ankylosis of the spine and sacroiliac joint. This aspect of the disease is not improved ...
Effects of mechanical ventilation on diaphragm function in patients and in different animal models. KU Leuven
Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE)
In ventilated patients, difficulties in discontinuing ventilatory support are frequent, time consuming, and remain a serious problem. Data in animal studies have consistently shown that mechanical ventilation induced rapid reduction in diaphragm force and caused atrophy. The aims of the present project are: 1) to examine the effects of controlled mechanical vantilation in animals with already diseased diaphragms and to elucidate the time course ...
Physiological, morphological and biomechanical requirements of the musculo-skeletal system of the lower leg for top spinters and endurance runners. University of Antwerp
This project aims to investigate the physiological and functional anatomical characteristics of the lower leg musculo-skeletal system that promote excellence in either sprinting or endurance running. In a first study we aim to develop a non-invasive and innovative technique to measure muscle fiber type composition (percentage slow vs. fast fibers), a well known antagonistic pair of traits for performance.
Modelling of gene networks for steering of biomimetic production processes in tissue engineering. KU Leuven
The specialization of cartilage cells, or chondrogenic differentiation, is an intricate and meticulously regulated process that plays a vital role in both bone formation and cartilage regeneration. This PhD work centers on the development of computational models to study the molecular regulation of this process. First, we investigate how individual genes and their defects contribute to the overall change in functionality of the growth plate, ...
Multi-scale modeling in bone tissue enginnering: from biomaterials to intracellular signaling via the cell. KU Leuven
Bone regeneration is, like many other healing events, a complex, well-orchestrated process involving a myriad of different cell types and regulated by countless biochemical, physical and mechanical factors. But unlike other adult biological tissues, the majority of bone fractures can heal without the production of scar tissue, eventually recovering the original bone shape, size and strength. Despite bones remarkable healing capacity and the ...