Projects
Losing memory, losing meaning? Towards a deeper understanding of meaning in life in Alzheimer’s disease patients KU Leuven
Within psychological science, the concept of meaning in life is understood as the subjective experience that one’s life makes sense, has a purpose, and is worth living. Burgeoning empirical evidence shows the benefits of experiencing meaning in life for physical and mental health across different populations, including older adults. However, current views of meaning in life assume that complex cognitive abilities are needed to ...
Necroptosis pathway activation and its role in neuronal cell loss in Alzheimer's disease KU Leuven
Accumulation of misfolded, aggregated proteins and the associated neuronal cell loss are considered the most fundamental hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the prevalent neuronal cell death in AD, the modality of cell death and molecular events leading to such neuronal cell death mechanisms are seldom investigated. Lack of preclinical models that sufficiently recapitulate AD-relevant neuronal ...
Unbiased in vivo CRISPR/CAS9 kinome-wide screen to identify disease-modifying targets in Alzheimer’s disease KU Leuven
The relationship between Amyloid β (Aβ peptide, Tau, and neuronal cell loss is a central problem in the study of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, cell culture or animal models do not reproduce well the cell death phenotype that is crucial to analyze this relation. As it remains unclear to what extent rodent or other species can fully reproduce the AD phenotype, such study is performed ideally in human cells. In the current project, we take ...
Systemic evaluation of microRNA-132 as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. KU Leuven
Previous work has shown that microRNA profiles in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients change with the progression of the pathology, suggesting a possible role for microRNAs in AD. Of particular interest is the brain-enriched microRNA-132 (miR-132), whose levels are significantly and robustly decreased in AD patient brain. Moreover, this microRNA has been associated with several molecular pathways that are also affected in AD, such ...
An integrated genetic and functional approach towards understanding the complex etiology of Alzheimer's disease. University of Antwerp
Unveiling the molecular correlates of early synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease KU Leuven
Synapses are structures that allow the neurons to be connected and store memories. Synapses are perturbed in very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Nonetheless, previous studies in animals models have been carried out at late stages of the disease, where the ongoing pathogenic processes are very complex, making it difficult to understand the initial triggers of the disease. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and recent ...
The effect of Alzheimer’s disease on cognitive decline after an ischemic stroke and the role of neurogenesis. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Can antiepileptogenic treatments slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease? Vrije Universiteit Brussel
3D stem cell models to study the effect of TREM2 on the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease KU Leuven
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of plaques, tangles, en neuroinflammation in the brain. Although many research is already done, no cure exists. In my research, I will aim at develping an in vitro model to study AD. There are indeed some mouse models but they do not mimic the whole human pathology. So there is need to develop a model that shows all the hallmarks of AD. This can be used as a ...