Projects
Identification of microbial and cellular biomarkers for Short Bowel Syndrome in a combined in vitro-in vivo study Ghent University
Following extensive resection, the remaining small intestine may be of insufficient length to absorb nutrients, leading to short bowel syndrome (SBS). SBS is associated with significant malnutrition, and patients must take lifelong supplements. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SBS-microbe project aims to shed light on SBS pathogenesis, focusing on microbiota, metabolic and cellular changes occurring after resection. ...
Biomarkers affecting the transition from cardiovascular disease to lung cancer: towards stratified interception. KU Leuven
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lung cancer (LC) are leading causes of deaths and intertwined chronic inflammatory processes associated with metabolism reprogramming, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), intestinal dysbiosis, and maladaptive immunity. CVD prone-tobacco users exhibit a 1-2% yearly incidence of LC. Low dose computed tomography screening programs reduce LC mortality by 20%. Beyond epidemiological scores, risk ...
MICROBiome-based biomarkers to PREDICT decompensation of liver cirrhosis and treatment response KU Leuven
Decompensation of liver cirrhosis and progression towards acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) causes 1.2 million deaths/year. Microbiome is causally involved in cirrhosis progression and is for drugs the first interaction point with the patients. Drugs can alter the microbiome leading to unwanted effects or even facilitating their effects, but the microbiome metabolizes the drugs, shapes their effects and possibly determines the host ...
SensApp: Super-sensitive detection of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in plasma by an innovative droplet split-and-stack approach Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The detection of biomarkers in body fluids is of great importance for disease early diagnosis. The clinical practice uses typically immunoassay methods (e.g. ELISA, Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay, and related techniques) for biomarker determination. Unfortunately, these techniques fail dramatically in a wide variety of cases where the concentration of biomarkers falls below the limit of detection (LOD). The Alzheimer’s ...
CONNECT: Connexin and pannexin channels as drug targets and biomarkers in acute and chronic liver disease Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Molecular Reclassification to Find Clinically Useful Biomarkers for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. KU Leuven
We concur to the IMI on “Reclassification of SLE, connective tissue diseases and RA” call by presenting a proposal aimed at using the power of OMICs, and bioinformatics to identify new classifications for diseases known to share common pathophysiological mechanisms. Such knowledge has not been applied to individual patients, depriving them from potential benefits in terms of the use of new therapeutic agents that are being developed for one ...
Long-term, prospective study evaluating clinical and molecular biomarkers of epileptogenesis in a genetic model of epilepsy-tuberous sclerosis complex KU Leuven
Despite a great progress in the management of epilepsy, still one third of patients is refractory to available medications. The incidence of epilepsy is highest in infancy and 50% of children experience epilepsy-related comorbidities, such as developmental delay and autism. The development of epilepsy (epileptogenesis), extensively studied in animals, is barely studied in humans, as patients usually present AFTER the seizure ...
EPISTOP: Long-term, prospective study evaluating clinical and molecular biomarkers of epileptogenesis in a genetic model of epilepsy – tuberous sclerosis complex Vrije Universiteit Brussel
...
Biomarkers of renal graft injuries in kidney allograft recipients. KU Leuven
In renal allograft recipients, 10-year graft survival has not improved over the past decades. Histological examination of graft biopsies has long been the gold standard to confirm graft injuries, but biopsies are invasive and histological grading is not very robust. There is thus a need for robust, non-invasive methods to predict and diagnose acute and chronic graft lesions, to improve patient treatment, quality of life and long-term graft ...