Projects
Enlightening the Glycine Receptor α2 as a key regulator in the brain reward-pathway Hasselt University
Experimentally validated computational pipeline of ultrasound propagation and neuron-coupling for non-invasive peripheral nervous system stimulation Ghent University
Ultrasound has gained attention in the last decade for the application of high-precision non-invasive neuromodulation. In particular, ultrasound can reach deep targets with millimeter precision and without surgery, in contrast to existing electrostimulation technologies. However, limited understanding of the mechanism by which ultrasound interacts with neurons has hampered systematic neural engineering studies, that aim to design ultrasound ...
A TRiP to the dorsal root ganglia: Unraveling the molecular characterization of the still neglected satellite glial cells. KU Leuven
Despite the classical neurocentric view on pain transmission, robust emerging evidence shows the critical role of other cell types on acute and chronic pain. Satellite glia cells (SGCs), found in the dorsal root ganglion, directly influences the development of hyperalgesia. However, the specific mechanisms by which SGCs contribute to pathological pain remains poorly understood. The central aim of this project is to elucidate the role of TRP ...
Single-molecule Protein Dynamics using Correlative Nanopore and Fluorescence Measurements KU Leuven
Proteins are the primary functional elements in living organisms. Their function is subject to their structure and dictated by the structural changes they undergo during their functional cycle, with protein dynamics being a key component of chemical catalysis, regulation, and molecular recognition. Generally, these are challenging to fully observe at the ensemble level due to ensemble averaging.
Single-molecule protein dynamics are ...
The role of sleep in inhibitory synaptic plasticity KU Leuven
The normal circuit function relies on a proper balance between excitation (E) and inhibition (I), and the disrupted balance has been reported as the underlying mechanisms of various brain disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, and epilepsy. At the single-cell level, this equilibrium state is reflected by the stable ratio of excitatory to inhibitory synaptic transmissions, namely the E/I ratio. Although many previous ...
Back To Back: the forgotten role of back muscle characteristics to tailor exercise therapy for recurrent non-specific low back pain Hasselt University
Long-term observation and correlation of protein dynamics using combined single-molecule measurements KU Leuven
The conformational dynamics of proteins are essential for their functioning in both life and disease. Yet it remains difficult to experimentally determine the manifold of accessible conformations, lifetimes, and transitions. Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) likely is the most suitable technique available due to its ability to function at ambient conditions and to avoid ensemble averaging. Yet the technique is challenged by the short observation ...
Back To Back: the forgotten role of back muscle characteristics to tailor exercise therapy for recurrent non-specific low back pain KU Leuven
Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is the leading cause of disability
worldwide. During the past decade, research mainly focused on
psychosocial causes of NSLBP (e.g., fear of movement), thereby
reducing interest in biological causes (e.g., back muscle dysfunction).
New insights into the characteristics of back muscles are, however,
crucial. Our research group can provide this through our unique
complementary ...