Projects
Transcriptome profile of the human placenta: in search of maternal and fetal genetic factors associated with preterm birth. Ghent University
Preterm birth is defined as childbirth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It is the
leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, leading to high costs in care and long-term disability. It accounts for 5-12 % of all live births worldwide. Multiple factors, both endogenous and exogenous to the mother seem to play a role. Genetic factors appear to be involved, as apparent from disparities between racial groups and on familial ...
Generation of interchangeable disease models for Charcot-Marie-Tooth involving tRNA-synthetases: a search for common druggable pathways. University of Antwerp
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an incurable hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe and progressive sensori-motor deficits. More than 80 genes have been described to cause this pathology and among them there are 6 aminoacyl tRNA-synthetases (ARS) rendering them a prominent CMT-causing genes family. Interestingly, all the mutations lead to an axonal phenotype. ARS are ubiquitously expressed enzyme involved in the initial ...
In search of genetic modifiers for aortopathy in Loeys-Dietz families with a SMAD3 mutation. University of Antwerp
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a genetic disorder presenting with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), causing abnormal widening of the aorta, which leads to aortic rupture or dissection, a life-threatening complication that occurs unexpectedly. LDS is caused by genetic defects in six different genes of the TGF? pathway (TGFBR1/2, SMAD2/3, TGFB2/3), which is vital in the proper development of the body's connective tissue. Despite the progress in ...
Exploring the crystal structure of the EarthU+2019s inner core by Density Functional Theory and a genetic search algorithm Ghent University
All computational studies of Fe at inner core conditions where limited so far by the need to supply a priori the
most likely crystal structure(s). Genetic search algorithms have recently established themselves as a new tool in
computational materials science, and allow searching for the most stable crystal structure without any a priori
knowledge. We propose to apply this new tool to pure Fe and to Fe alloyed with one or more ...
Identification of the key gene of 18q deletions: human embryonic stem cells as a research model in oncogenetics Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Identification of the key gene of 18q deletions: human embryonic stem cells as a research model in oncogenetics
Functional genomic research of the CLU gene as risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. University of Antwerp
This project aims to functionally characterize our detected CLU variants in AD4. More specifically, in this project we will; 1) perform in vitro experiments for the effect of rare CLU variants associated to AD and affecting protein functioning, and 2) translate the downstream effect of common and rare CLU variations into patient biomaterials.
Pituitary deficiency and regeneration: in search of underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets with focus on Wnt/Lgr5 KU Leuven
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland governing normal body physiology. By regulating other endocrine glands, the pituitary steers various processes such as growth, stress, metabolism and sexual maturation. Patients with hypopituitarism suffer from a multitude of life-burdening symptoms due to insufficient production of one or several pituitary hormones. Managing this disorder currently comprises lifelong hormone replacement therapy, a ...
Search for ncRNAs that contribute to oncogene-induced senescence. KU Leuven
Tumour suppressor protein p53 contributes to various pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell death and normal cell homeostasis. It is not obvious which of these pathways is essential to block tumourigenesis; novel p53 targets and pathways may still contribute as key mechanisms to cancer inhibition.
We have identified previously unknown p53 targets in the class of long noncoding RNA through RNA expression profiling by qPCR as well ...
Pituitary deficiency and regeneration: in search of underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets. KU Leuven
The pituitary is the ‘master gland’ producing hormones that control vital physiological processes like growth, metabolism, reproduction and stress response. Obviously, defects in pituitary function (hypopituitarism) cause severe and life-threatening health problems. Hypopituitarism is treated with lifelong hormone replacement. However, patients taking these hormones suffer from serious side effects. Moreover, administration of hormones cannot ...