Projects
A systemic search for novel congenital disorders of Glycosylation type 1 (CDG-I), with a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical phenotypes. KU Leuven
Glycosylation is one of the most abundant protein modifications found in nature. It results from a meticulously orchestrated process involving numerous proteins for the assembly and modification of oligosaccharide chains, and their attachment onto proteins and lipids. The importance of glycosylation is illustrated by a group of diseases called Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG). To date, almost 100 distinct disorders have been ...
The search for biomarkers in systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. KU Leuven
The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with anti-angiogenic agents has revolutionized the treatment landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As more therapies become available, each effective in a, yet undefined, subgroup of patients, managing advanced HCC well has become increasingly complex. With the fast pace at which the landscape evolves and the lack of data on head to head comparisons of novel regimens, an ...
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 ...
The search for the origin of chromosomal abnormalities in human preimplantation embryos Vrije Universiteit Brussel
cleavages of the embryo. We want to study the ...
Generation of interchangeable disease models for Charcot-Marie-Tooth involving tRNA-synthetases: a search for common druggable pathways. University of Antwerp
The search for the origin of chromosomal abnormalities in human preimplantation embryos Vrije Universiteit Brussel
the first cleavages of the embryo. We want to study the ...
Hypopituitarism: search for mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets using an in vivo pituitary regeneration model and in vitro disease modeling KU Leuven
The pituitary is the ‘master’ endocrine gland governing essential physiological processes like growth, metabolism, procreation and stress response. Because of this key position, deficient production of one or more hormones (i.e. hypopituitarism) prominently impacts on body physiology, leading to chronic morbidity with increased mortality risk. In most cases, hypopituitarism is caused by damage suffered during life. Tumor growth in the gland ...
Search for new therapeutic strategies to treat Alzheimer's disease: development of an in vitro system for high throughput compound screening based on choroid plexus epithelium. Ghent University
The choroid plexus epithelium (CPE) is a highly secretory single cell layer, responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the clearance of toxic agents. Additionally, the CPE forms an anatomical barrier that prevents paracellular leakage from the blood into the CSF and is called the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB). Healthy aging severely affects CPE morphology and we recently discovered that also barrier function is affected. ...
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 ...