Projects
Dynamic preservation and reconditioning to improve organ quality in lung transplantation: from basic science to clinical implementation KU Leuven
Lung transplantation (LTx) is the only treatment option for well-selected patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. However, the number of available donor organs is still inadequate leading to a reported mortality of 15-30% on the waiting list. Moreover, the success of LTx is not solely dependent on the number of available organs, but also on their quality, which has a significant impact on early and late outcome after LTx. During the last ...
Assessment and treatment of lung injury following brain death in a mouse model. KU Leuven
Translational research on chronic rejection after lung transplantation: towards better treatment in patients. KU Leuven
My BOF−ZAP project is part of the BREATHE research group and includes research into rejection after lung transplantation focusing on structural changes of the lung and the allo-immune response. This research ranges from basic experimental research in cell cultures and laboratory animals to translation to the human lung and the patient. The final objective remains to increase the quality and survival of the lung transplant patient. We aim to ...
A study on the loss of small airways and epithelial cell changes in chronic lung diseases KU Leuven
The main function of the lung is to ensure optimal gas exchange of oxygen uptake and removal of carbon dioxide during breathing. Air entering the nose and mouth is travelling through a well-organized airway tree consisting of branches like in trees. This starts at the trachea (termed generation 0), splitting at the first bifurcation (generation 1) into two branches, each dividing many times along the tree into smaller airways and ending up in ...
The role of azithromycin and vitamin D on the innate immune defense in COPD and bronchiolitis obliterans: studies in vitro KU Leuven
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by a progressive and not fully reversible airflow limitation due to a chronic inflammatory reaction in the small airways as a reaction to harmful gasses and particles (small airway disease). In addition, a protease/anti-protease imbalance leads to the destruction of the alveoli (emphysema). COPD is further complicated by the presence of exacerbations, causing a worsening of the ...
Combatting bacterial resistance in Europe (COMBACTE-NET). University of Antwerp
Rethinking 'Care after Cure' in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using e-Health and patient reported outcomes KU Leuven
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative treatment for many hematological diseases. Thanks to advances in conditioning treatment, donor inventory, matching techniques, and supportive care, the number of survivors after HCT keeps increasing. The majority of these patients has an expected survival of 50% at one year and will enjoy an 85% chance of remaining alive long term if they reach the two years post ...
The molecular pathogenesis of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. KU Leuven
In this doctoral thesis, we have investigated the pathogenesis of late-onset Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).
FECD is a degenerative disorder of the corneal endothelium (CE). The CE is the inner layer of the cornea (the cornea is the transparent front part of the eye). The cornea does not contain blood vessels, but receives water and nutrients from the anterior eye chamber fluid (a.k.a. aqueous humor) and the tear ...
HeMiBio (related to project EU376-B) Vrije Universiteit Brussel
In the project we made the following advances beyond the state of the art:
1. CELLS: We characterized for the first ...