Projects
General anaesthesia during pregnancy: anaesthesia-induced neurotoxicity and anaesthesia conduct. KU Leuven
Different relevant aspects of general anaesthesia during pregnancy, in particular anaesthesia-induced neurotoxicity and considerations during anaesthesia conduct, will be studied in this PhD-project. In a cohort study, neuropsychological testing will be performed in children exposed to prenatal anaesthesia and will be compared to unexposed children. We will investigate the comparative neurotoxicity of sevoflurane and propofol in the foetal ...
Investigation of Adverse Health Effects Induced by Emerging Pollutants: Neurotoxicity of nanoparticles and Metal-related toxicity of E-cigarettes KU Leuven
Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs) have been widely introduced in many consumer products, and are now omnipresent. Notwithstanding the fact that health impact of ENPs and their toxicology are studied since the 1990s1, still many questions remain to be answered. Only scarce data can be find on ENP relocation to the central nervous system (CNS) and how they potentially may pass the blood brain barrier (BBB) Currently the most common used ENPs ...
Neurotoxicity of anesthetics in the developing brain of fetal rabbits and neuroprotective agents KU Leuven
There is increasing concern that exposure of the developing brain to anesthetics might be associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcome in children undergoing surgery during their early life or even before birth.
Preclinical experiments in rodents and non-human primates have consistently shown that virtually all commonly used anesthetics cause apoptotic neurodegeneration that result in persisting neurocognitive impairment. In ...
Characterisation of LRRK2 kinase function in a-synuclein-induced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. KU Leuven
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative motor disease, affecting 10 million people worldwide. To date, PD cannot be cured, instead therapy is directed at alleviating symptoms. A major challenge is therefore the development of disease-modifying therapies which halt, or at least slow down, disease progression. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) kinase inhibitors are currently in a preclinical stage and considered as ...
Strengthening of operational capacity and training in neuropsychiatry through research in the neurotoxicity of metals in the Katanga mining area. KU Leuven
The mining and processing of copper and cobalt in Katanga (DR Congo) have resulted in considerable environmental pollution by various toxic metals. This interuniversity research project will investigate the possible neurotoxic effects of metal exposures by means of clinical and epidemiological studies among adults and children.
Unraveling the role of the immune system in alpha-synuclein spreading and neurotoxicity in vivo. KU Leuven
Misfolded protein aggregates appear to be a common feature of several ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence is emerging that these protein aggregates can adopt distinct conformations with differences in their structural and phenotypic traits. The discovery of the prion-like transmissible nature of these proteins suggests a pathogenic trigger which might propagate throughout the nervous system driving the progression of the ...
Investigation of the link between alfa-synuclein transmission, neuroinion and neurotoxicity in rodent brain. KU Leuven
Development of a prototype point-of-care (bedside) application for the measurement of free bilirubin, a biomarker of bilirubin neurotoxicity in neonates. University of Antwerp
Study of intercellular transmission and neurotoxicity of alfa-synuclein in an animal model for Parkinson's disease using optogenetic neuromodulation KU Leuven
Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies and multiple system atrophy are age-related and devastating neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by the presence of large proteinaceous clumps of the ɑ-synuclein protein scattered throughout the patient’s central nervous system. The identification of ɑ-synuclein in Lewy bodies made it clear that this protein has a central role in the etiopathogenesis of several age-related ...