Projects
Development of small-molecule inhibitors of nonmuscle myosin II as chemical tools and antimetastatic therapeutics (CONFIDENTIAL) Ghent University
The present proposal envisages the development of potent, isoform-selective small-molecule nonmuscle myosin II-inhibitors, based on the ‘confirmed hit’ blebbistatin. Such molecules have the potential to become highly valuable tools in the study of cell motility and malignant disease, and serve as leads for targeted anti-invasive pharmacotherapeutics with lowered resistance susceptibility.
Development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting pro-inflammatory and pruritogenic IL-31 Ghent University
The cytokine IL-31 and its cognate receptors (IL31R and OSMR) are validated molecular targets for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and associated chronic itch. The prevalence of such a disease combination is considerably high worldwide and keeps rising. To respond to such a large scale growing medical need, the drug market against atopic dermatitis keeps growing and is repositioning itself towards more effective and affordable ...
Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of FabV Effective in Gram-negative Bacteria KU Leuven
The rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that currently more than 700,000 patients die each year due to infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens. This number is predicted to rise dramatically, with 10 million deaths annually by 2050, if no actions are taken. In order to avoid the looming prospect of a post-antibiotic age within the next few decades, a ...