The core business of the Center for Human Genetics is human and developmental genetics, neurogenetics and cancer genetics. For this reason we have chosen to structure the department around these three pillars by means of research programmes, headed by a program director.
The research in the Laboratory for Genetics of Human Development has a focus on the clinical and genetic characterisation of genetic disorders, with special emphasis on dysmorphology, congenital malformations of the heart and face and intellectual disability. They contribute to the ongoing definition of novel clinical entities and to the further delineation of existing syndromes.
Our research group is interested in human evolution and evolutionary population genetics in the broadest sense. We work on questions relating global genetic population structure with evolutionary processes such as selection, drift, migrations and admixture. We use evidence from modern and ancient genomes to study genetic changes taking place over time and space.
Topic A : assisted fertilization for severe male-factor infertility Infertile couples who cannot be treated by standard in vitro fertilization, a.single spermatozoon is injected by micro-manipulation technique into the oocyte. Factors influencing the success of intracytoplasmatic sperm injection. Topic B : Cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos Since the number of oocytes and embryos which are replaced has to be limited to two or three, ...
The laboratory of human genetic genealogy is an interdisciplinary research group combining DNA with family history to connect relatives, patients & the public. We will advance genetic genealogy as academic discipline through fundamental research, through analysis of 'modern' DNA, ancient DNA, & epigenetics, and with new genealogical (big) data by digitisation.
The Research Department of Embryology and Genetics (EMGE) is linked to the Centres for Medical Genetics and Reproductive Medicine and the Department of Paediatrics of the UZ Brussel and consists of several research clusters. Historically, the group has been interested in metabolic diseases such as lysosomal storage diseases and this has led to the close collaboration with the neuro-paediatricians of the hospital, investigating mitochondrial ...
Topic A : Identification of new mutations in hereditary diseases (W. Lissens, I. Liebaers), more in particular: - cystic fibrosis - iduronate sulphate deficiency - Beta-glucuronidase deficiency - anti thrombosis III deficiency Topic B : Preimplantation genetics/expression (Liebaers I, Lissens W.) - expression Beta-hexosaminidase in mouse and human embryo's - preimplantation diagnosis in couples at risk for cysticfibrosis (F508) or couples at ...