'Vision Core Leuven': a service platform for compound screening and disease modelling

A consortium of KU Leuven researchers working in the ophthalmology/neurobiology field, has recently launched the ‘Vision Core Leuven’ (VCL), a multidisciplinary service platform that combines complementary, novel state-of-the-art technologies and the consortium’s well-known expertise in ocular disease and visual impairment modeling. The platform will enable industrial and academic partners to evaluate the impact of a certain intervention (e.g. disease model, genetic or pharmacological/therapeutic manipulation) on the structure and function of the visual system, but will also deliver generic tools to study common cellular processes shared with other pathologies, namely angiogenesis, fibrosis, inflammation and neurodegeneration. Four complementary modules will allow: (1) in vitro screening for target identification and mechanistic studies of their mode-of-action, (2) in vivo modeling of ocular/visual system pathologies in various animal species, (3) microscopic and longitudinal morphological phenotyping, and (4) evaluation of visual function via neuronal activity and visual acuity measurements. With this unique platform, VCL aims to consolidate or initiate collaborations with biopharma and to engage in high-profile scientific research programs.