Name "Responsible (Organisation)" "Activity (Organisation)" "Affiliation (Researcher)" "Laboratory of Endothelial Molecular Biology (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology)" "(URL:http://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/unit/52576632)Laboratory of E ndothelial Molecular Biology (Vesalius Research Center).The goal of the Laboratory of Endothelial Molecular Biology (VRC) is to expand the current knowledge of how metabolism regulates endothelial redox homeostasis and vice-versa in healthy and diseased conditions. To accomplish this they have taken advantage of the innovative genetic and imaging technology as well as new molecular and biochemical approaches in vertebrate models, including zebrafish and mouse." "Department of Biomedical molecular biology" "Wim Declercq" "The Department labs study the molecular mechanisms of inflammation. At the heart of this research is the investigation of molecular signaling pathways in inflammatory cells and structural cells of the skin, lung, gut and brain. We particularly focus on NF-κB, ER stress and cell death pathways and study how these are altered by disease. Research is multidisciplinary with molecular biologists, cell biologists, and bioinformaticians collaborating with clinicians." Biology "Luc Lens" "The Biology Department plays a pivotal role in the education of biology students by offering courses in a wide range of biological disciplines, centred around Ecology Evolution Functional Biology Biodiversity. The single Bachelor and various Master’s programmes place the organism in the focus, whether considered as a member of a species (Biodiversity), as an interacting partner with its environment (Ecology), as the result of an evolutionary process (Evolution) or as a functioning entity (Functional Biology). Research at the Department is essentially fundamental in nature, and is carried out in 13 research groups in various zoological, botanical and ecological disciplines." Zoölogie "Geïntegreerde bestrijding (IPM) insecten en mijten in de fruitteelt" "Structural Biology Brussels" "Jan Steyaert" "Structural biology is a central discipline in molecular life sciences, and our Center for Structural Biology (CSB) has been a cornerstone of the research conducted at the VUB and the VIB, first under the leadership of Lode Wyns, and more recently under the guidance of Jan Steyaert and Han Remaut. The Center has made several top-tier discoveries, of which Nanobody technology has been running like a tread through the history of CSB. The centre has always been a strong driver of the tech transfer activities of VIB with the success story of the spinout companies Ablynx and ConfoTherapeutics as pinnacle.Our mission is to study the structure and dynamics of macromolecular complexes to explain their mode of action in health and disease. We integrate our method development, structural biology and biochemical work with genetic and cellular studies, aiming to bridge molecular and cellular resolution. Translating our discoveries into biotechnological and medical applications is part of our DNA.Thematically, CSB encourages interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research programs, following a bottom up approach based on the initiative of the group leaders. The diversity of groups and research topics within CSB ensures in-house expertise across most structural biology techniques (X-ray crystallography, EM, SAXS, NMR, cryo-EM), complemented by a broad range of biophysical techniques. This enables us to address structural biology projects in an integrated fashion and to challenge our insights in their cellular and in vivo context. This interdisciplinary and integrative approach gives us enormous leverage to produce excellent educational opportunities, carry out grand challenge science, and stimulate research-based economic development." "Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center" "Rik Lories" "The Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center focuses its research on the understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of skeletal tissue formation, remodeling and repair.The Center thereby aims to develop treatments for skeletal disorders, in particular regenerative strategies for cartilage, bone and joint repair. These approaches include the manufacturing of novel class Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products, towards we work in full integration with engineers, clinicians, and biologists.To accomplish our goals, five research lines have been set up within the Center and are working in synergy in this effort: the laboratory for Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, the laboratory for Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, the laboratory for Skeletal Cell Biology and Physiology, the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering as well as a Clinical Research Program. " "Laboratory of Glia Biology (VIB-KU Leuven)" "Patrik Verstreken" "The long-term goal of Laboratory of Glia Biologyis to understand the molecular mechanisms that control development and function of astrocytes in vivo, and how they interact with neurons.Our strategy is to use astrocytes isolated from mouse brain as a starting point. This allows us to effectively take a “bottom up” approach to astrocyte function. In a first step, we are combining state-of-the-art biochemical and physiological techniques (including quantitative mass-spectrometry and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy) to identify important protein and lipid signaling pathways in astrocytes, including their spatial and functional relationship to each other. In a second step, we will employ novel transgenic technologies to manipulate these pathways in vivo – with 2-photon based imaging techniques, and electrophysiological recordings in acute brain slices, allowing the study of astrocyte function in real-time." "Laboratory of cell biology and histology" "Jean-Pierre Timmermans" "The Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology (CBH) is an interfaculty research group, uniting scientists from the Faculty of Biomedical, Pharmaceutical and Veterinary sciences and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Their joint mission is to elucidate the cell biological principles of human physiology and disease, so as to expose new entry points for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Core research lines strongly align with key research domains at the University of Antwerp, such as Neurobiology, Oncology, Imaging and Infectious diseases. The research is fueled by solid expertise in cell, tissue and systems biology and finds a common denominator in the use and development of advanced microscopy technology. In line with the latter, CBH also operates as the Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), providing high-end microscopy service tailored towards both ultrastructure and live cell-imaging applications. As microscopy hub, CBH is a founding member of EGAMI, the University valorisation platform for Imaging. Our core topics are: GUT PHYSIOLOGY AND DYSFUNCTION •Neuro-immune interactions in the gastrointestinal system •AAV-mediated targeting of the enteric nervous system •Effects of amyloid proteins on the enteric nervous system •The ageing epithelial gut barrier •The microbiome-gut-brainaxis (Techniques: animal models –in vitro models –histology –live cell imaging –proteomics –electrophysiology –molecular biology –viral transfection/transduction) EXPERIMENTAL LUNG RESEARCH: PHYSIOLOGY AND INJURY •Pulmonary neuroepithelialbodies (NEBs): quest for physiological stimuli •NEB microenvironment as an airway epithelial stem cell niche •Acute lung injury modulators (Techniques: functional morphology –animal models –ex vivo lung slice models – functional live cell imaging –laser microdissection–transcriptomics–pharmacology) IMMUNOLOGICAL DRUG TARGETING AND BIOMARKER DISCOVERY OF DIFFERENT PNEUMONIAS •Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) •Stroke-related pneumonia •Cystic fibrosis-related pneumonia •Pneumonia associated with ageing •Pneumonia associated with microbiome alterations (Techniques: animal models –in vitro models –clinical studies –histopathology –transcriptomics –proteomics –metabolomics –metagenomics –biomarker discovery) NEURODEGENERATION •Modulators of neuronal network connectivity •Whole brain staging of neurodegeneration •Development and characterization of models for tauopathies •Toxic protein clearance pathways (Techniques: animal models –primary cell culture –deep coverage microscopy –whole brain imaging –molecular biology –data mining) ACCELERATED AGEING •Molecular characterisation of Progeria •Mimicking laminopathies using genome editing •Uncovering the mechanisms of neurodegenerative laminopathies •Nuclear compartimentalisation in ageing and (HPV-induced) cancer (Techniques: in vitro models –primary cell culture –genome editing –deep coverage microscopy –live cell imaging –molecular biology –proteomics –kinomics–photoporation) NEXT GENERATION MICROSCOPY •Deep coverage microscopy •Intelligent microscopy •In toto microscopy •Optomodulation" "Department of General Biology" "Topic A : Coccodiosis Immuneresponse against coccidia: antigenic characterization of Eimeria stiedae and Eimeria magna; production of monoclonal antibodies and construction of expression libraries Characterisation of a double stranded RNA virus in Eimeria stiedae Topic B : Leishmaniasis Investigation of circular and linear forms of nucleic acids in Leishmania Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis karyotyping of New World Leishmania applications in taxonomy and genomic organization Topic C : Malaria Development of a malaria vaccine Molecular biology of malaria: study of gametocyte differentiation Topic D : Trypanosomiasis The genetic basis of human serum resistance in African trypanosomiasis Study of trypanotolerance in human trypanosomiasis due to trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Diagnostic and research tools for the control of surra in South East Asia and the neighbouring areas Topic E : Immunology Research projects Structure of camellid immunoglobulins Population genetics of immunoglobulins Immunochemistry of glycoproteins Topic F : Pseudomona Molecular biology of Pseudomonas iron metabolism Molecular Biology of Pseudomonas membrane proteins Topic G : Hog Cholera Molecular Biology and cloning of Hog cholera Development of diagnostics and vaccins" "Environmental Biology" "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "The group Enviromental Biology has a longstanding experience (since 1976) in the field of heavy metal uptake by plants, the effects of toxic metal concentrations on plants and the transfer of metals to the food chain. The group was involved in several projects concerning the zinc, cadmium and lead contamination in the region Balen, Lommel, Overpelt in the the zinc smelter contaminated area in the north-east of Belgium. They started with laboratory and in situ studies on phytoremediation (phytostabilization and phytoextraction) of heavy metal contaminated soils in 1985 and is involved in several national and international projects and collaborations in this field. Phytoremediation of organics also belongs to the research area of the group, especially on nitroaromatics, oils and BTEX. Special attention is paid to the interaction between plants and plant-associated micro-organisms (mycorrhiza and bacteria).Biological tests for the evaluation of soil toxicity were developed. These activities are practical applications based on the fundamental research program of the laboratory. The latter is concentrated on the (eco-)physiological, cellular and molecular effects and sequence of events after application of pollutants to plants and mycorrhiza. Studies of defence and tolerance mechanisms against heavy metals are also part of the fundamental research program. Special attention is paid to subcellular localisation of both contaminants and defence systems. This research program is performed on several plant species, from which certain species are genetically transformed. "