Name Activity "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." "Biology - Geology" "Department of Applied ecology and environmental biology" "The departement brings together several research groups: CAVElab - Computational and Applied Vegetation Ecology Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology Environmental Toxicology (GhEnToxLab) Aquatic Ecology (AECO) Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology Laboratory of Plant Ecology" 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." "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." "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." "Follicle Biology" "Ellen Anckaert" "Basic aims of the Follicle Biology Laboratory, led by Prof. Ellen Anckaert are the design and validation of new culture systems for ovarian follicles and unripe egg cells to establish practical, applicable strategies for fertility clinics.Fundamental and pre-clinical research:1) optimization of multistep systems for in vitro follicle activation, growth and maturation: mouse in vitro models for culturing ovarian follicles allow for the study of culture conditions and factors that influence the development of the ovarian follicle and determine oocyte quality. These findings are of particular interest for translation into the field of oncofertility. Due to the accessibility to the different growth stages under in vitro situations, it also provides a suitable model for the study of basic aspects of oocyte and follicle biology at the cellular and molecular levels.2) optimization of in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) systems for cumulus-oocytes complexes derived from small antral follicles: IVM is a new ART method with minimal administration of hormones to the patient. The oocytes are picked-up from very small follicles and need a prolonged culture condition to be developmentally competent. Establishing these new culture conditions, tested first in the mouse model, are key to improve IVM results.3) epigenetic safety of oocyte culture: FOBI aims to discover potentially harmful epigenetic effects of oocyte culture that might lead to reduced developmental competence and affect offspring health. Experiments are performed in a mouse model and on donated human oocytes and embryos from healthy volunteers and consenting patients. The developed assays can be used for testing epigenetic safety of culture media and drugs and for assessment of potential harmful effects of metabolic disturbances and xenobiotic substances.Clinical activitiesIn vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes retrieved from small antral follicles in minimally or unstimulated cycles and cryopreservation of in vitro matured oocytes in cooperation with Prof. Michel De Vos (Brussels IVF, UZ Brussel)." "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." "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" "Clinical Biology" "Clinical Biology is a medical specialty which focuses on identifying abnormalities in the blood or other bodily fluids through laboratory testing. The Clinical Biology Lab assists doctors in reaching medical diagnoses, participates in clinical and scientific research and acts as a reference lab.   The laboratory forms part of the medical tuition offered by the Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty of the VUB. The Laboratory Index provides a list of possible exams with their technical specifications, instructions for their application, the degree of urgency, the minimum response time and/or the periodicity of application."