Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "Bijkomende dataverzamelingsperiode van de International Survey of Children’s Wellbeing (ISCWeB) die wordt georganiseerd om het welzijn van kinderen in tijden van COVID-19 in kaart te brengen: Children’s Worlds under COVID-19." "Lieve Bradt" "Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy" "geen abstract" "A promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate." "Johan Neyts" "Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy (Rega Institute)" "Within the group of prof. Johan Neyts, the vaccine team (under the scientific lead of dr. Kai Dallmeier) developed a promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate. This live-attenuated vaccine shows great promise in animal models. By this CoVax-PreC project granted by the COVID-19 fund, we want to study the longevity of the triggered immunity as well as the potential of the vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a population (by means of a hamster transmission model). Further, we want to explore whether a different route of administration (i.e. intranasal) could improve protection against pneumonia and whether the potency can be further enhanced by prior stimulation of the innate immunity." "Trust, legitimacy and intended compliance with COVID-19 exit strategy measures." "Patricia Popelier" "Politics & Public Governance, Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS), Management, Government and Law" "Hoewel ingrijpende Covid-19 lockdownmaatregelen legitiem waren in de eerste maanden van de crisis, begint de roep om strenge maatregelen geleidelijk aan af te nemen. Burgers eisen dat exit-strategieën ontwikkeld worden met voldoende aandacht voor hun sociaaleconomische belangen, terwijl potentiële inbreuken op grondrechten zoals bewegingsvrijheid, privacy en eerlijke mededinging, en rechtsbeginselen zoals gelijkheid en proportionaliteit, leiden tot kritiek en zelfs rechtszaken tegen overheidsmaatregelen. De huidige overheidsstrategieën zijn hoofdzakelijk gebaseerd zijn op epidemiologisch en medisch onderzoek. De toenemende relevantie van sociale en juridische factoren voor exit-strategieën impliceert echter dat nieuwe data en kennis dringend nodig zijn. In het bijzonder is er behoefte aan inzicht in de voorwaarden waaronder Covid-19 overheidsmaatregelen sociaal legitiem en wettig zijn en burgers stimuleren tot naleving. Ons project verhelpt het gebrek aan wetenschappelijke en beleidsrelevante kennis van sociale en juridische factoren van belang bij Covid- 19 exit-strategieën, door middel van een dubbele onderzoekaanpak: 1) drie vignette surveys bestuderen hoe de nalevingsbereidheid en legitimiteit van combinaties van nieuwe Belgische Covid-19 maatregelen worden beïnvloed door framing op onderliggende volksgezondheids-, sociale en juridische belangen, en 2) een systematische juridische analyse genereert inzicht in de wettigheid van nieuwe maatregelen, en dient tevens als essentiële input voor het ontwerp van voornoemde vignette surveys. Door middel van continue communicatie aan overheden van resultaten uit zowel de vignette survey als de juridische analyse, kunnen we reeds gedurende het project beleidsrelevante input leveren voor concrete maatregelen. Daarmee helpen we overheden om geïnformeerde en gebalanceerde beslissingen te nemen over hun exit-strategieën en helpen we gebrekkige naleving van of rechtszaken tegen Covid-19 maatregelen te voorkomen." "Development of a new point-of-care COVID-19 screening using exhaled-breath volatilome analysis." "Peter Carmeliet" "Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB-KU Leuven), Cardiology, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology (Rega Institute)" "BACKGROUND: The inability to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired strict lockdown policies, resulting in unprecedented economic adversity and clogging the health care sys-tem. As countries’ fears for second and third wave outbreaks are becoming reality, there is an urgent need for globally available, easy-to-perform, non-invasive, on-the-spot diagnostic tests to detect SARS-CoV-2 and to predict COVID-19 disease progression.KEY HYPOTHESIS: SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease alters patients’ exhaled-breath metabolite volatile organic compound (VOC) composition. We aim to identify diagnostic and predictive VOC biomarker signatures for COVID-19 disease severity via exhaled-breath analysis.EXPERIMENTAL PLAN: In this collaborative pilot study, the Belgian COVID-19 national reference center (department of laboratory medicine, UZ Leuven, headed by Marc Van Ranst (MVR)) and the Peter Carmeliet (PCA) laboratory (KU Leuven, VIB) combine expertise to correlate exhaled-breath VOC profiles from COVID-19 suspected patients presenting at the UZ Leuven emergency unit with gold standard diag-nostic tests (PCR, CT-scan, seroconversion) and clinical progression (respiratory distress, mortality). We will validate our VOC signatures in large independent patient cohorts in follow-up studies. Sample collection can start soon, while expertise and experience are available.OUTCOME: Exhaled-breath VOC signatures to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, to predict COVID-19 disease progression, and to monitor active disease.FUTURE PERSPECTIVES: Our short-term ambition is to develop an exhaled air-based metabolomics assay, using mass spectrometry and artificial intelligence (machine learning), to define a diagnostic and predictive me-tabolite signature of COVID-19 disease severity. Our long-term ambition is to develop a globally available, easy-to-use, on-the-spot exhaled air-based metabolite signature detection kit (similar as the exhaled air alcohol detection kit). We will seek industrial collaborations to develop point-of-care testing (POCT). Such devices can be used globally to triage patients at hospitals, companies, schools, airports, retirement homes, etc., and effectively reduce the need for national lockdown policies in both developed and developing coun-tries. Similar approaches can be applicable for mutated SARS-CoV-2 or even other Corona viruses. Another advantage of our approach is the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 protein using exhaled-breath condensate." "Protective versus damaging aspects of the immune reaction in relation to clinical outcome in the Limburg COVID-19 cohort" "Veerle SOMERS" "Neurosciences, Immunology & Infection, Jessa Hospital, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg" "DRAFTVERSION: With 57 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, the province of Limburg is the most infected region in Belgium by far. In response, the six hospitals of Limburg and Hasselt University started the Limburg COVID-19 cohort, a collection of patient samples and clinical data organized through the University Biobank Limburg (UBiLim), in order to understand the different aspects of the immune response in COVID-19 patients. During COVID-19, the immune response is highly variable between infected individuals. Patients who develop an effective protective immune response in the early disease stage will mostly show good recovery with mild or even no symptoms. However, when this protective immune response is impaired, the virus can propagate and develop severe disease characterized by a hyperinflammatory state. This study aims to investigate the protective immunity in COVID-19 patients with different disease severities, and the impact of COVID-19 on the immune system when this protective immunity fails. Therefore, the antiviral cellular and humoral immune response is evaluated in COVID-19 cases with different disease severities. The cytokine and immune cell profile is determined in severe COVID-19 cases with a hyperinflammatory response. This study will increase insight into the different aspects of the immune response in COVID-19, which could result in specific therapy decisions adapted to the immunological characteristics of each individual patient." "DSI COVID-19 team" "Niel HENS" "Centre for Statistics, University of Antwerp, Catholic University of Leuven" "The DSI COVID-19 research team led by Prof. Niel Hens investigates the spread of the corona virus, the impact of measures and of exit strategies. The team develops and validates statistical and mathematical models that help to evaluate the spread of the virus and translate scientific insights to policy makers. Prof. Niel Hens is member of the GEES expert group to whom Prof. Christel Faes and Prof. Steven Abrams provide scientific advice. The results and methods are communicated to the scientific community and broader audience in a very active way. We highlight collaborations with the University of Antwerp through the inter-university SIMID group led by Prof. Philippe Beutels and Prof. Niel Hens; with the KU Leuven through the inter-university I-BioStat institute led by Prof. Geert Molenberghs and with several (inter)national partners in the H2020 EpiPose project (grant agreement number 101003688). Amongst others, the COVID-19 team employs meta-population models, individual based models, growth models, early-warning models, mortality analysis, analysis of the corona-survey (UA) and develops an interactive dashboard to visualise the Belgian Covid-19 data. More info can be found on https://www.uhasselt.be/dsi-covid19-en" "The COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study." "Sarah Van de Velde" "Social Epidemiology & Health Policy (SEHPO), Ghent University, Centre for Population, Family and Health" "This project aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being in higher-education students. Our research consists of three parts. In a first part we use the C19 ISWS dataset, which collected information on student well-being during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this in more than 100 educational institutions from 26 countries. With this data we want to investigate (1) to what extent differences exist between the different countries and educational institutions, (2) how these differences can be related to the protective measures implemented by the governments, and (3) by the educational institutions. In a second part, we zoom in on the Belgian context, combining the Belgian sample of the C19 ISWS with information collected through focus groups with student representatives and members of the cells for innovation and quality of education. Not only do we want to identify at-risk groups, we also want to explain how the implemented measures had an impact on the student population and on these atrisk groups, as well as which coping mechanisms students used during the pandemic. The information from these two strands will be brought together to identify best practices that promote the well-being of the student population during future outbreaks." "Minimizing the social impact of a COVID-19 exit strategy: short-term and medium-term estimations and scenario's." "Ive Marx" "Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy" "In this project we generate immediate data to monitor the impact of different exit strategies on incomes and poverty. Although the macroeconomic impact of the lockdown measures on the Belgian economy is unprecedented, there is currently no data available to assess the social consequences of the lockdown or to estimate the impact of COVID-19 policies on incomes and poverty. This severely affects legislators' capacity to put effective measures in place. We use advanced microsimulation modelling and forecasting techniques, in the short-term, (1) to document the impact of the COVID-19 economic shock on incomes and poverty; (2) to assess the effectiveness of policies implemented to reduce the loss of incomes during the initial spread of infections; and (3) to support an evidence-based COVID-19 exit strategy by estimating the poverty impact of various scenarios. Our forecasts will support legislators in designing social and economic support measures that adequately target the most vulnerable individuals and households. In the medium-term, we (1) integrate macro-economic scenario's on economic recovery and sectoral unemployment to produce long-term forecasts of the consequences on household incomes and poverty under a variety of growth and employment scenarios; and (2) we calibrate our models with administrative data sources so that future policy responses to expected rebounds in the number of infections in the months and years to come can be monitored using timely data." "eHealth Literacy, Health Information Seeking Behavior, Social Support and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross Sectional Study of COVID-19 Pandemic" "Leen d'Haenens" "Institute for Media Studies" "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy (VH) is a major barrier to vaccine uptake and the achievement of herd immunity. The propagation of mis/disinformation and the growth of anti-vaccine networks has been substantially aided by the extensive usage of social media. “ehealth literacy” and online “Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB)” has gained accelerated importance to address challenges arising from the overabundance of health information including mis/disinformation or the so called infodemic. Considering that the attitude toward vaccine is also by the people around them, investigating role of “social support” of individuals on vaccination provides a unique network perspective for further examination. This study aims at investigating the association of ehealth literacy, online HISB, and social support of individuals with COVID-19 VH. The results are instrumental in the management of immunization by policy makers, health professionals, & consumers at EU level and globally." "Impact of COVID-19 measures on detection and support of child abuse and neglect cases in Brussels" "Johan Vanderfaeillie" Psychology "To prevent a further outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, some governments opted to quarantine most of their population. People were prevented from having physical contacts and had to remain at one place for the duration of the quarantine. The COVID-19 measures impacted children, parents, families and (child) welfare practitioners"