Name Responsible Activity "Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology" "Tatiana Kouznetsova" "The Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology (HCVE) coordinated influential clinical trials, published in top-ranking journals, such as the Systolic Hypertension in Europe Trial (Syst-Eur), the Ambulatory blood Pressure monitoring and Treatment of Hypertension trial (APTH) and the Treatment of hypertension based on Home or Office blood Pressure trial (THOP).  HCVE led the Data Safety and Monitoring Board of large clinical trials, including the Systolic Hypertension in China trial (Syst-China), the Randomised Olmesartan and Diabetes Microalbuminuria Prevention Study (ROADMAP) and the Hypertension in the very Elderly trial (HYVET).  HCVE organised the Ouabain and Adducin for Specific Intervention on Sodium in HyperTension trial (OASIS-HT) and the Newer vs. Older Antihypertensive Agents in African Hypertensive patients (NOAAH) trial, which was running at six clinical sites in sub-Saharan Africa.  HCVE played a pivotal role in delineating the deleterious adverse health effects of environmental exposure of the Flemish population to heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, and more recently to air pollutants (fine particulate).The current research interests of HCVE focus on the clinical application of omics (genomics, epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics), population science, and the treatment of cardiovascular disease, in particular hypertension.  In 1985, HCVE initiated the still ongoing FLEmish Study on ENvironment Genes and Health Outcomes (FLEMENGHO), which served as a template for other population studies across Europe, including the European Project on Genes in Hypertension (EPOGH) and the Swiss Kidney Project on Genes in Hypertension (SKIPOGH), in China (Jingning County), and more recently in Montevideo, Uruguay and Lugbe (Abuja), Nigeria.  In 1998, HCVE participated in several FP7 projects, including INGENIOUS HYPERCARE, HYPERGENES, EU-MASCARA and HOMAGE.  Within H2020, HCVE is the coordinator of the ERA-CVD project PROACT (2018) on the prediction and pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome, using omics technologies. HCVE set up several international research consortia.  IDACO (International Database on Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome) and IDHOCO (International Database of HOme blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome) focus on the clinical applicability of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or the self-measured blood pressure at home in risk stratification, using data from prospective population studies.  HCVE started the European Network coordinating research on REnal denervation (ENCOReD) and in 2017 published the pilot phase of the INSPiRED (Investigator-Steered Project on intravascular Renal Denervation for Management of Drug-Resistant Hypertension) trial.The European Research Council Advanced Researcher project EPLORE (Epidemiological Left ventricular Outcomes Research in Europe) focused on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the general population and was followed-up by a Proof-of-Concept project granted by the European Research Council on the use of urinary proteomics for the prediction of heart transplantation outcomes (uPROPHET – Urinary PROteomics in Predicting HEart Transplantation outcomes). HCVE coordinated PREMATCH (PREMATurity as predictor of children's Cardiovascular-renal Health), which was a case-control study comparing the health of children at 11 years, between those born with extremely low birth weight (" "Healthcare & ethics" "Wim PINXTEN" "Research in the broad domain of care and ethics, including bioethics, health policy, medical education, medical ethics, medical psychology, patiënt-driven healthcare, and  patient safety." "Healthcare & Economics" "-Economic model  of controlling  patient safety -methods for risk analysis -systems for incident reporting -prospective/scenario analysis -vignette/factorial survey methods" "Plant Sciences" "Isabel Roldán-RuizJohan Van HuylenbroeckKristiaan Van Laecke" "Plant Sciences studies agriculture, horticulture, energy crops and ornamentals. We study gene characteristics, plant reactions to environmental factors, population diversity, soil characteristics, and plant diseases and plagues. We breed new cultivars and innovate in crop protection and crop husbandry. The four research areas are Applied Genetics and Breeding, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Crop Protection, and Growth and Development." Ecosphere "Gudrun De Boeck" "The new research group ECOSPHERE has grown organically from the former ECOBE (Ecosystem Management) and the SPHERE (Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research) groups and combines the strengths of the available expertise in fundamental and applied research in aquatic ecology, and in aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology and ecophysiology. Our research group aims to underpin environmental management decisions with fundamental knowledge at different levels of organisation: from cell to ecosystem. It combines laboratory experiments, field investigations and mathematical modelling and goes beyond the impact studies towards solution-based research (mitigation and nature-based solutions). We focus on the interactions between organisms and physicochemical factors on all levels of biological organisation. Our main research themes are 1) Integrated water management; 2) Water and soil risk assessment; 3) Macro- and micronutrients for healthy ecosystems; 4) Bioavailability and accumulation of micro- and macro-contaminants; and 5) Physiological and molecular mechanisms of stress and toxicity of micro- and macro-contaminants." "VIB CMN - Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease" "Kristel Sleegers" "The research unit is committed to increase insight in the complex genetics of Alzheimer's disease and to investigate the translational potential of genetic discovery. We use genetic-epidemiological methods and advanced genomic technologies to identify molecular mechanisms that can serve as future targets for early detection, prevention and treatment. Techniques include 2nd and 3rd generation DNA and RNA sequencing on various biomaterials, ranging from targeted through whole exome to whole genome sequencing and in situ sequencing, high-throughput association studies (both common and rare, SNP and CNV) on disease endpoints as well as intermediate and endophenotypes, identification of genetic factors that modify onset age, and polygenic risk profiling. We participate in numerous (inter-) national networks and consortia, to enhance gene identification, interdisciplinary gene characterization and early biomarker discovery." "Department of Biomedical Sciences" "Kevin Ariën" "The Department of Biomedical Sciences consists of ten research units organised in three research groups. We are recognised around the world as leading experts on some of the most important and often neglected pathogens (i.e. parasites, mycobacteria and viruses) and vectors of global public health concern and with outbreak potential. Together with colleagues across ITM’s research departments and in international collaborative networks, we constitute a unique multi-disciplinary critical mass centred around Global Science for a Healthier World.We strive towards reducing the suffering from tropical infectious diseases through generating fundamental insights in pathogen-host-vector interactions, by studying the patterns and the drivers of adaptation of pathogens and vectors to changing macro and micro-environments, and by innovating tools to improve the diagnosis, surveillance, prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases around the world. We accomplish this mission by combining field-based epidemiological and ecological research with laboratory-based experimental research using advanced state-of-the-art methods and approaches. We share the philosophy to closely connect the excellence and relevance of basic and applied research with capacity strengthening through training, education and staff mobility between ITM and our partner institutions in low- and middle-income countries across Africa, South-America and Asia." "Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics" "Mirko Petrovic" "The Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics is part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Its research is centered around the area of internal medicine and pediatrics." "Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences" "Veerle Foulon" "The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences consists of one department, the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. For more information on research topics see the department." "Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)" "Michel Walrave" "MIOS is a research group within the Department of Communication Studies at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. The research team aims at analysing individuals' and organizational uses of ICT (and other media) to gain insight into (computer) mediated communication, its uses and effects, and to pursue evidence-based communication strategies and policy. The research activities of MIOS can be linked to two communication levels, which comprise the central and complementary research strands: • The use of ICT (and other media) by individuals, and the associated risks and opportunities: This level focuses on research into the use of internet, mobile phones and games by children, young people and adults. • The strategic use of ICT (and other media) by organizations (companies, social-profit organizations, governments): At this level, research is conducted in areas such as (online) marketing and health communication. Studies within the first research strand center on the following key topics: • Cyberbullying: definition, measurement, typology, prevalence, profiles of bullies and victims. • E-marketing and privacy: the various types of electronic marketing, the disclosure of personal data in online marketing contexts and on social networking sites, the knowledge and experience that children and adolescents have in the area of e-marketing (and more specifically, their ad-discriminating ability and their ad-intent awareness). • Digital gaming: the study of player experiences and player involvement, the integration of marketing communication into games (e.g. in-game advertising), the health implications of games and moral issues related to digital games. • ICT Families: how the use of ICT possibly interferes with parenting, food intake patterns (e.g. decline of family meals) and other family rituals. In addition, the parenting behaviours, communication styles of parents and parental internet-mediation strategies are examined within this context. The second research strand is primarily focused on the use of technological applications for purposes of strategic communication in profit and social-profit organizations. This context involves the expansion of research concentrating on marketing (and e-marketing) communication, as well as on governmental or other awareness-raising communication campaigns, including health-related communication and interventions. Attention is also paid to the impact of ICT on internal organizational communication."