Name Activity "HIV and Tuberculosis" "The Unit of HIV/AIDS was created in 2011 and is headed by Prof. Lut Lynen (MD, internist). The unit’s field of interest is AIDS care in resource-limited settings, in particular HIV co-infections and opportunistic infections. Research  HIV co-infections (tuberculosis, hepatitis C)Diagnosis and management of MDR-TBClinical decision making and guideline developmentModels of care for HIV patients Teaching Short Course on Antiretroviral Therapy (2003-2010)Electronic Short Course on Antiretroviral Therapy (2008-)Short Course on Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine (2008-)AIDS care modules in all courses at ITM (2003-)Drug-resistant tuberculosis Capacity building and operational research in low-resource settings Management of HIV & co-infections, in particular TB and hepatitis CClinical Decision Making & Guideline DevelopmentPrognostic research: score buildingIn Cambodia, Ethiopia, South Africa Service delivery by the Unit of HIV/AIDS includes active participation in Medical services (HIV, STI, Travel Medicine)WHO guideline development group in the field of HIV and opportunistic infectionsAdvisory committees: Swaziland TasP advisory committee" "Public Health, General" "Former Department of Microbiology" "ITM DRC Unit" "On 20 October 2021, Congolese Deputy Prime Minister Christophe Lutundula and (former) ITM Board Chair and Antwerp Governor Cathy Berx signed the agreement to open a local representation of ITM in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the presence of Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir. ITM-DRC chose the capital Kinshasa as its base of operations. The presence in DRC was strengthened because of the large volume of joint projects with the need for a more close follow-up and the historical link between the two countries. The representation is responsible for building and following up partner cooperation, both within capacity-building projects, scientific research and the elimination of sleeping sickness.For its development, ITM’s DRC Office receives funding from the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) Belgium, which looks after the various aspects of Belgian development cooperation, and from various other donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Research Foundation of Flanders (FWO). Besides a local representative, it also employs a number of scientific experts who provide support, train partners and guide them in scientific research.Furthermore, the office in DRC consists of local and international staff who deal with administrative, logistical and financial issues on a daily basis, both of their own office and within the capacity building of partners.ITM's main partners in the DRC are the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), the School of Public Health of the University of Lubumbashi (ESP-UNILU), the Centre for Health Research in Kimpese (CRSK) and the National Programme to Fight Sleeping Sickness (PNLTHA). A framework agreement was concluded with these partners, which serves as the basis for multi-year projects. There are also several cooperation agreements with other international organisations such as the World Health Organisation and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)." "Department of Clinical Sciences" "Johan van Griensven" "Patients are the focal point of the research of our department. Our research fields include the diagnostics, prevention and treatment of the individual patient, with emphasis on tropical and infectious diseases including zoonoses, hiv/aids and tuberculosis.Our expertise lies in descriptive and analytical pathology, laboratory medicine, pharmacology, medical decision sciences and clinical epidemiology. We also carry out clinical studies researching new means and medical technologies.Head of Department: Johan van GriensvenMission: to generate and disseminate clinical knowledge and to improve patient care by research, training and reference services in the field of tropical and global infectious diseases.Spear points:• Febrile illnesses in the tropics and in travellers• Neglected tropical diseases• Emerging and epidemic infectious diseases• Tropical bacterial infections• Antibiotic resistance and stewardship• Sexually transmitted infections• HIV & co-infections (tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, hepatitis C)" "Imaging & Pathology, Kulak Kortrijk Campus" "Simon De Meyer" "Our research is aimed at better understanding of the VWF/ADAMTS13/platelet axis in hemostatic, thrombotic and inflammatory processes. We use various in vivo models, combined with intravital microscopy to study molecular and cellular interactions. In particular, we focus on designing novel therapeutic strategies that interfere with von Willebrand factor function for treatment of thrombo-inflammatory disease." "Institute of Tropical Medicine" "Dean's Office of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences" "Jan Van Bocxlaer" Mycobacteriology "The Unit of Mycobacteriology, led by Prof Bouke De Jong, is dedicated to improving the health of patients suffering from mycobacterial diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer. We provide diagnostic services for individual patients and challenge current control approaches, aiming at better understanding of mycobacterial diseases and improving patient outcome.Our research lines include fundamental pathobiology, pathogen evolution and operational questions, including projects on drug resistance mechanisms, transmission, diagnostics and treatment of mycobacterial diseases. Besides research, we provide ISO15189 accredited diagnostic services, including isolation and identification of mycobacteria as well as phenotypic and genotypic determination of drug resistance. Our diagnostic services support clinical laboratories nationally and internationally, in addition to control programs, NGO projects, and clinical trials.As WHO Supranational Reference Laboratory for tuberculosis, we support numerous National TB Reference Laboratories in endemic countries, and organize annual proficiency testing panels for drug susceptibility testing. In the context of clinical trial support we also supervise and strengthen site laboratories in other countries towards quality improvements following Good Clinical Laboratory Practice.The Unit has one of the largest and most diverse collections of well documented mycobacterial strains worldwide, characterized by phenotypic and/or genotypic tests. A subset, comprising strains from human, animal and environmental origin from all continents spanning from 1960 to date, is made available to the broader scientific community and industry through the BCCM/ITM public collection of mycobacterial strains. Building on the research lines, the BCCM/ITM collection has an emphasis on M. tuberculosis complex and M. ulcerans, with over 800 isolates from a wide range of endemic countries, besides fastidious non-tuberculous mycobacteria like M. genavense, M. haemophilum and M. lepraemurium. This public collection also hosts 8000 clones of M. bovis BCG with distinct mutations.Besides supervising students at different levels (bachelor, master and PhD), formal teaching activities include lectures on mycobacterial diseases and molecular epidemiology at ITM and the University of Antwerp. We co-organise the annual course on Clinical Decision-Making for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR TB).Please do not hesitate to email us for more information." "Global Health Institute (GHI)" "Jean-Pierre Van geertruyden" "Vision The GHI of Antwerp will be a consortium of people committed to the realization of the institute's mission. The GHI does not aim to replace existing organizations or programmes of its constituents, but will function as a framework and hub, seeking to strengthen and forge synergies that contribute to the mission of the institute. Mission: ""Strengthening high-impact global health research"" The mission of the GHI is to conduct research aimed at improving the health of people around the world, to build capacity for global health research, and to engage in the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based interventions for health problems affecting low- and middle-income countries. This is in accordance with the mission of both the University of Antwerp and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: Strategy The Global Health Institute (GHI) at the University of Antwerp will provide a framework for research, educational activities, and global health service together with local and global partners. We will aim to: Raise public awareness in Belgium and abroad about global health, including the influence of globalization on health and health care services in Flanders and Belgium. Facilitate progression from research to action by focusing on sustainable interventions for important health issues in low and middle-income countries. Focus on interdisciplinary research, a broad set of diseases, including their biological and structural determinants, and the one-health concept to reflect the changing patterns of global health Establish academic networks and long-lasting partnerships to generate sustainable collaborations and maximize return of investment for both partners. Align research, training, teaching and services to the priorities of the University of Antwerp and the partner institutions (university, private sector, governmental and non-governmental organizations) in low and middle income countries. Synergize and build on the unique strengths of the University of Antwerp and the partner institutions in low and middle-income countries. Build capacity for epidemiological global health research among Belgian and international scholars through integration of scholars in research studies, short-term exchange programs, training in quantitative and qualitative skills required to conduct high-quality global health research, and enrollment In the University of Antwerp dual PhD program. Strengthen the institutional capacity of the partnering universities and institutions in low- and middle-income countries to perform epidemiological research, grant administration, health education and knowledge management. Strengthen the global health research capacity of the University of Antwerp by stimulating leading researchers to include a global health component in their research. Work hand in hand with relevant Ministries (Health, Education, etc.) in Flanders, Belgium and abroad to improve in- and preservice training of health workers and the establishment of evaluation and monitoring systems; Research at GHI The GHI of Antwerp aims to perform high quality research on a wide range of public health problems in low and middle income countries. Epidemiological methods are used to ensure optimal study design and analysis. Qualitative or mixed methods are used when formative research is needed or to ensure optimal integration of the cultural context into research and implementation. We envisage that health economics or mathematical modelling aspects of future studies will be performed. Health systems research and implementation research is performed in collaboration with our international partners, local communities and Departments of Health. Ongoing research projects by research topic: HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Nodding disease, Neglected diseases (Emmonsia hoerikwaggiana, Schistosomiasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis), HPV and cervix cancer screening, community Health, , Non-communicable diseases, health system research, Migrant Health, Vaccine preventable Diseases, nutrition."