Projects

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Brugada syndrome research to the next level: identification of genetic modifiers. University of Antwerp

Maaike Alaerts
Medical Genetics (MEDGEN)
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited cardiac electrical disorder, characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and a significant risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD). It accounts for up to 20% of SCD cases in young individuals (<45 years) with structurally normal hearts. At present over 25 genes, including SCN5A, have been associated with BrS, but mutations in these genes explain only 30% of the cases. One other major ...

Unravelling the discriminative pathomechanisms for biglycan-related aortopathy and spondylo-epi-metaphyseal dysplasia. University of Antwerp

Josephina Meester
Medical Genetics (MEDGEN)
Progressive dilatation of the aorta leads to the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms, which are often asymptomatic but predispose to aortic dissection and rupture. The latter are associated with high mortality rates. In 2016, I identified loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in BGN, an X-linked gene, as a novel cause of a severe syndromic form of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD) and is now designated as Meester-Loeys syndrome ...

TIE receptors as molecular switches between pro-angiogenic or vascular normalizing effects of macrophages. Ghent University

Ward De Spiegelaere
Department of Morphology

Angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel development, is an important mechanism in health and
disease. Angiogenesis is extensively being studied as a therapeutic target in conditions where
aberrant blood vessel growth worsens the clinical outcome, such as in atherosclerotic plaque
formation. However, angiogenesis is also being studied as a therapeutic tool to resupply ischemic
tissue with blood vessels. A good knowledge ...

Autophagy induction as mechanism of action in cardiovascular disease prevention by olive polyphenols. University of Antwerp

Lynn Roth
Physiopharmacology (PHYSPHAR)
Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the leading cause of acute cardiovascular syndromes and is responsible for 3.9 million deaths in Europe every year. Preventive strategies are greatly needed to reduce the health care burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Mediterranean diet results in a lower CVD risk, with virgin olive oil as its key element. Many of the health-promoting effects are ascribed to the olive polyphenols (OPs), which are known ...

Development of a functional model to determine the pathogenicity of COL4A1- and COL4A2-variants of unknown significance in cerebrovascular disorders and aortic aneurysms. University of Antwerp

Marije Meuwissen
Medical Genetics (MEDGEN)
COL4A1- and COL4A2-related disorders cause a broad spectrum of problems comprising abnormal brain development, brain hemorrhage at any age, aneurysms (local dilatations) of the brain arteries, but also eye or renal problems. In clinical practice, both genes are studied in disorders of brain vasculature or development and are included in gene panels to study individuals with intellectual disability. These investigations sometimes identify ...

A new mobile application focusing on targeted education to improve the adherence and knowledge level of atrial fibrillation patients. University of Antwerp

Hein Heidbuchel
Cardiovascular diseases (CARDIOVASC)
We want to evaluate the effect of a new and innovative mobile application (self developed) based on intensive targeted education of AF patients. Different unique aspects will be implemented in this application: 1) The JAKQ will be used to provide personalized education for each patient based on general AF knowledge gaps and knowledge gaps about the specific OAC medication of the patients. Patients will receive specific feedback on all aspects of ...

Neuregulin-1 as a therapy for atrial fibrillation and the role of the NRG-1/ErbB4 system in atrial remodelling. University of Antwerp

Hein Heidbuchel
Physiopharmacology (PHYSPHAR), Cardiovascular diseases (CARDIOVASC)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and one of the most common causes of stroke and heart failure. AF is induced by electrical, contractile, and structural remodeling of the atria. Moreover, AF itself induces these changes, leading to a vicious circle ("AF begets AF"). Tissue inflammation and fibrosis play an important role in the structural changes, and form the basis of subsequent electrical and ...

Studies of the ErbB4 receptor in myocardial non-myocytes to create new opportunities for the treatment of cardiac disease. University of Antwerp

Gilles De Keulenaer
Physiopharmacology (PHYSPHAR)
It has been recently discovered that activation of ErbB2 receptor signaling in cardiac muscle is a physiological response of the heart to cope with overload and injury, and may even lead to cardiac regeneration. Researchers try to translate these findings into pharmacological applications, which would be a significant contribution to clinical cardiology. To date, the easiest way to activate ErbB2 in the heart is treatment with neuregulin-1, a ...

Cardiovascular dysfunction after cancer radiation therapy: search for biomarkers and study of the underlying physiological mechanisms. University of Antwerp

Pieter-Jan Guns
Physiopharmacology (PHYSPHAR)
The increasing effectiveness of multimodality cancer treatment, including medical imaging for diagnosis followed by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, has significantly improved the outcome for many cancer patients. However, this also implies that long-term side effects inducted by therapy have become an important issue. External beam radiation therapy (RT) plays an important role in the management of patients with cancer. For ...

Unravelling the role of ketone body oxidation in lymphagiogenesis KU Leuven

Peter Carmeliet
Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB-KU Leuven)

Not much is known about the metabolic mechanism of the lymphangiogenesis (the growth of the lymphatic vessels). According to recent discovery, the fatty acid oxidation (FAO)-derived acetyl-CoA in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs - the cells lining the lymphatic vessels) is related to this process. Blocking FAO in LECs causes lymphangiogenesis defects and subdermal lymphedema. Since no lymphedema treatment is available, I will investigate if ...