Projects
Gene expression profiles as biomarkers in human biomonitoring: the study of temporal variation in gene expression and relationships with exposure and effects of environmental pollution Ghent University
As part of a preventive environment and health, there is a strong need for the development of new biomarkers of exposure and / or effects of environmental pollutants, which already give an indication of possible health effects at an early stage. Measuring gene expression in peripheral blood using microarray is an attractive concept. The underlying hypothesis is that circulating blood reflects the physiological response of an organism, and ...
MAGE U+2013 Modelling of Allelic Gene Expression in health and disease. Ghent University
Studying expression of individual alleles could learn us more about possible molecular causes of diseases such as cancer, yet existing methods are too expensive or yield only incomplete information. In this project we will develop a novel, cheaper and more comprehensive methodology, based on population genetics concepts and statistical modelling, and demonstrate its relevance in a cancer case study.
Variability in expression of the 15q11.2 microdeletion syndrome: genetic modifiers in the FMRP network. KU Leuven
The role of ZEB transcription factors in epigenetic chromatin remodeling and gene expression regulation during EMT Ghent University
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process leading to a reversible switch from a polarized epithelial phenotype to a motile and mesenchymal phenotype. EMT is an essential process in embryonic development and in adult life in several physiological (e.g. wound healing) and pathological processes (e.g. fibrosis, cancer progression). In our research group we are focusing on the Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) family ...
Molecular imaging of HER2 expression of breast carcinoma with radiolabeled Nanobodies Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Identification of deregulated microRNA expression in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by use of microRNA specific arrayCGH Ghent University
ArrayCGH analysis has shown that deletions and/or amplifications in T-ALL are present in genomic regions which contain certain microRNAs and microRNA clusters. An integrated analysis of microRNA expression profiles and arrayCGH analysis (oligo-array specifically enriched for microRNAs and microRNA clusters), will possibly lead to discovery of deletions and/or amplifications in T-ALL through deregulation of these specific microRNAs.
Optimized muscle-specific expression and comprehensive characterization of antibody-encoding minicircles for the in vivo production of therapeutic antibodies in mice KU Leuven
In vivo antibody expression via antibody gene transfer is at crossroads between antibody and gene therapy. Following administration of the DNA that encodes a therapeutic antibody, the site of delivery, e.g. muscle, is turned into an antibody 'factory’, resulting in the presence of antibodies in the blood for a prolonged period of time. This innovative approach addresses several challenges associated with conventional antibody proteins, such ...
Regulatory mechanisms of PEAR1 expression in myeloid cell-lineage specification. KU Leuven
Differential expression and secretion of microRNAs by specific cardiac fibroblast phenotypes KU Leuven
The heart is composed of many cells types, out of which cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts form the majority. Cardiac myocytes are the muscle cells, which are responsible for the rhythmic beating of the heart. Fibroblasts produce proteins which maintain the architecture of the heart. However, after heart attack whereby muscle cells are lost (infarction), fibroblasts modify themselves to become myofibroblasts. These cells produce collagen that ...