Projects
Establishing neuroimmune brain organoids as a platform for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disease research. University of Antwerp
Neuron-glia biology in neurodegeneration. KU Leuven
"The eye as a window to the brain” is the central theme of my research. I envision to focus on the interrelatedness of neurobiology and ophthalmology and to exploit this cross-over of disciplines to enrich fundamental research into central nervous system (CNS) function. By concentrating on the retina-brain axis, I will unravel mechanisms of intercellular communication in the CNS, with emphasis on neuronglia interactions. I will study these ...
Unraveling the unprecedented roles for Presenilin/?-secretase in inter-organellar membrane contact sites and how this modulates cellular calcium homeostasis KU Leuven
Mutations in presenilin (PSEN) 1 and 2 account for the majority cases of familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). Since their discovery, many teams have focused on how these mutations affect PSEN’s catalytic role in producing toxic amyloid β peptides. Nevertheless, mutant PSENs have also been extensively linked to Ca2+ signaling pathways, for instance through storage compartments, like the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lysosomes. Ca2+ shuttling ...
SRP-Onderzoekszwaartepunt: Translating the biology of cognitive function to improve diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders Vrije Universiteit Brussel
All-for-one and one-for-all: Microglia-centric networks with neurons and astrocytes. University of Antwerp
Innovative in vivo screening method to cross the blood brain barrier Flanders Institute for Biotechnology
Heterotypic amyloid interactions as modulators of selective cellular vulnerability KU Leuven
It is currently not known what determines the selective neuronal
vulnerability of amyloids in neurodegenerative pathologies: we do
not understand how amyloids interact with other cellular components,
whether these interactions are specific, and how these interactions
result in cell-specific toxic phenotypes.
Our lab has played a crucial role in elucidating how aggregationprone
regions drive the self-assembly of ...