Projects
A MESO QuickPlex SQ system to measure single or multiple immunotargets in biofluids Ghent University
Multiplexed cytokine and chemokine analysis for the quantification of single or multiple immunotargets in biofluids is pivotal for the diagnosis and management of patients with systemic inflammatory disease. It allows early diagnosis of complex diseases, longitudinal monitoring and quantification of disease activation before and after targeted treatment, functional validation of novel disease-causing genes and finally the identification of ...
Exploring the biology of bacterial extracellular vesicles in human biofluids. Ghent University
Bacteria release bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEV), which are nanometer-sized membrane particles transporting nucleic acids, metabolites, proteins and endotoxins. Recently, my host lab discovered that patients with a disrupted intestinal barrier (including cancer patients and HIV patients) have higher BEV counts in their blood circulation depicting them as valuable biomarker candidates. This discovery prompts the novel concept of ...
Ore geology and geofluids research KU Leuven
General theme
The ore geology research line focusses on (1) Sediment-hosted deposits, such as stratiform Cu-Co deposits in the Central African Copperbelt and stratabound Zn-Pb deposits worldwide, and (2) Ta-Nb-Sn-Li pegmatite and Sn-W-Au quartz vein deposits in Central Africa (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda), Europe and the USA. This research line applies detailed field work and state-of-the-art petrographic and analytical techniques. This ...
Mid-InfraRed Active photonic integrated Circuits for Life sciences and Environment Ghent University
In this ERC project we will look for methods to realize integrated optical circuits for the mid-infrared wavelength range. These circuits will be based on a CMOS compatible waveguide platform. Applications are situated in the spectroscopic analysis of gases and bio-fluids.
Direct, rapid and sensitive sensing in body fluids to enable a fine-grained biomarker view on extracellular vesicles Ghent University
Extracellular vesicles (EV) provide a spatiotemporal fingerprint of the cell of origin, and EV secreted in urine or circulating in blood plasma carry biomarkers of therapy response. The use of labor intensive and time consuming bulk EV separation methods hampers our understanding of EV heterogeneity in biofluids, and impedes the clinical implementation of EV biomarkers. I will establish an innovative workflow consisting of EV fractionation by ...
A multi-modal and longitudinal approach to study the neurobiological underpinnings of disease onset and progression in genetic ALS variants: from presymptomatic to symptomatic disease stages. KU Leuven
The main goal of this project is to better understand how neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation fit in a sequential model of disease progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with a myriad of disease presentations at the clinical, genetic and pathogenic level. Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration play a key role in ALS pathophysiology, but there is no consensus on the regional and ...
Continuous Monitoring of Diabetes biomarkers (CoMoDi) KU Leuven
Recently, metal oxides have attracted great attention as materials for electrochemical biosensors due to their low cost, functional biocompatibility, excellent chemical stability in biofluids and easy anchoring of biorecognition molecules. Drawbacks limiting their practical use in devices are the low conductivity and electron transfer kinetics. Nanostructural forms of metal oxides could overcome these limitations. The main goal of this PhD ...
Metabolic fingerprinting towards diagnosis and prognosis of cow's milk allergy in children. Ghent University
Given the emerging evidence for the involvement of the gut microbiome in the onset of food allergy
and its resolution, this project will rely on our metabolomics platform and microbial analysis of CMA patients' biofluids, for identifying prognostic biomarkers. Specific bacterial groups involved in the biomarker formation, will be manipulated or administered to mice to aid in biomarker qualification.
Biomechanics Ghent University
The AOG Biomechanics is doing experimental and computational research on (1) biofluid flows in the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary airways and artificial organs, (2) structural mechanics (musculoskeletal system or stent inflation in an artery) and (3) mechanical interaction between fluids and structures (e.g. heart valve dynamics). The research unit aims to optimize diagnostic methods and therapies, all for the benefit of human health. ...