Projects
Radiation-induced leukemia: response of CD34+ hematopoietic cells to clinical therapy beams Ghent University
Leukemia is the most important malignancy after radiation exposure during childhood. The high risk of developing leukemia is related to the high sensitivity of the bone marrow, which harbors hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). This project aims to elucidate the response of HSPCs (CD34+) to clinical therapy beams of different radiation qualities.
HIV Nanoheroes: novel CRISPR/Cas9-based CD4+ cell-specific HHV-7 vectors to cure HIV Ghent University
Nearly 38 million people globally are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS by replicating in CD4+ immune cells. Current therapies can inhibit the virus from multiplying, but cannot eliminate viral DNA copies integrated in the genome of CD4+ long-living cells (viral reservoir). Genetic therapy would be a sophisticated way to treat HIV, but conventional vectors are still unable to target the HIV reservoir. Here, we aim to design ...
Development of a CD19 CAR T cell therapy for multiple sclerosis. University of Antwerp
A novel CRISPR/Cas9-based nanomedicine strategy targeting CD4+ cells to cure HIV Ghent University
Nearly 38 million people globally are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS by replicating in CD4+ immune cells. Current therapies can inhibit the virus from multiplying, but cannot eliminate viral DNA copies integrated in the genome of CD4+ long-living cells (viral reservoir). As such, HIV treatment requires HIV patients' lifelong commitment to drug adherence, which causes serious side effects, stigma, and a vast cost impact on ...
A novel CRISPR/Cas9-based nanomedicine strategy targeting CD4+ cells to cure HIV Ghent University
In this proposal, we aim to design lipid nanoparticles coated with anti-CD4 nanobodies that encode CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins targeting both ends of the HIV genome and the viral coreceptor CCR5. As such, our novel nanomedicine will selectively purge HIV reservoirs in CD4+ cells, while conferring healthy CD4+ cells resistant to HIV reinfection, and off-target effects in non-target cells will remain minimal.
Post-transplant infusion of CD19 CAR-armored donor lymphocytes in adult patients with B-cell hematological malignancies: a phase I/IIa study. University of Antwerp
A single cell multi-omics approach to identify novel MS-associated cytotoxic CD4+ T cells Hasselt University
In-depth investigation of patient immune signature after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy KU Leuven
CAR T-cell therapy has recently emerged as a novel important therapeutic
tool in patients with advanced B cell malignancies. This treatment is targeting
specifically the CD19 expression on B lymphocytes and has shown
remarkable efficacy even in patients with relapsed / refractory disease. While
showing promising results, there is to date, very little known on the immune
mechanism supporting long-term response. Using ...