Projects
Inter-organelle communication through membrane contact sites in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases (InterAction) KU Leuven
Production of next generation modulators of pannexins and connexins as novel therapeutics in the treatment of inflammatory cardiovascular, hepatic and joint diseases. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Novel strategies against infectious diseases KU Leuven
Antiviral drugs are only available against infections with herpesviruses, HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses and the influenza virus. For (m)any other viral infection(s) that pose an important treat to human health (including re-emerging & neglected infections), there are no antivirals available (see also WHO BluePrint list). From time to time, novel viruses emerge with the potential to cause large epidemics andmankind will be largely left ...
New intranasal marker vector vaccine for protection of horses against equine herpesvirus 1 related and other (re)emerging viral diseases. Ghent University
This project aims to develop a live attenuated vaccine to protect horses against equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-associated diseases by intranasal administration. This vaccine will protect the upper respiratory tract (primary replication site of EHV-1) of horses by the activation of a local and general immunity. The proposed vaccine strain will have a plugin spot for the introduction of other foreign (viral) genes, which allows to use this ...
New intranasal marker vector vaccine for protection of horses against equine herpesvirus 1 related and other (re)emerging viral diseases. Ghent University
Equine herpesvirus 1 is causing respiratory, reproductive and neurological disorders, resulting in financial losses in horse industry. In Belgium, only inactivated vaccines are available which only partially protects horses. As an infection with wild type virus is establishing a full protection for 6 months, an intranasal vaccination will give the best prevention. Two intranasal attenuated EHV-1 viruses have been developed in the promoter’s ...
Risk of emergence of viral diseases driven by ecoclimatic Institute of Tropical Medicine
The aim of the project is to elaborate an integrated approach of the surveillance of risk factors combining environment, climate and health, focusing on viral infections. The multidisciplinary cluster will take advantage of the existing inventory of health problems that could be the consequences of climate changes and associated environmental changes (AGORA-MCS project) as well as the data generated by the concerned project, and information ...
Occupational exposure and respiratory diseases KU Leuven
During the 20th century coal workers’ pneumoconiosis—or anthraco-silicosis—and asbestos-related diseases were the major occupational respiratory diseases among Belgian workers, both in terms of public health impact as well as public visibility. Except for asbestos-induced mesothelioma, the occurrence of these occupational diseases has been declining in recent decades, due to improved prevention but to a large extent also because many ...
Improving treatment outcomes for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases through identification of predictive biomarkers and therapeutic drug monitoring of new biologicals KU Leuven
Psoriasis and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) being the two main subtypes, are chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, respectively. Together, these lifelong debilitating diseases affect up to 4% of the Western population and typically have a relapsing-remitting disease course that significantly impacts the patient’s quality of life. With the introduction ...
Data-driven control and prioritisation of non-EU-regulated contagious animal diseases Ghent University
Farmers, veterinarians and other animal health managers in the livestock sector are currently missing information on prevalence and burden of non-EU-regulated contagious animal diseases. They are in need of adequate tools for risk assessment and for prioritisation of control measures for these diseases. The DECIDE project will develop data-driven decision support tools, which present (i) robust and early signals of disease emergence and ...