Projects

The project "ENVIRONAGE" is situated in the field of molecular epidemiology. Although aging is inevitable, aging does not happen always the same. Aging is a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors (ENVIRONAGE). ENVIRONAGE integrates environmental influences and molecular mechanisms of aging, including the length of the ends of chromosomes (telomeres). By studying aging mechanisms both in the elderly and in newborns, research can ...

The impact of air pollution on human health is a worldwide threat, moreover, current evidence suggests that health effects occur even at concentrations below the WHO guideline levels. In utero exposure has been associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and damage to biomolecules, but also has an impact on disease development later in life. Of particular concern are recent studies describing effects of exposure to small particles ...

The impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human health has been of worldwide concern as they are abundant environmental and food-borne pollutants. PAHs are developmental toxins, carcinogens and immunotoxicants capable of crossing the placental barrier. The unborn child is at greater risk than the adult from these exposure. In utero exposure has been associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and damage to the genome, ...

My research involves the study of environmental factors in early life that can affect the health of the (unborn) child. I study the molecular changes that occur in association with environmental factors that might be related to health problems in later life. The submitted work shows that changes in gene as well as microRNA expression both in placental tissue as well as in cord blood, occur in association with air pollution exposure during ...

AGEing is a complex phenotype responsive to a plethora of ENVIRONmental inputs (ENVIRONAGE). Age related conditions in adults often find their origin in risk factors operative in early life. The molecular mechanisms behind these phenomena remain largely unknown. Mitochondria are involved in a variety of critical cell functions, including oxidative energy production and programmed cell death. Recently, I established in a study of 175 newborns, a ...

Human ageing is a complex physiological process responsive to environmental exposures during the life course. Attrition of telomeres (the ends of our chromosomes) is considered a primary hallmark of ageing. Ageing starts as early as from life in the womb. Maternal pregnancy exposures may have important persistent effects on the telomere biology system of newborns. Newborns with short telomeres are assumed to be predisposed to a more advanced ...

Ambient air pollution, including black carbon, entails a serious public health risk because of its carcinogenic potential and as climate pollutant. Inhalation of fossil fuel-derived particulate matter (PM) is associated with a wide range of non-pulmonary health effects. Based on the WHO report of 2015 the European health annual costs of air pollution have been estimated to US$ 1.6 trillion. Although recent studies strongly suggest that particle ...

Evidence is mounting that exposure to ambient air pollution during the most vulnerable stage in life "the in utero period" is linked with low birth weight and the development of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological pathologies in later life. Mitochondria are the biochemical power plants of cells, and dysfunction of these sensitive organelles is associated with a range of human diseases. It is well established that mitochondria play an ...

The human exposome covers the totality of non-genetic exposures from conception throughout the life course. The Flemish exposome project, FLEXiGUT, combines the unique and complementary expertise in Flanders on dietary- and environment-related human biomarkers and biomonitoring, metabolomics, microbiome research and epidemiology to investigate the complex human exposome. This first large-scale Flemish Exposome study, will make use of ...