Projects
New developments in Preimplantation Genetic Testing: towards noninvasive, comprehensive chromosome screening Ghent University
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is performed during an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and aims to prevent the birth of a child with a genetic disorder or to increase the implantation potential for carriers of balanced chromosomal rearrangements. Recent technological advances have revolutionized the field, but have also raised several new questions. The introduction of genome-wide technologies enables comprehensive chromosome ...
For sale: your genetic profile. Ethical problems and policy challenges of advertising and selling genetic tests directly to the public. KU Leuven
Various companies are currently selling genetic tests directly to consumers. The range of direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests available is broad, from preconceptional carrier tests for single-gene disorders to genetic association tests for predisposition to complex, multifactorial diseases. The general objective of this research project is to study ethical, legal and social issues related to DTC genetic testing. The research project will study ...
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in for variant testing and disease modeling in the zebrafish model system Ghent University
CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing enables the efficient generation of animal models harboring deleterious genetic variants to investigate disease mechanisms Currently, the creation of knockout models that completely abolish the function of the gene of interest is relatively straightforward In contrast, generating precise knock-in models is technically challenging and suffers from low efficiency However, in contrast to knockout models, knock-in ...
Next generation diagnostics and susceptibility testing in biofilm-related prosthetic joint infections based on a better understanding of biofilm biology – an innovative translational approach KU Leuven
Foodborne illnesses remain a significant global public health problem with large economic consequences, despite the strict regulations regarding food safety. Salmonella represents the most common cause of bacterial foodborne outbreaks. We hypothesize that the publicly available exopolymeric substances (EPS) of the biofilm matrix made by this pathogen play an important role in gut colonization and invasion. EPS are therefore considered as ...
Making healthier and safer foods: development of a preclinical platform for testing of food components KU Leuven
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. There are 2 main types of IBD, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The exact pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear, but it is thought that the disease is caused by a complex interaction between the microbiome, the immune system and environmental factors, in people with a genetic predisposition. In the last years, the ...
Novel mouse models of mantle cell lymphoma for preclinical testing of anti-leukemic drugs Ghent University
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a highly aggressive subtype of B-cell lymphoma that is characterized
by a poor response to current treatment regimens. Based on genetic data from MCL patients, it is
hypothesized that CCND2 is a true driver of MCL. Also, the neuronal protein SOX11 is used as a
diagnostic marker and was identified as a putative MCL-specific oncogene.
Using our optimized targeting strategies, we have ...
Development of a functional assay to determine the pathogenicity of genetic variants with unknown significance identified in patients with cardiac arrhythmia. University of Antwerp
A zebrafish platform for genetic and chemical screening to improve diagnosis, risk estimation and treatment of cardiovascular manifestations in Marfan syndrome. Ghent University
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a rare disease caused by defects in the fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1), typically affecting many organ systems. The cardiovascular manifestations negatively impact life-expectancy, as MFS patients are particularly susceptible to progressive widening of the aorta that may lead to life-threatening tears in the vessel wall. Currently, there is no cure for MFS and clinical therapy is limited to reducing the risk of severe ...