Projects
Unleashing the full potential of cDC-based immunotherapies Vrije Universiteit Brussel
ACTION: Advance care planning – een innovative palliative care intervention to improve quality of life in oncology Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Structural and functional comparisons of MMP-9 forms KU Leuven
Synthesis and biological evaluation of C-nucleoside analogues KU Leuven
C-Nucleosides are an important family of compounds with promising biological activities. In C-nucleosides, the labile C-N glycosidic linkage of classical N-nucleosides is replaced by a more stable C-C bond, which makes C-nucleosides resistant against hydrolysis. Some naturally occurring C-nucleosides such as formycin and showdomycin are potent antibiotics, while pseudouridine, an isomer of uridine, is able to stabilize RNA duplexes by ...
Syndecan-PDZ scaffolds in the molecular and functional heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles: the role of syntenin in ncRNA transfer KU Leuven
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerge as organelles supporting cell-to-cell communication over short or long distances. They contribute to various physiological and pathological processes. They contribute to various systemic diseases, in particular cancer, neurodegeneration and pathogen invasion. EVs are limited by a lipid bilayer, and can be released by any type of cell. They have the same topology as the cell and contain a mixture of genetic ...
Exploiting the “dark matter” of the genome to defeat melanoma KU Leuven
The 5-year survival rates of patients with metastatic melanoma are still about 30%. The major reason for the low survival rate of melanoma patients is intrinsic and acquired resistance to the existing therapies. It is therefore essential to develop new therapeutic strategies that will help eradicating resistant cells. By single-cell RNA sequencing of BRAF mutant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) melanoma models analysis we obtained the lncRNA ...
Local and systemic immune interactions in malignant gliomas KU Leuven
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent primary intrinsic brain tumor, is without any doubt one of the most devastating diseases known to mankind. GBM are currently being treated with neurosurgical resection followed by radio- and chemotherapy. However, despite this treatment, prognosis for these patients is grim with a median survival of only 15 months and less than 20% 3-year survival rates. Already at diagnosis, GBM cells are infiltrating ...
Role of the rRNA modifications and lncRNA-derived micropeptides in melanoma translation rewiring and therapy resistance KU Leuven
Bij gemetastaseerd melanoom blijft, ondanks de recente doorbraken in gerichte therapie en Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB), het 5-jaars overlevingspercentage rond de 54%. Dit is in ieder geval gedeeltelijk te wijten aan de hoge plasticiteit van melanoomcellen en hun vermogen om snel te schakelen tussen verschillende geneesmiddeltolerante rangen bij blootstelling aan therapie, waardoor ze aan deze dreiging kunnen ontsnappen. ...