Projects
Development of new antimicrobials: Rational design of polyomavirus and mycobacterial inhibitors KU Leuven
Persistent, untreatable infections pose a substantial financial and medical burden on society. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and BK polyomavirus (BKV) are two endemic species that have persisted for more then a century and over 60 years, respectively. Both infections present ongoing challenges to the public health. Within this thesis, novel lead compounds targeting both infections were discovered. In the first part, the thesis focussed on ...
Molecular characterization of mycobacterial strains from clinical specimens of patients with tuberculosis Institute of Tropical Medicine
Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Center - East and Central Africa Institute of Tropical Medicine
Community Participation in Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination: A case study of Human African Trypanosomiasis elimination in Democratic Republic of Congo Institute of Tropical Medicine
Design and developement of diagnostics and drugs for neurodegenerative, immunological and microbial diseases KU Leuven
The research aims at two important goals:
1) The development of (fluorescent) tools to visualize biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases as research tools or diagnostics
In this part of the work fluorescent molecules are developed and optimized. Key goals are to increase the biocompatibility, stability, specificity and (to later enable in vivo imaging applications) a suitably red-shifted fluorescence. Key biomarkers of ...
UNRAVELING HOST–PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS IN LUNG DISEASE: THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS LUNG AS AN INFLAMMATORY MICROENVIRONMENT MODEL Ghent University
In this translational research project, the airway disease cystic fibrosis (CF) will be used as a model to study host-micro-organism interactions in the lung, in a context of chronic bacterial and/or fungal exposition, and different degrees of CFTR modulation through small molecules tackling CF at its very cause. The first work package (WP) will focus on host-micro-organism interactions and inflammatory determinants in allergic ...
Development of Rapid Point-of-care test Platforms for Infectious Diseases Ghent University
RAPP-ID ("Development of RApid Point-of-care test Platforms for Infectious Disease") will develop a Point-of-Care Test (POCT) for rapid (hospital <2h primary care><30 min) detection of bacteria mycobacteria fungi as well viruses and host biomarkers by combining novel specific probes methods sample preparation demonstrated ultra-high sensitive methods. The platforms will also determine resistance to antimicrobial drugs. research on ...