Projects
Neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of transplantation of neurotrophic enhanced dental pulp stem cells in ischaemic stroke. Hasselt University
Searching for neuroregenerative strategies in the senescent killifish KU Leuven
Due to the rise in life expectancy, neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease but also glaucoma, show an increasing prevalence. As neuroregenerative capacities are absent in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), brain trauma and neurodegeneration are often permanent and severely diminish life quality of these (older) patients, which immediately highlights a growing socio-economic ...
Neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of transplantation of neurotrophic enhanced dental pulp stem cells in ischaemic stroke Hasselt University
Human-mouse neuronal xenografts to study incipient Alzheimer’s Disease. KU Leuven
Alzheimer’s disease is a major health problem. Progress in the field has been hampered seriously by the lack of a good animal model to study the early steps of the disease. We have developed a new xenograft mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. We transplant human neuronal precursor cells in mouse brain. Remarkably these neurons integrate well and survive >18 months. However when we transplant the neurons in a mouse model that develops the ...
Targeting dysregulated IP3 receptor-mediated calcium signaling as an early event in Alzheimer’s disease through its Bcl-2-interaction network KU Leuven
Alzheimer’s disease, the most frequent form of dementia, has an enormous impact on the quality of life and society. At late stages, the disease is characterized by toxic protein aggregates (amyloid beta) and the demise of cells in the brain (neurons). While neuronal loss cannot be reverted, it is possible to delay this process. Thus, it is instrumental to focus on the early stages in Alzheimer’s disease development, with one of the key ...
IP3R dysregulation as a proximal event in Alzheimer’s disease: exploring and exploiting Bcl-2 proteins KU Leuven
Alzheimer’s disease, the most frequent form of dementia, has an enormous impact on quality of life and society. At late stages, the disease is characterized by toxic protein aggregates (amyloid beta) and the demise of cells in the brain (neurons) responsible for memory function. While neuronal loss cannot be reverted and lost neurons cannot replaced, it is possible to delay this process. Thus, it is instrumental to focus on the early stages ...
Does it all start with a head impact? Biomechanical analysis of post-traumatic neurodegenerative diseases KU Leuven
Neurodegenerative diseases form a large health problem worldwide for which currently no treatment exists. Neurodegeneration is related to the spreading of toxic misfolded proteins (prions) through the brain, causing cell death. Lots of studies have approached this complex problem from a clinical, biological or molecular point of view, but the mechanisms behind the development of these diseases are still poorly understood. This project will ...
Unravelling genetic modifiers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in FUS and TDP-43 KU Leuven
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, typically causing death within 3 years post-diagnosis. No cure exists. Although most cases are sporadic (sALS), 10% of cases are familial (fALS). Two genes mutated in fALS are FUS and TDP-43, structurally similar proteins that form hyperphosphorylated aggregates in patient tissue. TDP-43 pathology additionally occurs in most sALS cases. My lab has generated a novel Drosophila ...