Projects
LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION TO TREAT SEVERE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY DIAGNOSTIC AND INTERVENTIONAL APPROACH FROM REFERRAL TO FOLLOW- UP. KU Leuven
PhD Lung-on-chip to capture cell interplay in chronic obstructive lung disease KU Leuven
COPD is triggered by exposure to inhaled harmful environmental agents with cigarette smoking representing the major contributor. The disease is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction and chronic neutrophilic inflammation in the airway lumen, and is complicated by recurrent infectious exacerbations. Abnormal responses of the airway epithelium to the environmental triggers are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD and the ...
Role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of obstructive airway diseases Ghent University
Genetic predisposition and the environment play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of obstructive airway diseases, such as asthma and COPD. This translational project will unravel the contribution of epigenetic changes, in particular of microRNAs, in the pathogenesis of both diseases using expression analyses, in vitro studies on human cell cultures and in vivo research on murine models of asthma en COPD.
Gene-Environment iNteractions in the pathogenesis of Tobacco smoking-induced Lung diseases (GENT-Lung) Ghent University
This interdisciplinary coordinated research action aims at elucidating geneenvironment interactions in three highly prevalent smoking-induced lung diseases with important morbidity, disability and mortality: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD) and lung cancer. Ultimately, the aim is to elucidate pathogenetic pathways and networks, to identify new targets and to develop new drugs to alleviate these common respiratory ...
A study on the loss of small airways and epithelial cell changes in chronic lung diseases KU Leuven
The main function of the lung is to ensure optimal gas exchange of oxygen uptake and removal of carbon dioxide during breathing. Air entering the nose and mouth is travelling through a well-organized airway tree consisting of branches like in trees. This starts at the trachea (termed generation 0), splitting at the first bifurcation (generation 1) into two branches, each dividing many times along the tree into smaller airways and ending up in ...
Impact of exposome on the course of lung diseases KU Leuven
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) are two very debilitating non-communicable diseases that are of particular interest to consider in parallel in a human exposome study. Their roots are opposite: COPD is currently considered to be mainly related to the external exposome, while factors outside of the exposome play a major role in CF. However, COPD and CF share common characteristics such as high phenotypic ...
Impact of exposome on the course of lung diseases KU Leuven
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) are two very debilitating non-communicable diseases that are of particular interest to consider in parallel in a human exposome study. Their roots are opposite: COPD is currently considered to be mainly related to the external exposome, while factors outside of the exposome play a major role in CF. However, COPD and CF share common characteristics such as high phenotypic ...
Exploring the anti-inflammatory potential of Rothia mucilaginosa in chronic lung diseases Ghent University
Chronic lung inflammation is the major driver of disease pathogenesis in patients with cystic fibrosis
(CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Available anti-inflammatory agents are
ineffective in both patient populations, emphasizing the need to explore radically novel therapeutic
avenues. The lungs of patients with CF and COPD are colonized by a wide collection of
microorganisms (microbiome) which ...
Gene-Environment iNteractions in the pathogenesis of Tobacco smoking-induced Lung diseases (GENT-Lung) Ghent University
This interdisciplinary coordinated research action aims at elucidating geneenvironment interactions in three highly prevalent smoking-induced lung diseases with important morbidity, disability and mortality: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD) and lung cancer. Ultimately, the aim is to elucidate pathogenetic pathways and networks, to identify new targets and to develop new drugs to alleviate these common respiratory ...