Projects
Multiple sclerosis: from genotype to phenotype. KU Leuven
Kino2omics integration platform bridging the Genotype and Phenotype gap in medical research. University of Antwerp
Fatty acid metabolism in control of the phenotype of phagocytes in MS lesions. Hasselt University
MicroRNA regulation of enteric glia phenotype and function Hasselt University
Testing of phenotype predictions for heritable microbiomes Ghent University
The gut microbiome plays an important role in several health related processes. Whether the microbiome composition is characterized by a heritability factors needs to be evaluated. This project will make use of genomic information of the microbiome of large cohort of monozygotic and dizygotic twins and will assess to what extent genomic differences are translated into
phenotypic and functional differences.
Metabolic fingerprinting of the human gut phenotype in health and disease Ghent University
The main objective of this innovative research is to characterize ‘metabolic phenotypes’, by means of a high resolution full scan Orbitrap mass spectrometer, which will analyse feces, intact biopsies or exfoliated colonocytes. At a later stage of the research these metabolomic fingerprints may serve as a specific statistically founded prediagnostic screening tool for different types of gastrointestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease ...
Deciphering the functional phenotype of γδ T cells in spondyloarthritis. Ghent University
Accumulating evidence points towards the crucial role of γδ T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA). The project aims to elucidate their exact influence in disease development and different organ involvement. This truly translational project combines cutting-edge analysis of the multilevel regulation of immune cell function in unique patient samples with innovative research on mouse model of SpA.
Differences in DNA methylation patterns, distinct from normal age and breed-specific changes, affect the feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype. Ghent University
Whole exome sequencing will be used for the first time in cats to identify HCM-causing mutation(s) in British Shorthair cats. Next, DNA methylation patterns will be analyzed to check if specific epigenetic changes are linked to HCM and whether patterns present in blood cells can also be used as biomarker for HCM.
Unraveling the ophthalmological phenotype and etiopathogenetic mechanisms in pseudoxanthoma elasticum Ghent University
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterised by skin and eye symptoms, as well as heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease, due to calcification of elastic fibres in these organs. It is caused by defects (mutation) in a transporter protein, ABCC6. Neither the substrate of this transporter, nor how it causes PXE is presently known. The first objective of this project is to get more insights into the ...