Projects
Development of novel in vitro and in vivo model systems to study intravaginal microbicide behavior. KU Leuven
Anti-HIV microbicides are compounds that are vaginally or rectally administered prior to intercourse to prevent viral transmission. In the search for an effective product, insufficient drug permeation across the vaginal mucosa may cause failed protection in case of microbicides that are active at the level of the HIV host cells, whichare mainly ...
In situ Biofilm Ghent University
Biofilms are-surface associated microbial communities that are highly tolerant against antimicrobials and therefore cause persistent contaminations and infections in industrial and medical sectors. In particular, biofilms formed on medical implants often lead to chronic infection and implant replacement, whereas biofilms in food and other industries can lead to product ...
‘Bisceps’ Biofilm susceptibility sensors for in situ biofilm monitoring. KU Leuven
Biofilms are-surface associated microbial communities that are highly tolerant against antimicrobials and therefore cause persistent contaminations and infections in industrial and medical sectors. In particular, biofilms formed on medical implants often lead to chronic infection and implant replacement, whereas biofilms in food and other industries can lead to product contamination. This project aims at the development of a novel sensor ...
Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -isoforms in pathological retinal angiogenesis and neurogenesis. KU Leuven
Investigating stretch-induced regulation of pulmonary progenitor cell responses in fetal lung development and disease. KU Leuven
Fetuses who are affected by congenital diaphragmatic hernia have an abnormal lung development. Their lung tissue is smaller in size and often unable to perform its usual function after birth, namely breathing and adequate gas exchange. Currently these fetuses are treated by an intervention (called tracheal occlusion) that aims to improve the size of the lungs. This leads to a better survival of these babies after birth. Yet the intervention ...
Tissue-engineering protocols to accelerate angiogenesis in allogenic trachea transplantation. KU Leuven
Reconstruction of defects involving more than half of the length of the trachea is challenging. Techniques to close these lesions include the use of autologous, allogenic and synthetic tissues. The key aspects of treating long-segment tracheal lesions are not yet fully elucidated. Tissue engineering emerged as a promising field of research to create non-immunogenic scaffolds and aims to construct a functional substitutes for damaged tissues ...
Recovery from critical illness: role of autophagy and epigenetics. KU Leuven
The development of critical care medicine over the last 50 years allowed patients to survive acute life-threatening conditions. Whereas most of these patients recover within a few days, a substantial number of critically ill patients develop multiple organ failure (MOF), which prolongs the dependency on intensive care and increases health care costs. Despite major advances in intensive medical care, MOF is still a leading cause of morbidity ...
Noninvasive 3D endoscopy and finite-element modeling for objective diagnosis and reconstruction of pathological middle ears. University of Antwerp
Influence of the accessory gene regulator (agr) of Staphylococcus aureus on nasal colonisation and abscess formation Ghent University
The accessory gene regulator (agr) is a major virulence regulator of Staphylococcus aureus, modulating bacterial virulence factor expression by secretion of auto-inducing peptides (AIPs). In in vitro models and subsequent in vivo rabbit models, the influence of agr expression in S. aureus on nasal colonisation and abscess formation will be evaluated, using an AIP agonist and antagonist.