Projects
Growth factor signal interpretation in stem cells and the early embryo. KU Leuven
Noninvasive imaging of stem cells to evaluate therapeutic efficacy in muscular dystrophy animal models. KU Leuven
Stem cells have a huge potential for regenerative medicine as they are able to differentiate towards various cell types and can be expanded to cell numbers sufficient for therapy. However, despite their huge potential results after clinical translation have been mostly disappointing. Therefore, new methods need to be developed to optimize stem cell therapy for using stem cells at their maximum capacity. At present, cells are injected and ...
Regenerative strategies with human amniotic fluid stem cells for neonatal disorders KU Leuven
Cell therapeutic approaches are fast emerging in human medicine, potentially enabling novel therapies for patients. Stem cells could be clinically translated for the replacement or repair of damaged or diseased structures, or the restoration of a normal organ’s function.
In this doctoral research, we explored the use of amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSC) as a cell therapeutic tool in a perinatal setting, focusing on ...
Differentiation and characterization of cholangiocytes from human pluripotent stem cells. KU Leuven
Over the last years, human embryonic and so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (made from skin or other cells) can be differentiated to liver cells (hepatocytes). These cells resemble closely primary liver cells, however further optimization of the protocol is necessary. Besides hepatocytes, the liver also contains bile duct cells (cholangiocytes). These cells have been studied less intensively than hepatocytes because they were previously ...
Human liver disease: Study of the hepatic stem cells and their niche, and development of novel model systems Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Unravelling the different classes of human embryonic stem cells Ghent University
As multiple pluripotent stem cell types have been shown to exist in human, similar to the mouse
model, it will be important to characterize those stem cell types in detail and to analyze their
differences. We hypothesize that the various culture and derivation conditions will have a
substantial impact on the genomic stability and differentiation potential of the resulting stem cell
types.
...Improving functional recovery after spinal cord injury by a combined application of antiinflammatory interleukins and neural stem cells Hasselt University
Replicative stress induced DNA damage response signaling at the crossroad between embryonic stem cells and MYC(N) driven tumours Ghent University
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have opened the way to the development of regenerative medicine
(cell therapy). For obvious reasons, preserving the integrity of their genome to avoid cancer
formation is of utmost importance. One possible cause for DNA damage is stress that occurs during
DNA replication (replicative stress). Interestingly, molecular evidence for this process has been
detected in both embryonic stem cells as ...
Pituitary regeneration and aging: role of the pituitary stem cells and Hippo pathway KU Leuven
The pituitary constitutes, together with the hypothalamus, the core of our endocrine system. Through meticulous secretion of hormones, the pituitary controls other endocrine glands, thereby regulating essential physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, sexual development and stress response. Because of this key role, correct functioning of the pituitary is essential. The anterior pituitary (AP), which represents the main ...