Projects
Long-term effects of metal pollution: linking telomere dynamics, biological aging, infection and fitness. University of Antwerp
Early life determinants of healthy ageing during the first two decades of life: from the telomere interactome to clinical phenotypes. Ghent University
The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, but not merely as the absence of disease or infirmity”. Ageing starts before birth and depends on factors that operate throughout life, and hence, the concept of healthy ageing also encompasses healthy growing and healthy living. Indeed, disorders in adults often find their origin in risk factors operative in early life. Senescence or biological ageing is ...
Linking mitochondrial and telomere dysfunction in newborn tissues: TP53, SIRT1 and PPARGC1 alpha as a central hub? Hasselt University
Developmental and later life effects of light and noise pollution: physiological stress, telomere dynamics and fitness. University of Antwerp
Early life determinants of healthy ageing during the first two decades of life: from the telomere interactome to clinical phenotypes Hasselt University
Identification, validation and pathogenicity of novel autoantibodies in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. KU Leuven
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and myositis, commonly referred to as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), are rare systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases characterized by muscle inflammation and skin fibrosis respectively, and internal organ involvement. SSc and myositis can also overlap and could thus be considered as part of a spectrum. Both diseases have a high mortality due to internal organ involvement and an association with malignancy. ...
Conformationally locked G4-decoy oligonucleotides for selective telomerase inhibition and development of a nucleic acid-based anti-telomerase PROTAC strategy Ghent University
G-Quadruplex (G4) nucleic acids have received increasing attention not only as targets for small molecule or oligonucleotide-based therapeutic strategies but also due their use as therapeutic aptamers (e.g. AS1411, in clinical trials as anti-nucleolin aptamer), given their known binding to transcription factors and other DNA-binding proteins. An exceptionally relevant target in this field is telomerase, an enzyme that is overexpressed in ...
On epigenetics and how 'environmental' factors contribute to the long-term legacy of pediatric critical illness KU Leuven
Critically ill patients are patients who, due to a variety of triggering medical conditions, require vital organ support to avoid imminent death. Despite major progress in intensive care the patients still face a high mortality risk. Moreover, critical illness is hallmarked by features of accelerated aging where many patients experience an adverse legacy of the illness long after hospital discharge. This is mostly described for adults and ...