Projects
Identification and characterization of residual melanoma cells to MAPL-targeted therapy: a search for biomarkers and novel therapeutic opportunities Ghent University
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant human cancers. 50 to 70% of melanomas carry BRAF mutations, with BRAFv600E being the most abundant. BRAF v600E which results in constitutively overactive MAPK/MEK/ERK signaling and melanocyte hyperproliferation, has been successfully exploited for targeted therapy. Selective RAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib or dabrafenib showed an unprecedented antitumor response rate in ...
Research Grant Emmanuel Van de Schueren to Suzanne Vanhauwaert: BRIP1 and BIRC5 as novel therapeutic targets in neuroblastoma Ghent University
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive neural crest derived childhood tumor with poor survival rates, especially in
older children. Thus far, three bona fide oncogenic driver genes have been identified in neuroblastoma: MYCN,
amplified in roughly half of all aggressive neuroblastoma cases, ALK mutations or amplifications in 10% of cases
and rare LlN28B amplifications. Chromosome 17q gain is by far the most common ...
The tumor-ecosystem: a source of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers Ghent University
Cancer cells can divide, invade and metastasize, but the realizationof these activities is largely dependent on the resistance and collaboration of the tumor environment. We investigate whether mechanisms of cellular secretion, essential for communication between cancer cells and their environment, are potential prognostic biomarkers. Strategies suppressing secretion based mesenchymal-epithelial interactions have possible therapeutic ...
Integrated magnetic nanoparticle-enabled imaging of therapeutic cells: IMAGINE Hasselt University
EMCDDA INSIGHT PUBLICATION ON THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES Ghent University
The aim of this project proposal is 1) to review critically available outcome studies in TCs for drug addicts, 2) to provide a state of the art of the current practice in drug-free TCs in a selected number of EU-countries and 3) to identify important challenges for the further development of TCs in the 21st century.
A study of the therapeutic potential of PPARa-ERRa ligand combinations in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Ghent University
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a continuous spectrum ranging from hepatic fat accumulation to inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Worldwide, 25% of the population suffers from these hepatic disorders. Although an uncontrolled non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can lead to severe health issues, currently no effective therapeutic strategies are available. The current project investigates the crosstalk and a novel discovered ...
Drug resistance in MYC/MYCN driven tumor entities as a consequence of replicative stress induced DNA damage response: an entry point for synthetic lethal drugs Ghent University
Chemoresistance is a major impediment to succesful treatment of a growing number of cancer entitites. Circumventing this phenomenon demands highly selective and efficient targeting of cancer-specific pathways. We have recently discovered that MYC(N)-driven tumors show strong upregulation of genes involved in replicative stress-induced DNA damage repair. We thereby identified FOXM 1 as a central regulator. Our data suggest that FOXM1 driven ...
Neuro-TARGET : integrated platform for target identification, validation and drug discovery with applications for neurodegenerative diseases. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
String test: a new tool to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis and the detection of drug resistance in children Ghent University
The aim of this research project is to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children
and to potentially advance the detection of drug resistance from one simplified clinical sampling.
The string test proposes a new technique to obtain the same clinical sample which is the gastric
content. The specific objectives of the study are to explore the potential of using a new tool: the
"string test" ...