Projects
Development of a novel chemoenzymatic technology to generate radiofluorinated PET tracers Vrije Universiteit Brussel
for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. A previouslydeveloped Nb targeting Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1)
displays promising properties as a PET tracer for stratification and
prediction of treatment outcome of patients potentially eligible for
immune-therapy. Fluorine-18 (18F) is the most ideal PET
radionuclide for clinical ...
Complex trait analysis using low-pass cell-free DNA sequence data KU Leuven
Genomic medicine moves healthcare from being reactive to disease to being predictive to disease onset or from cure to prevention. Next-generation sequencing technologies have leveraged novel concepts to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases. Analysis of free-floating cfDNA from blood or other body fluids - called “liquid biopsy” - represents an emerging tool that enables non-invasive monitoring of tissue dynamics in multiple human ...
Characterizing the epigenetic features of tumor-associated macrophages KU Leuven
Conclusive insight in the complex interactions between the hypoxic TME and TAMs will directly contribute to the identification of new targets to counteract the negative effects of immune-editing and resistance to therapy. This proposal stands out in its novel approach of identifying and studying in vivo “epigenomic signatures” of hypoxic TAMs and how these inflammatory cells are projected towards pro-tumoral functions. We aim to understand ...
Targeting LEDGF/p75 for Mixed Lineage Leukemia and chemoresistant malignancies KU Leuven
The host lab has recently shown that depletion of LEDGF/p75 sensitizes leukemic cells to cytostatic drugs. In my project I will study the underlying mechanism and investigate whether the same phenotype can be detected in other cancer cells. I also will develop inhibitors targeting the PWWP domain of LEDGF/p75.
Characterizing the development and heterogeneity in the colorectal tumor ecosystem KU Leuven
Most colorectal tumors develop slowly in the colon interacting with the immune compartment and microbiome. The Tejpar group have identified by single cell RNA sequencing immune and epithelial determinants in the tumor microenvironment. These data and interaction analyses pinpointed key pathways in tumor development and immune suppression and their heterogeneity. However, limitations of single cell RNA sequencing are that the spatial ...
Artificial intelligence in Dental Implant Digital Workflow KU Leuven
The term 'artificial intelligence' (AI) refers to the idea of machines being capable of performing human tasks(McCarthy, 1989). A branch of AI is machine learning (ML), which 'learns' intrinsic statistical patterns (algorithms) in data to eventually make predictions on unseen data. Deep learning is a ML technique using multi-layer mathematical operations for learning and inferring on complex data like imagery(Kolossváry et al., 2019). Neural ...
ExoRAS: a novel, exosome-based K/N-RAS-targeting tool to overcome drug resistance in multiple myeloma KU Leuven
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy located in the bone marrow (BM) that represents 10-15% of all hematologic malignancies. Despite the availablilty of several lines of treatment based on proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, most patients will eventually develop drug-resistant disease. Also, chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy is a therapeutic option in myeloma, but when used ...
Optimal surgical planning for gynaecological patients KU Leuven
The role of the quorum sensing peptide PapRIV in regulating microglia. Ghent University
Quorum sensing peptides are small protein-like compounds, which are used by certain bacteria to communicate with each other. However, this phenomenon is not limited to the bacteria themselves: recent research demonstrates that these compounds interact with human cells as well. As such, these particular compounds potentially can explain the role of bacteria in/on our body in health or disease. We previously found for the first time that a ...