Projects
Mechanisms affecting the homing, engraftment and functioning of hematopoietic stem cells in a compromised bone marrow environment: relevance to treatment of the elderly cancer patient by stem cell therapy KU Leuven
Most people diagnosed with cancer, including a variety of life-threatening hematologic malignancies, are over 65 years old. The options and outcomes of treating the elderly cancer patient with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy are limited. Achieving better long-term engraftment following transplantation in this growing target group will rely on profound knowledge of the interactions between HSCs and the bone marrow (BM) environment, ...
The Neurogenin 3 cell as a guide for cell therapy in diabetes. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Optimisation of CD70-targeted adoptive cell therapy Ghent University
The efficacy of CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-)T-cell therapy in different hematologic malignancies has put cell therapy as a novel treatment option on the map. While response rates are high, relapses due to antigen escape mutants or antigen downregulation and exhaustion of T-cells occur. In addition, finding optimal target antigens, especially for solid tumours has been proven difficult. In this project, we aim to optimize the ...
Immune effector cell therapy for hematological malignancies with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma. University of Antwerp
AI-driven modelling and design of cell type specific enhancers for gene therapy (Enhancer-AI). University of Antwerp
Treatment of erectile dysfunction following cavernous nerve injury with adipose-tissue derived stem cells: efficacy and insights into the mechanisms of action of stem cell therapy. KU Leuven
CARGO: advancing chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy using nanobody-displaying lentiviral vectors Vrije Universiteit Brussel
However, similar results have not been obtained in the context of solid tumors. Among the top priorities to develop an affordable and ...
Investigation of non-thermal plasma therapy with first-line treatments of recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a novel combination with platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy. University of Antwerp
Enhancer-AI: AI-driven modelling and design of cell type specific enhancers for gene therapy KU Leuven
1) Summary of scientific goals
State-of-the-art gene therapies hold great potential to cure diseases with a high unmet medical need. However, despite major breakthroughs in gene therapy research, clinical implementation is hampered by (1) safety issues due to high vector dosing, (2) inefficient and off-target gene expression due to suboptimal transgene expression control and vector packaging limitations, and (3) high production costs. In ...