Projects

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy is currently experiencing a renaissance thanks to a number of successful clinical trials. However, vector doses required to achieve therapeutic effect are high and some tissues remain difficult targets for efficient transduction. In general, gene therapy strategies directed at the brain of patients with inherited neurological or neurodegenerative disorders have shown limited efficacy. One of the main ...

The research is concerned with the animal's position in society, using the concept of 'One Welfare', which focuses on the interaction between the welfare of animals, human beings and their environment. 'One Welfare' is considered to be an extension of the 'One Health' theme, with which it partly overlaps. The last few months it has become even more clear that the health and welfare of human beings cannot be seen separately from the health and ...

Because of the low recurrence rates of genomic mutations in prostate cancer, epigenetics is again at the forefront of our efforts to understand the etiology of this disease. Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a new epigenetic mark for which little data exists in prostate cancer. During whole exome sequencing of high risk prostate cancer, we discovered mutations in TET1, which is one of three enzymes responsible for the hydroxylation of ...

There is growing evidence that bacteria form biofilm aggregates in synovial fluid (SF) and surface-attached biofilms on prostheses. If we want to study these biofilms in the context of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) we need better in vitro models. We also need better tools to detect and isolate relevant pathogens from PJI samples as well as novel approaches to better predict clinical success of an antimicrobial treatment. Our preliminary ...

More than half of the patients treated for cancer receive external Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) during the course of their disease. EBRT is typically characterized by highly standardized protocols and relies on the precise daily delivery of high energy X-rays combined with volumetric imaging tools. In order to further improve cancer care in Belgium, the UZ Leuven and the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc have recently built in partnership ...