Projects
The role of fatty acid metabolism in angiogenesis. KU Leuven
Endothelial cells (ECs) line blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Abnormal blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) promotes cancer growth and spread. Current strategies to inhibit angiogenesis rely on the inhibition of the growth factor VEGF. However, the efficacy of this treatment is limited by intrinsic refractoriness and acquired drug resistance. Since ECs need increased amounts of energy and must maintain redox homeostasis ...
Fatty acid metabolism in control of the phenotype of phagocytes in MS lesions Hasselt University
Reprogramming macrophage fatty acid metabolism to induce repair in multiple sclerosis Hasselt University
The consequences of high free fatty acid concentrations in the follicular microenvironment on folliculogenesis and on metabolic, genetic and epigenetic quality parameters of the oocyte and pre-implantation embryo. University of Antwerp
Pathways to subfertility: elevated non-esterified fatty acid concentrations as the causative link between maternal metabolic disorders and reduced embryo quality. University of Antwerp
Is there a role for peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation in vessel sprouting? KU Leuven
Endothelial cells (ECs) line blood vessels to supply nutrients, oxygen and growth factors to tissues. Activation of ECs by growth factors such as VEGF induces vessel sprouting (angiogenesis). The host labs recently postulated that this angiogenic switch requires a metabolic switch, and demonstrated specific roles for glycolysis and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in vessel sprouting. Like any other cell type, ECs also have ...
A ‘futile’ fatty acid cycle as central mediator and exploitable target in cancer resistance to molecular targeted therapy KU Leuven
With 14 million new cases and 8 million deaths annually, cancer remains one of the major health challenges. To improve the efficacy of cancer treatment while minimizing side effects, there is a strong movement towards molecular targeted approaches, usually targeting a mutant signaling protein specifically in cancer cells. One of the major challenges related to targeted treatments is the ease with which tumors escape therapies, despite an ...
Tumor-associated fatty acid synthase expression: impact on lipid composition and on functionality of membranes, role in cancer cell biology and applications for cancer intervention. KU Leuven
Fatty acid pathways at the basis of marine food webs: a baseline for sustainable use of marine food resources Ghent University
In order to obtain more sustainable aquaculture practices taking into account global change, solid knowledge on the transfer efficiency of biomass and energy from primary producers to mesoconsumers is crucial. For that, this research project will study the biosynthesis and bioconversion of fatty acids by primary consumers at the basis of marine food webs under various conditions.