Projects
Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor 1 in endothelial cell biology. KU Leuven
In the present project, we anticipate that PEAR1 also plays a pivotal role in endothelial cells (ECs). Preliminary observations confirmed a significant expression of PEAR1 in various EC lines and in ECs, freshly isolated from human and mouse organs. Therefore, this project will study the distribution and function of PEAR1 in ECs, in vitro and in vivo, in adequate zebrafish and mouse models. Its expression ...
The role of PEAR1 (Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor1) for endothelial cell. KU Leuven
The aim of this project is to unravel the function of PEAR1 (Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor1) in the endothelial cell and its role in the (patho)physiology of endothelial cell activation. Endothelial dysfunction is an important hallmark of both the early and the late stages of cardiovascular disease. The receptor-ligand interactions and the signalling pathways in the activated endothelium are incompletely understood. PEAR1 was ...
(Epi)-genetic PEAR1 PHenotyping in HEmatopoietic Specification (EPHES). KU Leuven
Platelets are small circulating cells that play a crucial role in arresting bleeding after vascular trauma. One of the proteins that contributes to this process is the Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor-1 (PEAR1) which stabilizes platelet aggregation. PEAR1 is also present in other cells that are precursors of platelets and in cells, present in the blood stream. To better understand why PEAR1 is present in certain blood cells while ...
Inclusions in yield stress or highly shear-thinning dispersions KU Leuven
We want to study both experimentally and theoretically, micro- versus macro-rheological effects in the structural evolution of particle suspensions as affected by the motion of spherical inclusions. Gravity field exerts a pressure on the inclusions which may induce motion, depending on the local rheological properties, and modification of the dynamic behavior of the suspension. The effect of the inclusions on the microstructural evolution of ...
Endothelium-targeted gene therapy for von Willebrand disease using a hybrid adeno-transposon strategy KU Leuven
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in man and is caused by defects in the von Willebrand factor (VWF). Under normal conditions, this factor is present in blood where it functions as a ‘glue’ that sticks blood cells (platelets) to damaged blood vessels, thereby preventing excessive blood loss. For the most severely affected patients (complete absence of VWF), there is currently only one single treatment ...