Projects
Design of an animal product-free culture expansion platform for human adult progenitor cells (FREESTEM). University of Antwerp
The importance of endothelial progenitor in sepsis: do they have a role to play in diagnosis, pathophysiology and prognosis of sepsis related organ failure. University of Antwerp
Impact of proton therapy on DNA damage and response in hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells. Ghent University
The radiation response of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to proton therapy is
unknown. In this project, the DNA damage response of radiosensitive HSPCs, which are often
exposed during pediatric cancer treatment, is compared between therapeutic proton- and photon
therapy. This study can improve proton treatment planning and can lead to new therapeutic interventions to prevent radiotherapy-related adverse ...
Study of kidney progenitor cells and potential of gene therapy in nephropathic cystinosis. KU Leuven
In this proposal we focus on nephropathic cystinosis as a monogenetic disease affecting kidney glomeruli and proximal tubules. With no curative treatment available, renal replacement therapy is the only option. Cystinosis is characterized by lysosomal cystine accumulation due to mutations in the CTNS gene encoding the protein cystinosin. Over the last few years the cystinotic research field reached a scientific consensus which states that ...
Understanding and mastering maladaptive kidney regeneration in cystinosis:characterisation of kidney progenitor cells and potential of gene therapy KU Leuven
Novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of early T-cell progenitor leukemia Ghent University
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) accounts for 15% of pediatric and 25% of adult ALL cases and was originally identified as a highly aggressive tumor associated with poor prognosis. Recent studies have identified a subset of T-ALLs whose transcriptional programs resemble those of immature early T-cell progenitors (ETP) and hematopoietic stem cells. Importantly, these so-called ETP-ALLs have strong clinical relevance since they are ...
RUNX2 as a driver of poor prognostic early T-cell progenitor leukemia Ghent University
The goal of this research proposal is to unravel the role of RUNX2 in the biology of a very poor prognostic subtype of human leukemia, ie. early T-cell progenitor (ETP) ALL. Given that these ETP-ALL patients completely fail current chemotherapy treatment, this project addresses the urgent need to identify new drugable targets for therapeutic intervention in this aggressive haematological malignancy.
Thorough characterization of different human liver progenitor cell populations. KU Leuven
The aim of this research project, in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, is to achieve a thorough characterization of the different types of human liver progenitor cell populations.