Projects
Keep up the rhythm : Exploring and disentangling the interplay of rhythmical abilities, cognition and literacy in kindergarten and primary school children KU Leuven
In this PhD we will elaborate on aspects of cognitive functioning of individuals with dyslexia and their links with possible interventions to remediate or prevent their reading and spelling problems. The topic will be specified during the first few months of the PhD.
Characterizing biosignatures in mood-related disorders KU Leuven
Circadian rhythms (CRs) include all autonomous physiological processes (e.g. sleep-wake cycle, body temperature, cortisol and melatonin levels) which are synchronized to a 24-hour cycle. These rhythms are regulated by an endogenous ‘circadian clock’, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus, also referred to as the ‘master clock’. Although our internal clock has an endogenous rhythm, it is synchronized with the ...
Application of whole exome sequencing to identify the genetic defect in hereditary connective tissue disorders University of Antwerp
An in-depth investigation of neurovisceral integration and regulation in children with autism spectrum disorders. KU Leuven
Despite an increased interest in the role of social stress in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by socio-communicative problems, disruptions in autonomic regulatory processes as well as their neural underpinnings remain poorly understood in ASD. Using a strong psychobiological framework (based on the Polyvagal Theory by Porges) and an extensive assessment protocol including ...
Role of peripheral clock genes in the circadian regulation of the hunger hormone ghrelin. KU Leuven
The daily rotation of the earth around its axis creates a recurring succession of day and night with a period of 24 hours. As a consequence, life on earth is subjected to cyclical and therefore predictable changes in environmental conditions. In order to anticipate these daily events and fine-tune physiology to the varying demands of activity and rest, virtually all organisms have developed an internal timekeeping system. Circadian rhythms, ...
Cross-talk between circadian clock genes and nutrient sensing pathways in the human gut KU Leuven
The circadian rhythm coordinates multiple behavioural and physiological processes in anticipation of daily environmental changes. Epidemiological evidence reveals that disruption of circadian rhythms such as shift work and jet lag may increase the risk of metabolic disorders, obesity and gastrointestinal diseases. Meanwhile, dysregulation of diurnal rhythms is commonly observed in animal models of obesity. Time-restricted feeding has been ...
Linking functional microarchitecture of the myocardial infarction borderzone to arrhythmogenesis KU Leuven
The mortality associated with a heart attack has become quite low due to better treatment during this acute event. However, life-threatening rhythm disorders often develop in the following months and years for which treatment remains limited. Providing novel insights in the underlying mechanisms is the major aim of the proposed research. The proposal builds on the power of novel research tools to investigate why the border zone around the ...
Interplay between short-chain fatty acids and the circadian clock in the rhythmicity of contractility and hormone release in the gut KU Leuven
Our bodies keep track of time using circadian clocks to anticipate predictable 24-h environmental changes. The circadian system and the timing of food intake dictate diurnal rhythms in the microbiota. In turn, microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can entrain the circadian system. The aim of this PhD thesis was to identify the role of the circadian clock in the diurnal rhythms of SCFA concentrations and their effects ...
Reconstruction of excitation patterns inside the cardiac wall from 3D ultrasound imaging KU Leuven
Heart rhythm disorders are one of the major causes of death globally, claiming about 16 million lives annually. Although different rhythm disorders can be classified based on the electrocardiogram, the precise temporal organisation of the electrical activity in the heart during arrhythmias remains incompletely understood. To reconstruct the precise spatiotemporal patterns in patients from non-invasive recordings is currently an unsolved ...