Projects
Target validation and drug discovery towards a therapy for the Rett Syndrome. KU Leuven
Rett syndrome (RTT) (OMIM 312750) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that predominantly affects girls and is caused by loss-of function mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). To date only symptomatic treatment is available. In this project we will validate on the one hand the direct interaction between the transcriptional co-activator lens epithelium-derived growth factor p75 (LEDGF/p75) and MeCP2 as a putative ...
Genome-wide genotype-phenotype associations in Drosophila for neurodegenerative disease pathway and drug target discovery. KU Leuven
The increase in life expectancy in the Western world has seen a growing number of individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these disorders are associated with the accumulation of toxic protein species, such as amyloid beta (aß) peptides in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), microtubule-binding Tau in AD and frontotemporal lobe degeneration (FTLD), a-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral ...
Drosophila as a discovery platform for the identification of novel genetic modifiers and therapeutic targets for tau and TDP-43 proteinopathies. KU Leuven
Identification of novel therapeutic targets of Brugada Syndrome through discovery and characterization of genetic modifiers. University of Antwerp
INSITE - A new combined experimental and theoretical framework for studying liquid protein condensates and its application to discover new targets for misfolded protein diseases Hasselt University
INSITE - A new combined experimental and theoretical framework for studying liquid protein condensates and its application to discover new targets for misfolded protein diseases KU Leuven
Membrane-less organelles (MLOs) are Nature’s way of exploiting physical phase transitions to locally concentrate biomolecules in cells without using lipid envelopes. MLOs have a plethora of natural functions, but conversely also have a critical relation with misfolded protein diseases. Indeed, the components of MLOs are intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), and many of these have the capacity to pathologically aggregate inside MLOs ...
A multidisciplinary approach using global metabolomics, genomescale metabolic modelling, shRNA screen and biological validation to discover novel pro-angiogenic metabolic targets. KU Leuven
Angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels) is of vital importance for development and health, but also contributes to multiple pathological conditions. Anti-angiogenic drugs are routinely used for treatment of blinding ocular disease and various types of cancer. However, the success of these therapies for cancer is limited by the lack of efficacy and resistance. There is thus an urgent need for alternative anti-angiogenic strategies, based on ...
Discovery and mechanism of action of novel hEag1 potassium channel lead molecules with anti-cancer activity. KU Leuven
Cancer remains an important cause of mortality and economic losses worldwide. For an improved cancer therapy, a permanent need for the discovery of new-generation, refined anticancer agents is needed. Exploitation of genuinely novel classes of cancer targets with new mechanisms of action provides great opportunities for the discovery of new anticancer drugs. Targeting the voltage-gated potassium channel hEag1 in cancer is one of the most ...
Rational discovery of drug compounds targeting the chromatin-reading function of LEDGF/p75 towards the treatment for acute MLL-rearranged leukemia KU Leuven
Mixed-lineage leukemia rearranged (MLL-r) is an acute leukemia mostly affecting children and associated with poor survival. The disease is caused by rearrangements in the MLL gene resulting in malignant fusion proteins. LEDGF/p75 serves as an epigenetic reader and tethers transcription complexes containing MLL to chromatin via its PWWP domain. Recent studies demonstrated that this process is essential for the onset of MLL-r leukemia, yet it ...