VUB/UZ Brussel UMCOR

Good luck to Catharina Muylaert who will defend her #PhD on Monday! 🍀 In her #phdresearch, Catharina investigated the role of DNMT3B, an epigenetic regulator found to be upregulated in relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. She showed that inhibiting DNMT3B disrupted key cancer pathways, restored sensitivity to standard treatments, and highlighted its potential as a predictive biomarker. Her work positions DNMT3B as a promising therapeutic target to delay or counter MM relapse. Catharina was supervised by Prof. dr. Elke De Bruyne. If you want to learn more about Catharina's research, you can follow the public defence online: relapse.https://https://lnkd.in/eSZdrZ9s #VUBHealthCampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch #PhD

With the start of this academic year and in light of this month’s Postdoc Appreciation Week, we want to spotlight our UMC researchers who have recently been awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the FWO. We are proud to announce that Prof. dr. Timo De Groof from the research group MITH Brussel has been awarded an Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen (FWO) Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship. 🎉 Timo’s research focuses on glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain tumor in adults, and explores the role of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in shaping the tumor microenvironment and response to therapy. His project aims to uncover new therapeutic opportunities to improve immunotherapy for GBM. This highly competitive fellowship is a wonderful recognition of Timo’s expertise and innovative research. Congratulations Timo! 👏 #VUBhealthcampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch

Check out our Monday Must-Reads! Every year, UMC researchers publish over 1,000 articles. Here are a few highlights from the past weeks.   🔹 Gene Therapy Breakthrough for Pompe Disease Professor dr. Marinee Chuah, Professor dr. Thierry VandenDriessche and team developed novel muscle-targeted regulatory elements that massively boost gene expression in muscle, heart, and diaphragm. In a Pompe disease mouse model, this strategy restored normal muscle and cardiac function long-term, pointing to promising applications for future clinical trials. https://lnkd.in/e_GRHeCG 🔹 Augmented Reality in Neurosurgery: First-in-Human Results Neurosurgeons Dr. Frederick Van Gestel and Professor dr. Johnny Duerinck, together with engineers Dr. Taylor Frantz and Professor dr. Jef Vandemeulebroucke, developed and tested a high-accuracy augmented reality (AR) surgical navigation system on a standalone headset, providing submillimetric guidance during external ventricular drain placement in the brain. Compared to the conventional freehand technique, AR guidance led to higher accuracy, fewer complications, and zero revisions - laying the groundwork for a multicenter clinical trial. https://lnkd.in/esc5xn98 🔹 Podcasts + AI: A New Era for Surgical Education Professor dr. Nouredin Messaoudi and colleagues explored how podcasts are reshaping hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgical training. With AI-powered dubbing and translation tools, podcasts can overcome language barriers and bring high-quality, specialized education to surgeons worldwide. https://lnkd.in/envcJfa5 🔹 30 Years of ICD Therapy in Brugada Syndrome The Heart Rhythm Management team reports on three decades of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) use in #Brugada patients. While ICDs remain lifesaving, device-related complications are still too frequent. Epicardial ablation shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for high-risk patients. https://lnkd.in/eq_8vXQj #VUBhealthcampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch

💜 World Pancreatic Cancer Month On November 7, 2025, the Translational Oncology Research Centre will host a special event as part of World Pancreatic Cancer Month, where BruPaCT researchers and patients will come together to exchange insights and strengthen the fight against pancreatic cancer. 📍 Institut Jules Bordet – H.U.B. Auditorium Tagnon – Route 2985 Meylemeerschstraat 90, 1070 Brussels 🕑 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM This gathering is a unique opportunity to bring patients and researchers closer together, foster dialogue, and reflect on progress in tackling pancreatic cancer. 👉 Register & view the program: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eaiP8JA3 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eb8TBqWV 🤝 Organized by the BruPaCT Team: Prof. dr. Ilse Rooman, Prof. dr. Jean-Luc Van Laethem, Prof. dr. Nouredin Messaoudi, Prof. dr. Amy de Haar-Holleman, Prof. dr. Christelle Bouchart, Dr. Tatjana Arsenijevic With support from: Vrije Universiteit Brussel & UZ Brussel Université libre de Bruxelles & Hôpital Erasme - Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles Institut Jules Bordet

🧬 Hidden Figures at the Brussels Health Campus At universities, some of the most impactful contributors are often those working behind the scenes. To shine a spotlight on these invaluable yet often unseen contributors, we’ll be highlighting some of our very own “hidden figures” over the coming weeks. To continue our series, we’re introducing David Proot, secretary of the Animal Experiments Ethics Committee (#ECD)! David works closely with the chair, vice-chair, and committee members to ensure integrity, care, and compliance in animal research. Though often unseen, his support is essential for enabling responsible, high-quality science. 📄 From reviewing and returning dossiers, to answering researchers’ questions, to facilitating smooth communication with research teams, David ensures that ethical frameworks are applied consistently and clearly. 💡 The ECD evaluates planned and completed animal research projects, balancing scientific and societal value against potential discomfort. They establish criteria for humane endpoints, advise researchers on ethical and legal requirements, and report transparently to regulatory authorities. 🙌 David’s careful guidance allows researchers to navigate these complex processes with confidence, raising the standard across VUB, while ensuring the highest ethical principles are upheld. 👉 Learn more about the ECD here! https://lnkd.in/edFSuzJu

⚕️𝐄𝐑𝐂 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐬 Diabetes in children remains a condition for which modern medicine does not yet provide a curative solution. Prof. dr. Willem Staels, pediatric endocrinologist at UZ Brussel and researcher within the Beta Cell Neogenesis Research Group at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has secured a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to develop curative therapies for childhood diabetes. His team focuses on regenerating or replacing insulin-producing beta cells, through cutting-edge stem cell therapy and new insights into iron metabolism, a crucial factor in beta cell function and longevity. “Our ambition is not only to manage diabetes day after day, but to give children the prospect of a life without injections and constant monitoring,” Staels explains. This ERC-funded project brings us closer to a world where children can live free from the burden of chronic illness. #ERCStG #UMCOR #DiabetesResearch #PediatricEndocrinology #BetaCells #StemCellTherapy #VUB #UZBrussel 

Good luck to Frederick Van Gestel who will defend his #PhD tomorrow! 🍀 In his #phdresearch, Frederick develops augmented reality (AR) systems that give surgeons “X-ray vision” to see patient anatomy with sub-millimetric precision. Tested in real emergency cases, this technology improved the accuracy of intracranial drain placement and enhanced planning for brain tumour surgery. His work shows how AR can make surgery safer, more precise, and more effective. Frederick was supervised by Prof. dr. Johnny Duerinck and Prof. dr. Thierry Scheerlinck. #VUBHealthCampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch #PhD

Check out our Monday Must-Reads! Every year, UMC researchers publish over 1,000 articles. Here are a few highlights from the past weeks. 🔹 Common Predictors of Return to Work across Cardiovascular Diseases Under supervision of Professor dr. Koen Putman, Dra. Ellen Tisseghem and colleagues from REDM (I-CHER) reviewed 28 systematic reviews on return-to-work after cardiovascular disease. Beyond disease severity and treatment, they found modifiable factors - such as #workplace adaptations and psychological support - that can significantly improve reintegration. This #Editor’sChoice review offers new insights for both rehabilitation and policy. https://lnkd.in/e3CKs2hk 🔹 Long-Term Survival of Breast Cancer Patients in Belgium Eva Kimpe, Dr. Sven Van Laere, and REDM/ICHER collaborators analyzed 10-year survival in nearly 10,000 Belgian women diagnosed with invasive #breastcancer in 2010. Survival (68.2%) was strongly linked to age, treatment, and socio-economic factors. Their findings highlight the importance of tailoring screening programs to reduce inequalities. https://lnkd.in/eVwm6TPR 🔹 Inhalation Innovation for COPD Care Annelies Walravens and colleagues tested a new pharmacist-led care protocol in a rehabilitation hospital. With six patient contacts, critical inhaler errors dropped from 38.5% to 7.7%. Multidisciplinary collaboration proved essential, underlining the value of clinical pharmacists in optimizing #COPD care. https://lnkd.in/ebQ7bTk2 🔹 Anti-Regurgitation Infant Formulas: Match or Mismatch? Professor dr. Eline Tommelein and colleagues compared different anti-regurgitation (AR) infant formulas. They found that CBG-based formulas generally achieve higher viscosity than starch-based ones, even under acid suppression. Timing and preparation also matter - waiting 30 minutes before feeding improves therapeutic consistency. https://lnkd.in/e23Yme6z 🔹 FLT3L-Engineered Oncolytic Virus for Cancer Therapy Professor dr. Sandra Tuyaerts from Translational Oncology Research Centre and colleagues developed an oncolytic herpes simplex virus encoding FLT3L. The virus effectively killed melanoma, glioblastoma, and pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. These findings pave the way for in vivo testing, both as standalone treatment and in combination with other immunotherapies. https://lnkd.in/egwuTfMu #VUBhealthcampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch  

Good luck to Marc Schiltz MD, MBA who will defend his #PhD on Monday! 🍀 In his #phdresearch, Marc works to standardize the definition and diagnosis of frozen shoulder, a painful condition affecting millions worldwide. His studies challenge previous treatment findings and test more effective injection strategies. The goal: improve diagnosis and care for frozen shoulder everywhere. Marc was supervised by Prof. dr. Samar Hatem and Prof. dr. Mark De Ridder. If you want to learn more about Marc's research, you can follow the public defence online: https://lnkd.in/e-n66uW4 #VUBHealthCampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch #PhD

🔬🏛 Bridging Science and Policy at the Brussels Health Campus Our campus recently had the pleasure of welcoming MP Koen Dillen as part of the #ScienceMeetsParliament initiative from Jonge Academie, accompanied by Prof. dr. Ilse Rooman. During his visit to the Health Campus, he exchanged ideas with Prof. dr. Mark De Ridder (CEO of UZ Brussel), Prof. dr. Koen Putman (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy) and Prof. dr. Ann Massie (Director of Research ad interim). Their discussions touched on how our hospital is embedded in and serves society, translational research that directly benefits patients and the strengths of our faculty. They also discussed the challenges we face in ensuring sustainable funding and supporting diversity in education. As a #GP himself, Koen Dillen brings a unique perspective, connecting day-to-day healthcare realities with parliamentary decision-making. His visit offered an opportunity to reflect on how science and evidence can continue to shape future health policies. A big thank you to Els Wauters (Communication Advisor) and Sarah Provost (Operational Manager TORC) for making this inspiring visit run smoothly. #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #innovation #ScienceMeetsParliament #policy