VUB/UZ Brussel UMCOR

💜 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

Good luck to Mina Kazemzadeh Dastjerd who will defend her #PhD tomorrow! 🍀   In her #phdresearch, Mina developed miniature human livers from stem cells to study chronic liver disease (CLD), a condition that kills 2 million people yearly. By mimicking fibrosis using acetaminophen, and enhancing realism with a vitamin A compound, she created a model that closely resembles the human liver. These tiny livers were also used to study how genetic differences impact disease progression, offering a powerful tool to replace animal testing and speed up drug development. Mina was supervised by Prof. dr. Leo van Grunsven and Prof. dr. Stefaan Verhulst. #VUBHealthCampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch #PhD

🎗️ Towards a united front in the fight against cancer in Europe Proud to share that the Oncology Department of UZ Brussel is contributing to the ambitious new EUnetCCC - European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres project, part of the #EU4Health Programme. The initiative focuses on building a truly European Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) Network. Under the coordination of Prof. Bart Neyns, UMC joins leading cancer centres from across Europe in working toward a harmonized and high-quality approach to cancer care, research, and innovation. 🏥 CCCs are essential hubs where cutting-edge science meets compassionate care — from early diagnosis to post-treatment support. With this network, the goal is to reduce inequalities, strengthen clinical and research integration, and ensure that every European cancer patient has access to top-quality care, regardless of geography. 🔹 Project name: EUnetCCC – European Comprehensive Cancer Centre Network 🔹 EU funding: €2.6 million 🔹 Duration: October 2024 – September 2028 🔹 Coordinated by: Institut National Du Cancer GIP (INCA, France) 🔹 UMC Coordinator: Bart Neyns 🔹 Partners across Europe: 31 countries involved, 163 partners working together This initiative will enable better collaboration, shared standards, joint training, and access to clinical trials — helping to bring the best of science directly to the patient. Find out more: https://eunetccc2025.eu/ #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #innovation #cancerresearch

Good luck to Jihad Snobre who will defend her #PhD on Friday! 🍀   In her #phdresearch, Jihad investigates how #tuberculosis bacteria develop resistance to #bedaquiline, a key drug for drug-resistant TB. She discovered 85 new mutations in the mmpR5 gene, but found that not all actually cause resistance, challenging long-held assumptions. She also uncovered other survival strategies, like alternative drug pumps and metabolic changes. Her work reveals the complexity of TB drug resistance and supports smarter diagnostics and treatment strategies. Jihad was supervised by Prof. dr. Ronald Buyl, Prof. dr. Bouke de Jong and dr. Oren Tzfadia.   If you want to learn more about Jihad's research, you can follow the public defence online: https://lnkd.in/ekyT4TTJ #VUBHealthCampus #UMCOR #UMCORcommunity #healthresearch #PhD