Dirk Elewaut

Dirk Elewaut is a Professor of Medicine at Ghent University and VIB Group Leader at the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research. His research focuses on inflammation mechanisms in musculoskeletal diseases, emphasizing the gut-joint axis in spondyloarthritis (SpA). He investigates the role of iNKT cells and mesenchymal cells in inflammatory processes and explores therapeutic strategies targeting cartilage and bone metabolism. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with contributions to understanding SpA pathogenesis and translational therapies.

Education includes a PhD from Ghent University (1997) and postdoctoral training at the La Jolla Institute and UC San Diego (USA, 1997-1999). His team studies inflammatory pathways, immune regulation, and tissue damage in arthritis, using mouse models and clinical data. Recent studies highlight breakthroughs in denosumab for osteoarthritis and AI-driven histologic analysis of tendinopathy.

Research areas span immunology, musculoskeletal disorders, and translational medicine. His lab collaborates on drug delivery (liposomal targeting) and has pioneered insights into mechanical strain effects in SpA models.