Dominique Maes

Dominique Maes is a Professor in the Department of Structural Biology within the Department of Bio-engineering Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. With an academic career spanning from 1987 to present, Maes has established significant expertise in protein crystallization, structural biology, and microfluidics. Their research focuses on fundamental mechanisms of protein crystallization, nucleation phenomena, and more recently, phase separation processes related to neurodegenerative diseases.

Maes' research interests center on the physical principles governing protein behavior, particularly in crystallization and phase separation processes. Their work bridges fundamental biophysics with practical applications in biomanufacturing and disease mechanisms. The research utilizes advanced microfluidic platforms for precise control of protein solutions, enabling detailed studies of crystallization pathways, aggregation behavior, and phase separation dynamics under controlled conditions.

Analysis of Maes' publication record reveals a clear evolution from fundamental crystallization studies toward applications in neurodegenerative disease research. Recent publications (2023-2025) show a strong focus on ALS-related protein phase separation, protein aggregation in microfluidic environments, and advanced particle tracking methods for microfluidic systems. The research demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary integration between structural biology, microfluidics, and neuroscience.

• IMT Microfluidics on Glass Poster Award (2019)
• Poster Prize (2018)
• European Space Agency Team Achievement Award (2007)

Maes actively supervises doctoral research and serves on multiple PhD committees, particularly in the Department of Bio-engineering Sciences. They lead several major research projects including PROCRYSTAL (Crystallisation towards efficient and sustainable biomanufacturing), SRP97 (Microfluidic cell handling for subcellular dynamics), and FWOTM1122 (Characterizing mutations in hnRNPA2 for degenerative disorders). Their laboratory appears to focus on structural biology with strong connections to microfluidics research groups.

Maes has established significant collaborations with researchers across Europe, particularly in microfluidics and protein science. The research group maintains active partnerships with multiple institutions for joint PhD programs and collaborative projects in structural biology and biomanufacturing applications.