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Prof. Ilse Dewachter is the head of the Biomed Neuroscience research group at Hasselt University (UHasselt), specializing in Alzheimer’s therapy and prevention for over 25 years. Her work focuses on multi-targeted therapies targeting tau, inflammation, and ApoE, alongside pioneering research into disease prevention via blood-based biomarkers. Recent studies explore a protective APOE3ch mutation that halted Alzheimer’s progression in a patient, offering hope for new treatments. Research Interests: - Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms (Abeta, tau, inflammation) - Multi-target therapies and biomarker development - Neurodegenerative disease prevention strategies - Genetic mutations impacting disease progression Articles Overview: Her most recent work (2025-2022) addresses neuroinflammation, tau propagation models, and AI-driven neuroimaging. Key themes include APOE genetics, blood-brain barrier dynamics, and exercise impacts on cognition. Funding & Grants: Current projects require significant investment for advanced biomarker equipment and clinical trials. A notable €300,000 grant funded research on brain lipid metabolism’s role in Alzheimer’s. Labs & Teams: Leads the BIOMED Neuroscience group at UHasselt, collaborating internationally on preclinical models and drug development.

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Therapeutic Development
• +6 more

Professor Kaat Alaerts is a leading researcher at KU Leuven's Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, where she serves as Head of the Neurorehabilitation Research Group and Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Her work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and rehabilitation science to develop innovative interventions for stress regulation and social-cognitive functioning, with a particular focus on autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Her primary research interests span neurorehabilitation , oxytocin research , autism spectrum disorder , stress regulation , mindfulness and meditation , neurostimulation , and social cognition . Dr. Alaerts employs a multidisciplinary approach that combines neuroscientific, physiological, and behavioral methods to study both clinical effectiveness and underlying brain mechanisms of neuromodulatory interventions. The research output demonstrates a strong focus on exploring the therapeutic potential of oxytocin, particularly for autism spectrum disorder. Her work examines both the standalone effects of oxytocin and its synergistic effects when combined with mindfulness training or other interventions. A growing body of research also investigates the gut-brain axis in autism and the role of microbiome composition in social and stress-related difficulties. Dr. Alaerts has received notable recognition including the KAGB Clinical Medicine Award in September 2024 for her work on oxytocin administration in children with autism. Her research group has also been honored with multiple "Belgium's got talent" prizes from the Belgian College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Alaerts supervises numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including Margaux Evenepoel, Jellina Prinsen, Elise Tuerlinckx, and others who have made significant contributions to the field. Her research is supported by multiple substantial grants, including several ongoing projects running through 2028-2029 that investigate oxytocin's role in stress regulation for breast cancer survivors, autism, and other conditions. The Neuromodulation Laboratory, which Dr. Alaerts leads, focuses on three core domains: oxytocin neuropsychopharmacology, contemplative science and combinatory approaches, and neuroregulation techniques. The lab operates within a multidisciplinary network that includes the LBI - KU Leuven Brain Institute and maintains strong collaborative relationships across various research institutions.

• Neurorehabilitation
• Oxytocin Research
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• +6 more

Joachim Cohen serves as Professor of Public Health and Palliative Care at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he co-chairs the End-of-Life Care Research Group alongside Professor Lieve Van den Block. He holds positions within the Family Medicine and Chronic Care school and leads the specialized End-of-Life Care Research Group department. With an h-index of 53 and over 9,824 citations, Cohen maintains a prominent position in international palliative care research. Dr. Cohen earned his Master's degree in Sociology in 2001 and completed his PhD in Social Health Sciences in 2007. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in social sciences applied to healthcare contexts, particularly end-of-life decision making. Cohen's research focuses on critical aspects of end-of-life care including euthanasia practices, place of death patterns, public health approaches to palliative care, big data applications in healthcare, family caregiving dynamics, health services research, and quality indicators for healthcare assessment. His work bridges sociological perspectives with clinical practice to improve end-of-life experiences across healthcare systems. Analysis of Cohen's recent publications reveals a growing emphasis on digital health solutions for palliative care, compassionate community development, and cross-national comparative studies. His research increasingly incorporates mixed-methods approaches, combining large-scale population data with qualitative insights from patients, families, and healthcare providers. The trajectory shows expanding focus from individual end-of-life decisions toward systemic public health approaches that address community-level support structures. Kubler Ross Award for Young Researchers Young Investigator Award from the European Association of Palliative Care (2010) Prix Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (2007) Professor Cohen directs numerous research projects including IRP24 studying Compassionate Communities, FWOSBO61 on social connection in serious illness, and ANI387 adapting end-of-life aid skills training. His grant portfolio demonstrates strong funding support from multiple national and international sources. While specific student mentoring isn't detailed in available sources, his leadership of large research teams suggests significant supervisory responsibilities. The End-of-Life Care Research Group under Cohen's co-leadership functions as a multidisciplinary hub connecting sociology, public health, clinical medicine, and policy research. The group maintains strong international collaborations and contributes significantly to evidence-based policymaking in end-of-life care across Europe.

• Palliative Care
• End-of-Life Care
• Public Health
• +6 more

Veerle Foulon serves as full professor and dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at KU Leuven, Belgium. She leads the Unit Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy within the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. Her institutional leadership roles include membership in the University Council, Academic Council, and Special Academic Council as dean, alongside positions in the Board for Alumni Relations and Biomedical Sciences Group Management. Leuven Centre for Health Humanities Leuven Interdisciplinary Centre for Meaning and Lived Religion LC&Y - KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth LIVO – KU Leuven Institute for Educational Research LKI - KU Leuven Cancer Institute Her research centers on pharmaceutical care, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient-centered care, and rational pharmacotherapy. Key focus areas include medication safety during pregnancy through the BELpREG registry, antimicrobial stewardship in Ethiopian healthcare settings, and person-centered medication optimization for elderly patients in nursing homes. She emphasizes real-world data collection and interdisciplinary approaches to address critical gaps in medication safety for vulnerable populations. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant themes in pregnancy medication safety (particularly via the BELpREG cohort), nursing home medication pathways, and antimicrobial resistance interventions. Her work consistently involves large-scale international collaborations across Europe and Ethiopia, addressing systemic challenges in pharmaceutical care through mixed-methods designs and registry-based studies. As principal investigator on major funded projects extending to 2028—including antimicrobial resistance initiatives in Ethiopia and pregnancy medication safety studies—she directs substantial research grants. Her leadership in interdisciplinary consortia drives innovation in medication optimization, though specific doctoral advisees are not documented in the provided materials. Current projects demonstrate strong translational focus with direct clinical implementation pathways. Embedded within multiple Leuven research institutes, she fosters cross-disciplinary collaborations through the BELpREG consortium and antimicrobial stewardship networks. Her work actively involves partnerships with Ethiopian tertiary hospitals, European pregnancy registries, and Belgian nursing home networks to develop and implement evidence-based pharmaceutical care models.

• Pharmaceutical Care
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Patient-Centered Care
• +5 more

Maarten De Vos is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) , KU Leuven , with dual appointments in the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering Science . He leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biomedical signal processing.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Biomedical Signal Processing
• Sleep Research
• +4 more

Lionel Pochet is a Professor at the University of Namur, active in drug design, thrombosis research, and analytical chemistry. His work focuses on coagulation cascade inhibitors and fragment-based drug discovery. Namur Medicine & Drug Innovation Center Namur Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences His research spans coumarin derivatives , FXIIa inhibition , and covalent probes for protein interactions. Recent projects include targeted covalent inhibitors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and lactate dehydrogenase. Key publications highlight pharmacological evaluation , mass spectrometry , and structural chemistry applications in drug discovery. Awards and grants are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

• Drug Design
• Thrombosis
• Coagulation Cascade
• +3 more

Bouke de Jong is a Professor and Unit Head of Mycobacteriology at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. She holds a PhD and MD in Medicine, alongside an MSc in Epidemiology from the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences and the University of Amsterdam. Her research focuses on molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium species, including tuberculosis (TB), Buruli Ulcer, and leprosy, emphasizing improved diagnostics, treatment optimization, and evaluating public health interventions to curb transmission. Supported by an ERC Starting Grant, she leads a team studying the impact of interventions on disease spread in endemic regions. Education and Academic Qualifications: PhD in Medicine, University of Amsterdam MD in Medicine MSc in Epidemiology, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences Research Interests: Improved molecular diagnostics for TB, Buruli Ulcer, and leprosy Phylogeography and phylodynamics of Mycobacterium species Optimized treatment regimens for drug-resistant strains Public health strategies to reduce transmission Grant and Project Activity: Dr. de Jong oversees 82 active projects, including ERC-funded research on drug-resistant TB lineages and USAID-supported Tuberculosis Implementation Framework Agreements (TIFA DRC). Notable collaborations involve studies in The Gambia, Rwanda, Niger, the Comoros, and Cuba, addressing TB epidemiology, drug resistance, and clinical intervention efficacy. Scientific Contributions: Her work has advanced understanding of M. africanum, transmission dynamics of M. leprae, and the development of rapid diagnostic methods like ethanol-based RNA preservation and tongue swab culturing. She advocates for global health security funding and participates in clinical trials optimizing treatments for multidrug-resistant infections.

• Mycobacteriology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Tuberculosis Research
• +8 more

Jean-Michel Dogné is a full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Namur, where he leads research in clinical pharmacology and toxicology. He is affiliated with several key research centers including the Namur Medicine & Drug Innovation Center, the Namur Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center, and the Namur Nanosafety Center. His work is integral to the Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences and he actively contributes to EU-level pharmacovigilance through his role in the EMA's PRAC committee. Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, Université de Liège (2000), Thesis: Drug design and development His research focuses on anticoagulant therapy, thrombosis, drug safety, and personalized medicine , with strong emphasis on clinical applications in cancer and infectious diseases. He has led major projects such as COVILAB (on COVID-19) and studies on BCR-ABL inhibitors in leukemia. His work often involves systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and biomarker discovery, contributing to evidence-based medicine. The 15 most recent publications reflect a sustained focus on thrombosis in oncology, pharmacovigilance, anticoagulants, and pandemic research , with increasing integration of regulatory science and model-informed drug development. His work spans clinical trials, laboratory investigations, crystallography, and public health policy , demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach to pharmaceutical innovation. Scientific Awards: Prix Léo Pharma Cancer & Thrombosis (2017) Jean-Michel Dogné has supervised over 40 students and researchers, contributing significantly to training the next generation of clinical pharmacologists. He has secured numerous national and international grants, particularly in the areas of drug safety and thrombosis. His collaborative network is extensive, involving institutions across Europe and participation in EU-level regulatory bodies. He is a key member of the Clinical Pharmacology Research Group and leads major initiatives such as the MP-EMA project. His team operates within state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Namur, focusing on translational research from bench to bedside.

• Clinical Pharmacology
• Pharmacovigilance
• Thrombosis and Hemostasis
• +7 more

Daniëlle Copmans is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , KU Leuven, where she leads the Molecular Biodiscovery unit and the Subdivision Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytopharmacology . Her research focuses on epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders , utilizing zebrafish models for drug discovery and precision medicine . She contributes to network pharmacology approaches and iPSC-based disease modeling for rare conditions like Dravet syndrome.

• Epilepsy research
• Zebrafish disease modeling
• Drug discovery
• +3 more

Gert Van Assche is a Full Professor at the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism within the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders unit at UZ Leuven. His institutional roles include membership in the Biomedical Sciences Group Evaluation Committee (Clinical), Council of the Faculty of Medicine, POC Arts-specialist in opleiding, Council of the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, and UZ Leuven Executive Board. His research focuses on translational gastroenterology, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. He leads the Clin-IC project (2018-2025) developing medtech solutions for patients, bridging clinical practice with technological innovation. His work spans clinical trials, health data utilization, and patient-centered outcomes research. Analysis of his 2020-2022 publications reveals a multidisciplinary approach integrating radiology, psychology, and health informatics. Key themes include advanced imaging for Crohn's disease (MRE-histology correlation), behavioral assessment tools (IBD-Bx questionnaire), international comparisons of IBD management challenges, and novel therapeutic interventions for refractory ulcerative colitis. He has served as promotor for the Clin-IC project and teaches courses including 'Innovative Health Technologies' (E0N72A) and 'Integrated Clinical Research and Reasoning' (E0C63B). His mentoring extends through co-authorship in international collaborations across gastroenterology, radiology, and patient quality-of-life studies. He operates within the Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders unit at UZ Leuven, fostering collaboration between laboratory scientists and clinicians to accelerate therapeutic advancements for gastrointestinal diseases.

• Gastroenterology
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Translational Research
• +3 more

Rajendra Bahadur Shahi PhD is a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), located at Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium. With an active research career spanning from 2012 to the present, he has established himself as a significant contributor to cancer genetics research with 11 research outputs documented in institutional records and an h-index reflecting substantial scholarly impact. Dr. Shahi's research primarily focuses on cancer genetics, particularly in the areas of breast and lung cancer predisposition. His work centers on identifying genetic variants that predispose individuals to cancer, with special attention to BRCA1/2-negative familial cases. Using advanced genomic techniques like whole-exome sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS), he investigates cancer-associated genes and their mutations to better understand hereditary cancer syndromes and develop improved diagnostic approaches. Analysis of Dr. Shahi's publication record reveals a clear progression from methodological development in NGS approaches toward increasingly sophisticated applications in clinical oncology. His research has evolved from foundational work on sequencing technologies to direct clinical applications in cancer predisposition and targeted therapies, particularly in breast and lung cancer. The integration of genomic data with clinical phenotypes represents a consistent theme throughout his scholarly output. European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) travel fellowship (2012) Organization of the European Cancer Institute (OECI) award (2013) Organization of the European Cancer Institute's (OECI) Award (2011) PhD Scholarship (2011) Prijs Kankeronderzoek (2016) Dr. Shahi has been actively involved in presenting his research at numerous international conferences and workshops, demonstrating his commitment to advancing knowledge in cancer genomics. His scholarly work has garnered attention across multiple platforms, with significant readership on Mendeley and coverage in news outlets, indicating the relevance and impact of his research. He has also contributed to datasets that support reproducible research in cancer genetics. Through his presentations and publications, Dr. Shahi has established himself as a contributor to the cancer research community, particularly in the application of genomic technologies to understand hereditary cancer predisposition. His work bridges basic genomic research with clinical applications, focusing on translating genetic findings into improved cancer risk assessment and potential therapeutic strategies.

• Cancer Genetics
• Breast Cancer Research
• Lung Cancer
• +4 more

Vanessa Vermeirssen is a Research Professor at Ghent University , leading the Computational Biology, Integromics and Gene Regulation (CBIGR) Laboratory and affiliated with the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG) . Her work focuses on unraveling disease mechanisms through bioinformatics, systems biology, and multi-omics integration. Specializes in gene regulatory networks , network inference , and machine learning Key application areas: neuroblastoma , glioblastoma , Alzheimer's disease , and neuroinflammation Develops tools like HTSplotter for high-throughput data analysis Research trends combine single-cell transcriptomics , multi-omics modeling , and personalized medicine approaches. Her lab applies network biology to identify therapeutic targets in complex diseases. Active in radiation-induced developmental defects and electroceutical therapies (e.g., vagus nerve stimulation) Investigates stress response networks in plants and humans

• Systems Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• +7 more

Jan de Hoon serves as a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine within the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy. He holds dual leadership roles as Head of both the Subdivision and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, and is an active member of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. His institutional affiliations include membership on the Ethics Committee for Research at UZ/KU Leuven, the Council of the Faculty of Medicine, the POC Geneeskunde, and the Departmental Council. His research centers on TRP channel mechanisms in pain pathways and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), with significant translational focus from bench to bedside. Key projects include Targeting TRP channels to relief pain (2023-2027) and TRP - Tackling the Roots of Pain (2021-2025). His recent publications demonstrate expertise in neurovascular pharmacology, PET ligand development, and vascular biomarkers for TRP channel functionality. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals strong emphasis on TRP channel subtypes (TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM3) in pain mechanisms, vascular readouts for drug effects, and translational models bridging preclinical findings to clinical applications in oncology and neurology. His work frequently employs human tissue studies, healthy volunteer trials, and cancer patient cohorts. As an academic leader, he supervises doctoral candidates including H. Marynissen (2024 thesis on TRP channels in CIPN) and contributes to medical education through courses in Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Medicine, and Internal Medicine supplements. His research is supported by multiple active grants focusing on TRP channel therapeutics and biomarker development.

• Clinical Pharmacology
• TRP Channels
• Pain Research
• +4 more

Roman Vangoitsenhoven serves as an Assistant Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine within the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism. He leads the Subdivision Metabolic unit at the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology research group (UZ Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000 Leuven) and holds membership in both the Council of the Faculty of Medicine and the Council of the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism. His research focuses on obesity and diabetes, with particular emphasis on GLP-1 based pharmacotherapy , bariatric surgery outcomes , and cardiometabolic health optimization . Current projects investigate neuropsychobiological approaches to patient selection for weight management therapies, de novo serine biosynthesis in obesity-related cardiac dysfunction, and data-driven interventions for type 2 diabetes management in diverse populations including low-income settings and urban Uganda. Analysis of his 2025 publications reveals a strong thematic concentration on translational obesity research , with recurring subfields spanning pharmacotherapy mechanisms, surgical outcomes, nutritional interventions, and metabolic monitoring technologies. His work demonstrates consistent collaboration across European institutions with significant contributions to clinical guidelines development. Member of Faculty of Medicine Council Member of Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism Council Dr. Vangoitsenhoven actively supervises multiple major research projects including a €2.3M ERC-funded study on GLP-1 pharmacotherapy optimization (2025-2029) and international collaborations on diabetes management in low-resource settings. His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses in clinical nutrition, disease mechanisms, and evidence-based medicine within KU Leuven's medical curriculum. He leads the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology unit's metabolic research subdivision, directing a multidisciplinary team of 12 researchers focused on obesity-diabetes pathophysiology and therapeutic interventions. Current initiatives include the SABO cohort study on post-bariatric sarcopenia in elderly patients and development of digital health tools for personalized diabetes management.

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Bariatric Surgery
• +5 more

Marina Danckaerts is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience and active in the field of Developmental Psychiatry and ADHD research. Her research focuses on: Behavioral and emotional responses in ADHD Sleep disorders and interventions for adolescents with ADHD Attachment theory and instrumental learning in neurodevelopmental conditions Youth mental health service design Invisible disability representation in technology Post-trauma rehabilitation for refugee youth Recent publications highlight her work on: Sleep hygiene and cognitive-behavioral interventions for ADHD adolescents Behavioral persistence and reinforcement mechanisms in ADHD Comparative analysis of youth and professional perspectives on mental health services Game design applications for ADHD teenagers Impact of dopamine pathways on ADHD-attachment controversies She serves as: Co-promotor in 8 active research projects (2024-2030) Promotor for refugee family mental health research Member of KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) and Institute for Child and Youth (LC&Y) Participant in criminological sciences councils and psychology program committees Teaching contributions: Course coordinator for multiple child psychiatry modules (codes E0J45A, E0CR3A, etc.) Focus on evidence-based medicine, communication skills, and clinical practice in youth psychiatry

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• ADHD
• Developmental Psychiatry
• +5 more