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Wim Gevers is a faculty member at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and leads the CS4S – Cognitive Control & Sleep laboratory within the CRCN research centre. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience and sleep research to understand how the brain exerts control over thoughts and actions and how sleep contributes to these processes. Research Interests Cognitive Control & Metacognition: Investigating how subjective experiences such as confidence and the "urge-to-err" guide strategic adjustments in behaviour. Working Memory & Ordinal Cognition: Examining how order information is maintained and manipulated, and how these processes relate to mathematical competence. Sleep, Memory & Decision Making: Exploring how sleep-dependent consolidation influences motor learning and decision strategies. Across his 2022–2025 publications a clear trend emerges: a focus on metacognitive monitoring —how humans evaluate their own cognitive states—and the role of emotional and temporal context in shaping those evaluations. Studies range from reaction-time introspection and confidence judgements in perceptual tasks to the impact of aging and depression on metacognitive accuracy. Doctoral Supervision & Mentoring Whitney Stee (PhD 2024) – Sleep-dependent structural brain reorganization & motor learning Gaia Corlazzoli (PhD 2024) – Subjective experience in decision-making Myrtille Dewulf (PhD 2023) – Ordinal coding mechanisms in working memory Rebeca Sifuentes-Ortega (PhD 2023) – REM sleep and memory reactivation All dissertations were defended at ULB, Faculté des Sciences psychologiques et de l’éducation, with Wim Gevers formally listed as Promotor . Laboratory & Collaborative Networks As head of CS4S, Gevers coordinates a multidisciplinary team that combines behavioural experimentation, EEG/MEG, computational modelling and sleep polysomnography. The lab is embedded in the larger CRCN ecosystem, fostering collaborations with groups such as CO3 (consciousness), LCLD (language & deafness), and UR2NF (neurofunctional imaging).

• Cognitive control
• Metacognition
• Working memory
• +3 more

Matthew B. Blaschko is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at KU Leuven, Belgium. He serves as director of the KU Leuven ELLIS unit and is a fellow in the ELLIS Health program. He is a Core PI in the Flanders AI Research Program, working as a workpackage lead for Decision Support Systems and Medical Imaging. Blaschko is also a member of the KU Leuven Institute for Artificial Intelligence and one of the leaders of the working group on Machine Learning and Data Science. Professor Blaschko received his B.S. from Columbia University, M.S. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Dr. rer. nat. from Technische Universität Berlin (awarded for work at Max Planck Institutes Tübingen). He was a Newton International Fellow at the University of Oxford and received his Habilitation (HDR) from École Normale Supérieure de Cachan. Prior to joining KU Leuven, he was a Permanent Research Scientist in the INRIA Saclay Research Center and a Faculty Member at Ecole Centrale Paris. His research focuses on machine learning techniques applied to visual data, with particular emphasis on calibration in deep learning, medical image analysis, and federated learning. Blaschko's work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, as evidenced by technology developed in his research being incorporated into MONA, software for ophthalmic image analysis. His research group has made significant contributions to the fields of model calibration, uncertainty estimation, and medical imaging analysis, with recent publications showing strong trends toward improving reliability of AI systems in medical contexts and advancing theoretical understanding of calibration metrics. Professor Blaschko has been recognized with several awards including the Université Paris-Saclay STIC Doctoral School Best Scientific Contribution Award, Best Paper Award at CVPR 2008, Main Award at DAGM 2008, and Best Student Paper Award at ECCV 2008. Professor Blaschko has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students, with current and former students including Deniz Soysal, Claire Marchal, Dongli Xu, Sebastian Gruber, Jiameng Li, Marco Mezzina, and many others working on diverse topics from Alzheimer's disease analysis to surgical phase recognition. His research has been supported by various funding sources including the Flanders AI Research Program. He has co-organized several influential workshops including the "Another Brick in the AI Wall: Building Practical Solutions from Theoretical Foundations" at CVPR 2025, Commands 4 Autonomous Vehicles workshop at ECCV 2020, and the Learning from Limited Labeled Data workshop series at NIPS 2017 and ICLR 2019. His laboratory focuses on machine learning for medical image analysis, with applications in ophthalmology, neurology, and surgical robotics. The group maintains active collaborations with medical institutions and participates in international challenges such as the KNee OsteoArthritis Prediction (KNOAP2020) challenge.

• Machine Learning
• Computer Vision
• Medical Image Analysis
• +5 more

Daan Christiaens is a tenure track lecturer at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering Sciences. He is affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) and Department of Imaging & Pathology, serving as a member of the Medical Imaging Division and the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI). His academic responsibilities include membership in the Faculty Councils of Engineering Sciences and Medicine. His research focuses on: Inverse problems in medical imaging reconstruction Neuroimaging techniques for brain analysis Advanced quantitative MRI methodologies Diffusion-weighted imaging for microstructural assessment Dr. Christiaens' recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on diffusion MRI innovations, including novel reconstruction algorithms, neonatal brain development mapping, and clinical applications for neurodegenerative disorders. Key technical themes include motion correction, multi-shell modeling, and AI-enhanced image processing, while clinical applications span Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, and autism research. He leads significant research projects including: MRI reconstruction with dynamic field monitoring (2024-2028) Compressed sensing for microstructure imaging (2022-2026) Neonatal diffusion MRI network connectivity analysis (2024-2028) As a core developer of the MRtrix3 software framework for medical image processing, he contributes to essential tools in neuroimaging research.

• Inverse problems and reconstruction
• Neuroimaging
• Quantitative MRI
• +1 more

Uwe Himmelreich is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven , leading the Biomedical MRI unit. He is actively involved in the Medical Imaging Division , KU Leuven Brain Institute , KU Leuven Institute for Integration of Micro- and Nano-scale Technologies , and KU Leuven Cancer Institute . Role: Full Professor and Head of Biomedical MRI Affiliations: Faculty of Medicine, Medical Imaging Division, LBI, LIMNI, LKI His research spans neuroscience , cardiovascular imaging , and nano/micro-scale technologies . Key projects include: MindMAP: Radiotherapy-induced neurotoxicity in juvenile brains Preclinical cancer models for oral tumors Quantitative T2 mapping of lung disease in murine models Neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in cryptococcosis Resistance training effects on cortical thickness in aging cohorts His work integrates MRI , multi-photon microscopy , and novel contrast agents for longitudinal in vivo studies. Methodologies include vascular density mapping , proton therapy verification , and preclinical radiotherapy evaluation . Notable contributions include: 2025: JAK/STAT inhibition in malaria-induced inflammation 2025: Manganese-enhanced MRI for cardiac injury 2025: Quantitative lung imaging at 9.4T 2024: IVIM as vascular density marker in rat brain 2024: Phase-change ultrasound agents for proton therapy

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Neuroscience
• +4 more

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

Kris Baetens is a Professor in the Department of Psychology Brain, Body and Cognition at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, mentalization, and inhibitory control, particularly exploring the role of the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in these processes. He employs techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), EEG, and fMRI to investigate cognitive and clinical phenomena. Leading projects like ANI423 (neural correlates of inhibitory control in adolescents) and FWOAL1160 (cerebellum's role in social cognition). Recipient of the EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy fellowship (2024-2026). Active collaborations in the PRISM network for mental health research. Key research interests include: - Cerebellar contributions to cognitive and social functions - Neurostimulation techniques for mental health interventions - Mentalizing processes in social action prediction - Personality and learning mechanisms His articles consistently analyze the interplay between neural structures like the cerebellum and behavioral outcomes in clinical and cognitive contexts. Recent work emphasizes applications of tDCS in treating alcohol use disorders and disordered eating, highlighting translational research in non-invasive brain stimulation. Advising/Grants: Supervises student research projects and manages grants from FWO and OZR agencies. Labs/Teams: Core member of the PRISM network and involved in the EUTOPIA fellowship initiative.

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• +3 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

Vincent Bonin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Sciences. He is affiliated with the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Neuro Electronics Research Flanders (NERF) and the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI). His research focuses on neural circuits and visual neuroscience, with an emphasis on cortical and subcortical mechanisms of perception and plasticity. Research Interests: Vincent investigates visual coding, cortical connectivity, and brain circuit dynamics. His work spans topics like: Role of non-hierarchical visual pathways in perception Dendritic processing in the superior colliculus Cell type-specific connectivity in layer 2/3 visual cortex Astrocyte-mediated cortical plasticity Development of high-resolution intracortical visual prosthetics Recent Projects: • The contributions of non-hierarchical visual pathways to visual coding and perceptual behavior (2025-2028) • An investigation into cell type-specific connectivity rules in visual cortex (2024-2027) • Short- and long-term circuit mechanisms of motor rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (2024-2027)

• Neuroscience
• Neurobiology
• Visual Neuroscience
• +3 more

Nico Buls is a Researcher in the Department of Radiology at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel). His work focuses on translational projects in medical imaging physics, radiation dosimetry, and engineering, with an emphasis on advanced imaging technologies for diagnostic and interventional radiology. Key research areas include imaging physics, spectral CT techniques, iterative reconstruction in CT, radiation dosimetry, neuro MRI applications, and applied statistics in medical imaging. He leads projects such as the PAD flow study (quantitative blood flow assessment via 4D CT) and the evaluation of lung ventilation using Xenon gas-enhanced CT. Buls collaborates internationally, with active research in Belgium and beyond. Affiliations: UZ Brussel, Research Centre for Digital Medicine. Grants/Projects: 12 active projects including OZR4357 (PhD stipend), PAD flow, and Xenon gas imaging studies. Scientific Awards: Editor's Recognition Award (2014, 2016) Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Fellowship (2011) Young Physicist Grant (2001) Advising/Grants: Supervises 20+ research projects and students, with notable contributions to 4D CT applications and radiation safety protocols. His lab, the Research Centre for Digital Medicine, drives innovation in clinical imaging technologies.

• Medical Imaging
• Radiation Dosimetry
• Computed Tomography (CT)
• +4 more

Jo Nijs is a Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy. His work focuses on chronic pain mechanisms, chronic fatigue syndrome, and neurophysiological adaptations. He leads the 'Pain in Motion' research group and has authored over 950 publications with an h-index of 73. Research interests include: chronic musculoskeletal pain pathophysiology, central sensitization, and translational strategies for pain management. Notable projects include investigating epigenetic mechanisms in chronic pain and interdisciplinary approaches to osteoarthritis treatment. Recipient of the 2020 Francqui Collen Chair and 2017 Excellence in Research Award Supervised 73 students in physiotherapy and pain science Active in international collaborations across 25+ countries Recent research emphasizes pain neuroscience education efficacy, pain-sleep interactions, and immune mechanisms in chronic conditions. His work bridges clinical practice with advanced neuroimaging and molecular biology techniques.

• Pain Management
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
• +4 more

Yves Rosseel is a Professor at Ghent University (UGent) specializing in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) , Psychometrics , and Statistical Methodology . With over 15 recent publications (2024-2025), he focuses on small-sample SEM solutions, factor score regression, measurement error, and Bayesian extensions. His work bridges Statistics with applications in Psychology , Education , and Neuroimaging . Research Trends Developed Mixture Multigroup SEM for cross-group comparisons Proposed Information-Theoretic Hypergraphs in psychometrics Advanced Two-Stage Estimation for round-robin data Created blavaan R package for Bayesian SEM Investigated Measurement Error in hypothesis testing Scientific Contributions Published 84 Social Sciences papers, 37 Statistics works, and 11 Neuroimaging studies Promoted 8 PhDs including Sara Dhaene and Julie De Jonckere Co-authored 12+ works with Marijke Welvaert and 10+ with Stijn Vanheule

• Structural Equation Modeling
• Psychometrics
• Statistics
• +5 more

Dr. Alison Mary is an FNRS Research Associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, since October 2023. She is affiliated with the Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit (UR2NF), which operates within the Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition (CRCN) and the ULB Neurosciences Institute (UNI). Her research focuses on memory processes and their cerebral underpinnings, particularly in the context of healthy aging and resilience following acute stress. Dr. Mary completed her PhD in January 2016 at UR2nF/CRCN under Professor Philippe Peigneux. From November 2016 to October 2019, she conducted postdoctoral research at the U1077 Unit (Neuropsychology and Imaging of Human Memory – NIMH) in Caen, France, under Dr. Pierre Gagnepain, investigating neurobiological markers of resilience in survivors of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. Dr. Mary's research centers on understanding brain mechanisms supporting memory processes in healthy aging using functional connectivity and resting state networks. She investigates non-pharmacological stimulation strategies, particularly transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation, to promote neuroplasticity and memory in aging populations. Her work examines how sleep architecture, meditation, and cognitive training impact memory processes in older adults, employing advanced neuroimaging techniques including MEG and EEG. Analysis of Dr. Mary's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of memory, aging, and neuroimaging. Her research increasingly incorporates transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation to enhance memory processes, while examining how sleep architecture relates to memory consolidation. She also investigates cognitive resilience following acute stress and trauma, exploring neural mechanisms that preserve memory function despite traumatic experiences. FNRS Research Associate Fellowship (2023-present) FNRS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2023) Dr. Mary actively supervises doctoral research, including Benkirane's work on sleep fragmentation and cognition, and Hamel's research on sleep characteristics in older adults. She collaborates extensively within the UR2NF research unit and with international colleagues on memory, aging, and neuroimaging projects. Her laboratory utilizes MEG, EEG, and functional MRI to investigate brain mechanisms underlying memory processes, with future work likely focusing on personalized non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive aging.

• Memory
• Neuroimaging
• Aging
• +6 more

Frank Van Overwalle is a Professor of Psychology at Brussels University, affiliated with the Consultation Center Brain, Body and Cognition. His research focuses on Social Connectionism and Social Neuroscience, particularly the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, mentalizing, and cerebellar contributions to social and cognitive processes. He has led over 40 research projects and published 214 peer-reviewed articles, including works on cerebellar sequencing, mentalizing, and neuroimaging techniques. His research highlights the cerebellum's role in social action prediction, implicit learning, and emotional processing. Notable projects include investigations into cerebellar tDCS effects on social cognition and collaborations on the neural basis of group stereotypes and Theory of Mind. Van Overwalle received the Tobie Jonckheere Award in 1989 for his doctoral work on educational psychology. He has participated in numerous conferences and serves on the boards of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society and Organization for Human Brain Mapping. His work bridges cognitive models with empirical neuroimaging data, emphasizing cerebellar contributions to higher-order social functions.

• Social Neuroscience
• Cerebellum Research
• Social Cognition
• +3 more

Jef Vandemeulebroucke is a researcher at the Department of Electronics and Informatics , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , specializing in medical imaging, computer vision, and augmented reality applications in healthcare. His work bridges artificial intelligence with radiology and biomechanics , focusing on automated segmentation, predictive modeling, and real-time surgical navigation systems. Research interests include: Medical image analysis for disease prognosis (e.g., COVID-19 severity , neurosurgical drains ) Development of MedShapeNet , a 3D medical shape dataset for computer vision Augmented reality systems in orthopedic and neurosurgical interventions AI-driven fluorescence endoscopy and dynamic CT for joint kinematics Key trends in his 140+ publications emphasize deep learning , image registration , and 4D-CT applications . Supervised theses include brain age prediction and chest radiography automation. Active in 38 projects (e.g., AI-NIMO , TumorScope ), he collaborates with institutions like the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZB) and FWO (Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders).

• Medical Imaging
• Computer Vision
• Artificial Intelligence
• +3 more

Robin Lemmens is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, and leads the Laboratory of Neurobiology (VIB-KU Leuven). He serves as head of Academic Consultants Training in Specialist Medicine and Program Director of the POC Medical Specialist in Training. His affiliations include the LBI - KU Leuven Brain Institute and membership in multiple institutional committees including the Metaforum Steering Committee and Faculty Council of Medicine. Dr. Lemmens' research focuses on stroke neurology with particular expertise in neuroimaging, cerebrovascular diseases, and endovascular therapy. His work spans ischemic stroke management, anticoagulation therapy, intracerebral hemorrhage, and advanced imaging techniques for stroke diagnosis and treatment planning. Current research explores AI applications in stroke imaging, optimal timing of anticoagulation after stroke, and endovascular therapy in extended time windows. Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on translational stroke research with significant contributions to clinical trial methodology. Key themes include validation of imaging biomarkers, optimization of thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapies, and development of AI tools for stroke lesion segmentation. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals including Stroke , Neurology , and The Lancet . Dr. Lemmens supervises research projects and students, with recent supervision including Oosterbos, C. on peroneal nerve entrapment research. His grant portfolio includes multiple active projects totaling millions in funding, with recent grants focusing on secondary stroke prevention, comprehensive stroke management systems, and AI for stroke outcome prediction. He leads the Laboratory of Neurobiology at VIB-KU Leuven, which collaborates extensively with international stroke research networks. Current research directions include developing patient-centered stroke care pathways, advanced imaging techniques for early ischemic changes, and personalized stroke diagnostics and treatment protocols.

• Stroke Neurology
• Neuroimaging
• Cerebrovascular Diseases
• +4 more