Joeri Aerts

Joeri Aerts is a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where he leads the Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy research group. His work focuses on developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and HIV, with particular expertise in oncolytic viruses and mRNA-based vaccine platforms.

Dr. Aerts' research spans both fundamental and strategic basic research, with strong emphasis on translating discoveries into clinical applications. His laboratory investigates:

• Development of virotherapies (oncolytic viruses) for cancer treatment that harness viral power to activate immune responses against tumors
• Novel immunotherapies targeting HIV, aiming to strengthen the immune system to suppress the virus without lifelong antiretroviral therapy
• mRNA vaccine platforms and delivery systems for both cancer and HIV applications
• Understanding immune senescence and exhaustion in chronic diseases

His recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a clear research trajectory toward combinatorial approaches that address multiple aspects of immune dysfunction. Key themes include NK cell activation against HIV-infected cells, the role of xCT transporter in pancreatic cancer progression and associated mood disorders, and development of layer-by-layer mRNA vaccine platforms. His work bridges virology, immunology, and drug delivery systems with strong translational potential.

Dr. Aerts has secured substantial research funding with 27 projects (5 currently active), including major grants from Belgian research organizations. His work has generated over 140 research outputs with 4,553 citations and an h-index of 33.

As a mentor, Dr. Aerts has supervised 18 graduate theses on topics ranging from NK cell activation against HIV to mRNA-based vaccination strategies. His collaborative network spans multiple institutions both within Belgium and internationally, as evidenced by co-authorship on publications and participation in symposia like the EU4HIV CURE symposium.