Werend BOESMANS

Prof. Dr. Werend BOESMANS serves as a Senior Lecturer at Hasselt University within the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Neuroscience. He is an active member of both the Neuroscience Research Group and the Biomedical Research Institute, where he leads research at the intersection of gastrointestinal physiology and neuroscience.

His research focuses on gastroenterology, developmental neuroscience, neurophysiology, and the emerging field of gut-brain axis interactions. Prof. Boesmans investigates the critical role of enteric glial cells in gastrointestinal health and disease, with particular interest in microRNA regulation, DNA repair mechanisms, and microbiome interactions. His work bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications in gastrointestinal disorders.

• Collen-Francqui Start-up Grant (2021-2024)

Prof. Boesmans actively supervises nine doctoral students across diverse projects related to the enteric nervous system. His current research portfolio includes twenty projects spanning 2020-2029, with significant funding for investigations into gut-organ axes, genomic stress resolution, and microRNA regulation in gastrointestinal health. He teaches multiple advanced courses including Advanced Light Microscopy and Experimental Design in Molecular Mechanisms.

His laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art optical imaging infrastructure through the MULTISCALE project and focuses on translational research connecting basic mechanisms of enteric nervous system function with clinical applications in gastrointestinal diseases and neurological conditions.