Connective Tissue Lab

Heritable connective tissue disorders comprise a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders, mainly characterized by fragility of the skin, ligaments and tendons, bone, the cardiovascular system, eyes and lungs. Although individually rare, together they constitute a significant proportion of genetic diseases.

Research interests

• Emphasis on following connective tissue disorders:
  • Cutis Laxa
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes
  • Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease
  • Marfan Syndrome
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta
  • Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum
• Multi-omics approaches on patient tissues and cells as well on animal models (zebrafish and mouse)
• Idenfitication of novel genes for these disease conditions
• Delineation of potential therapeutic targets in the cellular signaling pathways
• Search for biomarkers
• Bridge from fundamental research to clinical applications

More information about the Connective Tissue Lab

• Publications
• Doctoral dissertations

More information about Prof. Paul Coucke

• Prof. Paul Coucke is head of the Connective Tissue Lab in the Center for Medical Genetics Ghent
• Prof. Paul Coucke is director of the Zebrafish Facility Ghent
• Prof. Paul Coucke is legal expert in DNA research
• Prof. Paul Coucke is member of
  • Belgian Society for Human Genetics 
  • Clinical Supporting Sector, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Gent, in Dutch) 
  • European Reference Network on rare bone diseases (ERN-BOND)

More information about Prof. Bert Callewaert

• Prof. Bert Callewaert is principal investigator in the Connective Tissue Lab of the Center for Medical Genetics Ghent 
• Prof. Bert Callewaert is clinical geneticist and pediatrician at University Hospital Ghent (UZ Gent, in Dutch)
• Prof. Bert Callewaert is member of
  • The board of the Belgian Society for Human Genetics
  • European Society for Human Genetics
  • American Society for Human Genetics
  • The clinical board of 'A Twist of Fate - Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome' (director)
  • Professional advisory board of the Myhre Syndrome Foundation
  • Cutis Laxa Internationale
  • The board of the European Network for Skin Diseases (ERN-Skin)
  • The board of the European Network on Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies (ERN-ITHACA)
  • Montalcino Aortic Consortium
• Follow Prof. Bert Callewaert on Twitter

More information about Prof. Fransiska Malfait

• Prof. Fransiska Malfait is principal investigator in the Connective Tissue Lab of the Center for Medical Genetics Ghent

• Prof. Fransiska Malfait is clinical geneticist and head of clinic at University Hospital Ghent (UZ Gent, in Dutch)

• Prof. Fransiska Malfait is member of

  • EDS Society and International EDS Consortium
  • European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ERN ReCONNET)
  • European Reference Network for Rare Vascular Diseases (VASCERN)

• Follow Prof. Fransiska Malfait on Twitter

More information about Prof. Olivier Vanakker

• Prof. Olivier Vanakker is principal investigator in the Connective Tissue Lab of the Center for Medical Genetics Ghent
• Prof. Olivier Vanakker is clinical geneticist and head of clinic at University Hospital Ghent (UZ Gent, in Dutch)