Upper Airways Research Laboratory (URL)

The Upper Airways Research Laboratory (URL) is a leading translational research group within the Department of Head and Skin at Ghent University. Founded in 1997 by Prof. Claus Bachert, the laboratory has developed into an internationally recognized center of excellence in airway immunology, allergy and chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airways. 

Today, the laboratory is led by Prof. Philippe Gevaert and Prof. Stijn Vanhee and brings together clinicians, immunologists and biomedical scientists to investigate the mechanisms underlying chronic airway inflammation. The research programme integrates fundamental immunology, advanced molecular technologies and patient-oriented clinical research to translate scientific discoveries into improved diagnostics and innovative therapies. 

The Upper Airways Research Laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower airways. By combining human tissue studies, ex vivo disease models, advanced immunological techniques and translational patient research, we aim to bridge fundamental discoveries and clinical applications.

Our research focuses on:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps
• Allergic rhinitis and allergic airway disease
• Type 2 inflammation and eosinophilic disorders
• B-cell biology, local antibody responses and tissue immunology
• Mucosal immune mechanisms in airway inflammation
• Biomarker discovery and disease endotyping
• Precision medicine approaches for chronic airway diseases
• Mechanisms of action and optimization of biological therapies and allergen immunotherapy

The disease burden of patients remains central to our mission. We seek to understand disease mechanisms, identify clinically relevant disease endotypes, discover novel therapeutic targets and translate these findings into investigator-driven and industry-sponsored clinical trials. Through close collaboration with the Clinical Trial Center and international research networks, the URL contributes to the development of next-generation treatments for patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases.

The Upper Airways Research Laboratory is embedded in a strong national and international network of academic, clinical and industrial collaborators. Through longstanding partnerships with leading research groups in immunology, allergy, respiratory medicine and rhinology, the laboratory contributes to multidisciplinary research aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. 

The laboratory collaborates closely with research groups within Ghent University and VIB, as well as with academic partners across Europe and beyond. These collaborations support studies in airway immunology, mucosal inflammation, B-cell biology, allergy, chronic rhinosinusitis, biomarker discovery and precision medicine. The URL is actively involved in international research consortia, investigator-driven studies and multicentre clinical research initiatives focused on innovative therapeutic strategies for patients with chronic airway diseases. 

Through the Ghent University Allergy Network, the laboratory fosters interdisciplinary collaborations connecting basic scientists, translational researchers and clinicians working in allergy and immunology. This environment facilitates the rapid translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications and patient-centred research programmes.