Infectiology, Inflammation & Immunology

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Research Activities

This research unit aims to discern and modulate intestinal and extra-intestinal effects of gut inflammation, driving the identification of new therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel diseases and other gut-driven pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease. Aside from aiming to modulate the inflammatory response in the intestine, we are interested in mechanisms of gut fibrosis and the development of drugs able to prevent or reverse the excess deposition of extracellular matrix. In addition, we focus on tools to modulate neurobehavioral and neurological changes resulting from gut inflammation by studying mechanisms of gut-brain communication.

Research Staff

• Prof. Debby Laukens: preclinical studies in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), gut-brain communication
• Prof. dr. Triana Lobatón Ortega: safety and dose optimization of biologics in IBD patients

Laboratory of Medical Immunology

Research Activities

The Laboratory of Medical Immuch activitiesnology strives to gain in-depth molecular understanding of innate immune activation and inflammation in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases with the aim of identifying potential drug targets that can benefit patients across several therapeutic areas.

The innate immune system constitutes the body's primary immunological response, and is involved in wide range of diseases. Our research focuses on understanding how inflammation and innate immune activation contributes to human diseases. To this end, we make use of both patient samples as well as advanced preclinical disease models to map pathogenic immune mechanisms in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases with the aim of identifying novel drug targets and diagnostic approaches for patients.

Research Staff

• Prof. Mohamed Lamkanfi: inflammasomes and gasdermins