NN Chair in Lifestyle Medicine & Longevity
Healthcare systems today are under increasing pressure due to the rise of chronic diseases, population ageing, and escalating healthcare costs. At the same time, breakthroughs in RNA technology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics make it possible to monitor health much earlier and in a far more personalized way than ever before. It is within this context that the NN Chair in Lifestyle Medicine & Longevity was established: an initiative that aims to investigate how biomolecular data can be used not only to treat disease, but above all to predict and prevent it.
Objectives
The Chair is founded on the belief that accessible, personalized prevention can generate major health benefits by giving individuals better insight into their own biological processes and health trajectories. Through the HemoPrint platform, we aim to leverage innovative RNA analysis and AI to approach health not reactively, but proactively and in a data-driven manner.
More specifically, we seek to develop new scientific insights and validated models that map biological age, immune status, and lifestyle patterns. The expected outcome is that these complex datasets will be translated into understandable and actionable insights for both citizens and healthcare professionals, thereby significantly improving prevention and early intervention. In the longer term, we aim to contribute to a scalable and socially relevant model for personalized preventive medicine in Belgium and beyond.
Donor(s)
Period
2026 – present
Promoter
Koen Kas is a Belgian professor specializing in molecular oncology and digital health, renowned for his pioneering work in biomarkers, cancer research, and preventive medicine. He contributed to unraveling the molecular basis of salivary gland and hereditary endocrine tumors and has published more than sixty scientific articles on cancer, genomics, and proteomics.
In addition, he developed innovative research and development programs at biotech companies such as Pronota, Galapagos, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, where he worked on medicines and diagnostic technologies. He currently manages the global database of certified digital health tools.
As a professor at Ghent University, he investigates how AI, digital health data, and omics technologies can accelerate the transition from reactive disease care to predictive and preventive healthcare. He is also the author of influential books such as Nooit meer ziek and Epic: Unleash Your Full Potential Through Health, Art & Technology, and is an internationally recognized speaker on the future of health innovation. He is often referred to as a “health futurist.”