VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research - Science & People 2018
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SCIENCE & PEOPLE 2018 VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
LET’S KEEP ON PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES OF KNOWLEDGE
A lot can change over the course of a year. Our center took a new start in 2017 but this has
not slowed us down. On the contrary, five new group leaders have joined, several with an
entire team, bringing our total number of researchers and support staff to more than 300,
working in 18 different VIB-KU Leuven research units. I could not have imagined a better
and more fruitful first year.
Together, we have done an enormous amount of exciting science. We traveled the
world to talk about our results (winning prestigious prizes along the way) and invited
our colleagues to Leuven for lectures and meetings. We reached out to patients, to
policy makers and to society to talk about why and how we study the brain in health
and disease. We raised awareness and talked, baked, ate, swam and ran for charities
that share our mission. We welcomed an enthusiastic crowd of new PhD students and
saw those who graduated embark on new professional adventures at leading institutes
and companies all across the globe. We teamed up with nonacademic partners to push
our findings to the clinic and industry, and we are home to the newest (and largest ever)
VIB spin-off: Aelin Therapeutics!
More exciting ventures are on the horizon: 2018 will be the year we supersede our
borders, a year of reaching out to our different stakeholders and partners, locally and
internationally, to strengthen Leuven as a global hub for neuroscience. The Leuven Brain
Institute will bring all neuroscience-enthusiasts in Leuven under one roof, from social
scientists to engineers, biologists and medical doctors. We are also working on a new
initiative that combines the expertise of VIB, KU Leuven, UZ Leuven and imec to build new
technology to transform the research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
I am convinced that together we are stronger and our research will be even more
CONTENTS
impactful. Let’s keep on pushing the boundaries of knowledge to achieve our mission: 4 MEET THE NEW GROUPS
a breakthrough in the cure of neuronal and neurodegenerative disorders.
7 CBD IN NUMBERS
Patrik Verstreken
8 OUR RESERACH GROUPS
Director
14 SCIENCE OUTPUT
16 TECH TRANSFER
2018 will be the year
18 OUTREACH
20 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS
of reaching out 22
26
29
PHDS
EXPERTISE UNITS
AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS
30 ALUMNI
33 SUPPORT
34 CBD IN ACTION
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 3
Why did you want to join our center? Conversely, why are you or your team. I think this mutual advantage was
What makes it a good place to start group a good fit for our center? clear also to others at our center. Even
or lead a lab? at meetings abroad, people tell me how
STEIN: Research in my lab combines Leuven is fertile ground for familial
STEIN: It is a fantastic place to lead computational biology with single- Alzheimer’s research.
a research group, embedded within cell genomics. I think they selected us PIERRE: Several CBD groups are very
Sha Liu
the KU Leuven, but adding significant because the CBD recently decided to interested in some of the approaches
flexibility, research opportunities, invest in single-cell technologies, and that we developed, in particular human/
Thomas Voets a collaborative network, and because there is an increasing need for mouse chimeric brain models.
international attractiveness. bioinformatics expertise. And because THOMAS: I am convinced that ion
SHA: For me, in one way it was by gene regulation is cool of course! channel biology deserves a place at a life
chance. When I came across the flyer for science institute like VIB. Ion channels
an open PI position, I did not know VIB. are a very important class of proteins
But the more I learned about this place, with an enormously broad potential
the more I realized it would be a good for therapeutic applications, not only
fit. There are lots of fly neurobiologists in neuroscience but also in the cancer
here, which is really helpful, especially
for a new PI – the existing expertise is
It always struck me field. We don’t work exclusively on
neurobiological topics, but a lot of our
Stein Aerts a big support while I get things up as a group of very work is very complimentary, especially
and running.
LUCIA: No doubt, this center is one of
talented scientists for peripheral neuropathies.
the best in Europe. Probably in the States with genuine Several of you joined with an entire
scientific curiosity
there are places with a similar vibe, team. How do you think they can
but in Europe I think it is quite unique. benefit from being part of our center?
Pierre Vanderhaeghen Plus, I already know the place very well and hunger for
obviously. I have developed a lot of tools STEIN: The team benefits from flexible
here and I already had established a novel technologies funding, new collaborative efforts,
WE’RE GROWING!
small group, so staying here meant I did training, core facilities, and from the
not have to start from scratch. strong support in Drosophila as a model
THOMAS: I have always been impressed system for neuroscience.
with the research going on at VIB. I knew LUCIA: Our research is quite in vitro,
MEET THE NEW CBD GROUPS
about the possibilities, also in terms of focused on mechanistic problems. By
the available expertise and facilities. SHA: Why we need sleep is still a huge being part of a neuroscience center, we
I knew there were aspects in which my mystery, even though it is one of the keep the context of the disease and the
group could improve and I felt that most important animal behaviors, with expertise that goes with it within close
VIB would enable us to do so. broad applications in neurodegenerative reach. That is also one of the reasons
PIERRE: I have had great interactions and neurodevelopmental disease. For I did not go to a purely biochemical
with members of this center over the that reason, I believe I can contribute research department for example.
Since starting off as the Center for Brain & Disease Research in January 2017, years, and it always struck me as a
group of very talented scientists with
a lot to ongoing research here. My
background is not in molecular biology,
Complex problems require complex
approaches and this environment
we attracted five new group leaders to join our ranks: Stein Aerts, Sha Liu, genuine scientific curiosity and hunger which in this case is a plus, I think. offers that.
Thomas Voets, and Lucia Chavez-Gutierrez were all appointed in 2017, for novel technologies. In recent years
our lab has leaned more and more
There are lots of molecular biologists
here that are doing a great job.
THOMAS: I think VIB offers enormous
opportunities for training and I
Pierre Vanderhaeghen joined at the start of 2018. Some of them already had an towards neuronal cell biology, which They don’t need another one. encourage everyone in my team to take
established group and were close collaborators, others are building a team from is a great strength of the center and a LUCIA: Bart De Strooper and Wim full advantage. I know some members of
great appeal for us to push our projects Annaert already lead excellent groups my team eagerly started to use facilities
scratch. From bioinformatics to neural circuits, each of them brings a unique set forward. Also the critical mass around for presenilin biology. My group since we joined. Another important
of skills and expertise that will help us build even stronger collaborative research the center, including the KU Leuven can bring the extra expertise to benefit is the opportunity to get critical
lines across our center. Department of Neurosciences,
the other VIB centers and NERF
make the presenilin program more
comprehensive, all the way from kinetics
and constructive feedback on our own
work, for example by joining the CBD
are a strong incentive for us. to cell biology. Together, we are a power seminars and meetings.
Lucia Chavez-Gutierrez
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 5
CBD IN NUMBERS
PIERRE: Overall, I believe together we PIERRE: Our lab discovered a our research. After all, that is the final together for dinner or drinks. On those
will create a critical mass of groups surprisingly simple way to make goal of every biomedical researcher. occasions, tradition dictates that every
interested in complementary topics and neurons of the cerebral cortex in a We will always keep investing in clinical new member in our team tells a
technologies: the resulting synergy is dish, using pluripotent stem cells. This applications and in collaborations that dirty joke.
what I am hoping for, as it will create
unique opportunities of new discoveries
started as a very exploratory project,
and results came out of the blue to
help us work towards that goal.
LUCIA: The same goes for me, I really
SHA: I would like to write a book about
the origin of all the Drosophila mutant
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OUR FIRST YEAR AS CBD
for everyone involved. us. I think it illustrates the importance want to contribute to finding a cure names. There are so many funny stories
of basic research for biotechnology for Alzheimer’s disease. It might sound behind these strange names. Maybe
What are you most proud and medicine: we were initially driven cliché, but it has been my motivation I’ll do it when I retire? I also like to eat
of professionally? by our mere curiosity about neural from the start – and I also think we can weird food when I travel and have tried
development, but now pluripotent stem do it. We will continue building on our all kinds of meat. To other culinary
THOMAS: Good question. I think our cell-based models of corticogenesis current results but I also want to find explorers I can recommend viper or
group is well known for generating are used worldwide in academia and other options, a plan B, C and D… meat from a camel’s bump.
better insights into temperature industry for brain disease modelling PIERRE: I want to study the specificities PIERRE: As for me, well when I’m not in
sensing. We have become somewhat and drug discovery. of the human brain at the neuronal the lab my main thrill is to sing in a rock
127 5
of an international reference and that level, from genes to neural circuits, that band. We are called the Fucking Come
is something I am personally quite is our main goal. This is obviously a very Back. Who knows, maybe we’ll come
proud of. I am also very happy to see we challenging endeavour, but if successful, over one day for a gig at a CBD party!
have succeeded to attract talent, also it is likely to reveal exciting insights on
from other departments in terms of
collaboration. We have become a local Together we will
what makes us humans, whether in
health or disease.
We’re already looking forward to it!
PUBLICATIONS NEW GROUPS
hotspot for translational research.
STEIN: I’m most proud of all the PhD
create a critical mass What should the rest of our center
students that graduated in my lab and of groups interested know about you or your team? Any
continue enjoying scientific research.
Research-wise, I’m proud of our
in complementary mottos, traditions or fun facts you
would like to share?
computational inventions that are used topics and
STEIN: That we are proud of our “humid
technologies
world-wide by the community, such as
iRegulon and SCENIC. Service-wise I’m lab”, based on three pillars: the wet-
9 306
most proud of founding the Fly Cell Atlas lab, the computational lab, and the
community and hosting its first meeting technology & microfluidics lab. That
in Leuven, thanks to strong support of we are engaged towards open access
the CBD. Now that you have joined our center, and open science. That hypothesis-
SHA: My biggest contribution has been what are your plans for the future? free research is great fun. And that
my Cell paper. Not because of the computational thinking rules! ERC GRANTS RUNNING PEOPLE IN TOTAL
journal it was published in, but because STEIN: Our mission is to decipher the PIERRE: People in our lab come from all
of how it has challenged existing views genomic regulatory code, and to exploit over the world, from Japan to Linkebeek:
on how sleep drive is generated in the that knowledge to predict and modulate this diversity is a lot of fun and a great
brain. There are many papers of which biological processes. strength as well.
you could have predicted the outcome, SHA: I’ll focus more of my lab’s effort LUCIA: Hopefully people at our center
that confirm what you or others already on studying the function of sleep and are aware of our strong expertise on
thought, but this study generated a real on defining sleep at the cellular level. I kinetics and structure-function, and
change in thinking, and I am have also come to realize that studying maybe we can help out with some
super proud of that. the circuits one by one is maybe not problems. Besides biochemistry, we
LUCIA: I feel proud that I kept my drive ideal. I would like to start using more could also help with cocktails! Especially,
and passion for science, while balancing systematic approaches. but not limited to, piña colada.
all other aspects of life. People often
tell me that I am good at motivating my
team so it makes me proud that I can
connect with them and help them get
the best out of themselves.
THOMAS: Our translational research
efforts are all quite experimental and
preliminary at the moment but I hope
to expand this in the future. My aim is
to really contribute to a therapy with
Personally, I love to dance, just as much
as I love science.
THOMAS: We are a lively bunch, always
enthusiastic when something needs to
be organized. Our team regularly gets
17
PHD DEFENSES
38
NATIONALITIES
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 7
RESEARCH GROUPS LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD
STEIN AERTS BART DE STROOPER
LABORATORY OF COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY LABORATORY FOR THE RESEARCH OF
Our highlights of 2017 include the start of an ERC Consolidator Grant; NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
the publication of our new bioinformatics method SCENIC, which After about 20 years of work and in collaboration with Lucia Chavez-
was quickly adopted by the community; our single-cell sequencing Gutierrez, we have finally cracked the mystery how mutations in
of the entire adult fly brain that we accomplished in one year and presenilin cause Alzheimer’s. We established a novel mouse/human
that lead to exciting collaborations with the Verstreken and Liu labs; chimeric model for Alzheimer’s and got single cell sequencing up
our involvement in the Human Cell Atlas and our leading role in the and working: ready to move into the study of the cellular phase of
foundation of the Fly Cell Atlas consortium. Alzheimer’s disease.
We look forward to more single-cell data, which will provide an This year, we will provide the single cell analysis of the inflammatory
exciting foundation to discover new regulatory “recipes” of cell types, component and the spatial transcriptomic profile of the full cellular
during development and aging. In our human research line we are component of Alzheimer’s in a knock-in model for the disease. We
building a large “single-cell systems biology” resource of cancer cell have been able to transplant human microglia in mouse brain and
state transitions. We are also creating new microfluidics solutions for will now be able to establish the role of human microglia in the
single-cell migration studies and are exploring the possibilities neurodegeneration of Alzheimer’s disease.
of organ-on-chip (tumoroid-on-chip).
WIM ANNAERT JORIS DE WIT
LABORATORY FOR MEMBRANE TRAFFICKING LABORATORY OF SYNAPSE BIOLOGY
We developed, with imec, magnetic nanoparticles that can be targeted We uncovered new cell surface interactions regulating synaptic
to lysosomes and allow for their subsequent isolation. The high yield identity and synaptic function in hippocampal circuits. A new
and purity permits lysosomal proteome and lipidome profiling and challenge will be to start exploring how these mechanisms regulate
the identification of disease-related alterations in this key subcellular connectivity, synaptic transmission and information processing in
compartment. Given that abnormalities in endo-lysosomal flux are cortical circuits.
emerging as a central theme in neurodegenerative diseases, including
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, our methodology provides a new
gateway to profile changes at subcellular resolution which may identify
altered signaling or sorting routes that impact lysosomal proteostasis.
LUCIA CHAVEZ-GUTIERREZ MARK FIERS
LABORATORY OF PROTEOLYTIC MECHANISMS MEDIATING BIOINFORMATICS EXPERTISE UNIT
NEURODEGENERATION Last year a number of successful collaborations on diverse topics
Our research substantially advanced our understanding of the lead to great publications; a trend we hopefully will continue in the
mechanisms operating in familial Alzheimer’s disease and put coming year. We aim to focus on the establishment of state of the art
forward a novel conceptual framework for the study of both familial automated work flows and many diverse collaborations, with a focus
and sporadic forms of the disease. As next steps, we will depart from on single cell and spatial transcriptomics.
the gained insights to unravel “familial Alzheimer’s-like” mechanisms
potentially contributing to the most common and sporadic form of
the disease. On the translational side, we will collaborate with the
Drug Discovery Unit at UCL on an original drug discovery strategy
to tackle Alzheimer’s in the clinic.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 9
RESEARCH GROUPS LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD
ROSE GOODCHILD ADRIAN LISTON
LABORATORY FOR DYSTONIA RESEARCH TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY
Last year we welcomed several new lab members in our growing Last year we have made major advances in identifying and treating
team and published a pair of review articles on TOR1A-dystonia primary immunodeficiencies. Through developing new mouse
and lipid synthesis. We also published the first results from a models of these diseases and testing treatments already approved
long-running collaboration on striatal electrophysiogical defects in for human use, we have been able to move straight to clinical trials.
dystonia mouse models. Overall, new data from several projects is Over the next years we will get the clinical trial results back, and
continuing to point to abnormal lipid metabolism in TOR1A-dystonia. hopefully will be able to make recommendations on changing the
We hope to start publishing these in 2018, as well as our research on current therapeutic approach for these patients.
the mechanisms underlying a newly identified severe congenital form
of TOR1A disease.
NATALIA GUNKO SHA LIU
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY EXPERTISE UNIT LABORATORY OF SLEEP AND SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
Our highlights of 2017 include having a new “two-in one” combined light For us, 2017 was a big year: the start of the lab and an ERC grant!
and electron imaging device (SECOM) installed and running, and Katlijn We are excited that a pre-print of the first collaborative project with
Vints winning the image competition at the Crick Electron Microscopy the CBD (the single cell atlas of the fly brain, with the groups of Stein
Opening symposium in London. We also co-authored 6 scientific Aerts and Patrik Verstreken) is already out. This year, I look forward
papers. For this year, we are excited to do push things further using the to expanding our team and our output as we explore the role and
new SECOM and with our new 3D imaging approaches, together with mechanisms of sleep in the brain.
the light microscopy expertise unit.
MATTHEW HOLT SEBASTIAN MUNCK
LABORATORY OF GLIA BIOLOGY LIGHT MICROSCOPY EXPERTISE UNIT
Last year we made significant progress in understanding the degree We are looking back on a prosperous 2017, where we reached out
of molecular heterogeneity between astrocytes in the CNS. This year, to the community by organizing an Analysis Conference in Portugal
we hope to start investigating the functional consequences of this (NEUBIAS), trained many students in our summer school and image
heterogeneity for CNS development and neuronal function. processing workshop, and by having our new combined light and
EM (Secom) device installed. We are excited about using this new
machine to its full capacity in 2018 and are also looking forward to
enabling fantastic science with our new approaches on 3D imaging
that are about to materialize in the next year.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 11
RESEARCH GROUPS LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD
DIETMAR SCHMUCKER PIERRE VANDERHAEGHEN
NEURONAL WIRING LABORATORY STEM CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
In the continuous effort to elucidate basic mechanisms of neuronal Last year was very fruitful for our ERC project: we identified a specific
wiring specificity my group excelled in 2017 and majorly advanced on repertoire of more than 30 human-specific genes expressed during
all our projects. I am looking forward to help them to reap the benefits human brain development, and now follow up on their functional
of their outstanding work in publishing important stories in 2018. This characterization, which is already quite promising. For us, 2018 brings
includes work on CNS synapse formation, human/vertebrate DSCAM, a a new start, as our lab joins the CBD. We are excited to intensify our
novel protein network controlling axon branching, evolution and function existing collaborations within the center, for example on humanized
of protocadherin diversity, as well as our first work on axon regeneration models for neurodegenerative diseases and on studying the
mechanisms. We are also looking forward to collaborating with the temporal and spatial control of synaptic patterning.
de Wit and Vanderhaeghen labs, as well as with the groups of Laurent
Nguyen (University of Liège) and Fadel Tissir (Université Catholique
de Louvain) on our “SYNET” project, ‘Temporal and spatial control of
synaptic patterning in collaboration: from basic mechanisms to
human-specific innovations and diseases’, for which we received
our recent Excellence of Science network grant from FWO/FNRS.
FREDERIC ROUSSEAU & JOOST SCHYMKOWITZ PATRIK VERSTREKEN
SWITCH LAB LABORATORY OF NEURONAL COMMUNICATION
The incorporation of Aelin Therapeutics is without a doubt the We have made important discoveries that uncover how
biggest highlight of 2017 for our laboratory. In 2018 we look forward neurodegenerative conditions, both pathogenic mutations in
to helping to make this company a success and to continue to Parkinson’s disease and tauopathies, affect synaptic cell biology.
develop the targeted aggregation platform that we created at the We will now step up our efforts assess the functional consequences
Switch Laboratory. In particular, we have high hopes for novel of these discoveries in vivo by starting to use mouse human brain
applications, such as in cancer or viral infections. chimera models as well as define the most vulnerable cell types
in a living Drosophila brain using single cell RNA sequencing.
LUDO VAN DEN BOSCH THOMAS VOETS
LABORATORY OF NEUROBIOLOGY LABORATORY OF ION CHANNEL RESEARCH
Last year, we discovered that selective inhibition of histone In 2017, we elucidated the molecular basis of noxious heat sensing,
deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has a therapeutic effect on inherited as by identifying the full set of heat sensors (all TRP channels!) that are
well as acquired neuropathies. Moreover, these inhibitors also involved, and by developing a mouse model that is fully devoid of
reverse the axonal transport defects in motor neurons obtained heat-induced pain. For 2018, we aim to specifically pinpoint where
from ALS patients. In 2018, we will further investigate the molecular and when these channels become activated in vivo, and how they can
mechanisms responsible for the selective motor neuron death using be specifically targeted to treat chronic pain. In addition, we foresee
motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. important progress in the clinical translation of our research with the
initiation of three clinical studies related to pain, bladder overactivity
and diabetes.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 13
TALKING 2017 RESEARCH
realized that the data we were collecting states or regulators that were later easier to stay motivated when surrounded
was correlating with the age of onset of confirmed to be clinically relevant. by passionate scientists. We could rely on
the disease. I was running around the STEPHANIE: This work can be seen the expertise present at the center to help
lab searching for my supervisor to share as translational medicine, with direct us mature our ideas, especially to push
the news. It gave us enormous energy to therapeutic benefit for the patients. Of through during the revision process.
Publishing an important discovery Can you summarize the significance Why do you think the paper made it keep on digging and understand what was course this is very rewarding. The fact
of your findings for people outside to such a good journal? really going on. that we were able to better understand
is hard work. Sara Aibar (postdoc in your field? STEPHANIE: When I started to work with the mechanism of the disease was also Keep your eyes on the goal but most of
the Aerts lab), Maria Szaruga (PhD SARA: Although single-cell RNA-seq has this model I already knew which gene was valuable to me.
all enjoy the journey!
SARA: We have developed a become a more broadly used method, mutated (the one encoding the Artemis
student in the Chavez-Gutierrez and computational method to infer the gene and many researchers are interested in protein). However, when I saw the mice How did the expertise (units) in our
De Strooper labs) and Stephanie regulatory networks underlying the cell
types present in a single-cell RNA-seq
learning about the regulatory mechanisms
in their systems, there were still no
for the first time I could tell that they were
developing the exact same symptoms
center make a difference for this story? Do you have any advice for others?
Humblet-Baron (postdoc in the dataset. This information provides a analysis tools that exploited the higher that we see in the clinic. I knew that other SARA: Several groups started adopting STEPHANIE: Always envision your
Liston lab) tell us about better understanding of the cell types or
states, and highlights “master regulators”
resolution of scRNA-seq data to easily
address these questions. That’s why the
mouse models working on this gene had
never shown leaky SCID symptoms, so we
single-cell genomic methods in early
phases. Their experience and comments
project as a story to write and tell. When
you find a new result ask what would
their experience. that can be used as potential drug targets. publication of our method was so timely. needed to explore the model in depth. about the analysis of the data were very be the next question and continue to
MARIA: We have elucidated the MARIA: Getting the study into a journal The other key moment was after treating useful when we were starting the project. explore it further.
pathogenic basis of Familial Alzheimer’s with such a broad readership depended our mice with the drug (CTLA4-Ig) – it In addition, although in the paper we only MARIA: Keep your eyes on the goal
disease caused by mutations in Presenilin, heavily on the fact that we were answering completely blocked disease, making this a present the results on public data, the but most of all enjoy the journey! The
the catalytic core of the γ-secretase one of the significant open questions in very valuable project with new therapeutic availability of in-house datasets to test process of untangling complex questions
protease, or in Amyloid Precursor Protein the Alzheimer’s field and that it generated opportunities for patients. and refine our method enabled us to get and learning can be as rewarding as
(APP), its substrate. Processing of APP by insights that may hopefully guide future very relevant feedback. showing what you found to the world.
Presenilin generates Aβ peptides, and we drug discovery studies. The rest is What are you personally most proud of? STEPHANIE: The FACS core was
demonstrated that mutations destabilize good timing. instrumental, as this project relied heavily Aibar et al. Nature Methods 2017
the γ-secretase-APP interactions and STEPHANIE: We provide strong pre- SARA: It is a very useful method! Many on this technique. Humblet-Baron et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017
promote the ‘premature’ dissociation of clinical evidence of drug efficiency to people are interested in applying SCENIC MARIA: On a more general note, the Szaruga et al. Cell 2017
the substrate thus generating longer, treat a rare disease, directly proposing to their own dataset, and in several whole community at our center made us
more aggregation-prone Aβ peptides. patient clinical trials. Since the treatment studies it has already provided cellular feel supported and backed up. It is much
Our results suggest that stabilizing the is already approved for arthritis, it
interactions between γ-secretase and could be rapidly repurposed for leaky
APP-derived substrates could become SCID patients. In addition, our model is
a therapeutic approach to tackle Aβ available for further pre-clinical assays,
production in Alzheimer’s disease. including gene therapy.
We provide strong pre-clinical evidence of drug
When did you realize you were on to
something really interesting?
RESEARCH OUTPUT IN NUMBERS
efficiency to treat a rare disease
127 = 2.54
SARA: The initial idea of the project
already sounded very interesting.
STEPHANIE: Working in the field of However, it wasn’t until we tested the full
primary immunodeficiency disorders, pipeline, and it recovered the relevant
we described a new mouse model for cell types plus some known regulators,
publications in 2017 publications per week
severe combined immunodeficiency that we confirmed it could actually work.
(SCID), which recapitulates the key clinical It was also very exciting when we saw
features of SCID patients suffering of both that our tool (SCENIC) was much better at
immunodeficiency and autoimmunity identifying cancer-related cell states than
34% 35%
(leaky SCID). Importantly our model regular clustering methods.
proposed a novel efficient therapeutic MARIA: Very early on, the feeling of
approach for this disease. excitement surrounded us mostly because
we were answering a question that we
had all been extremely curious about. In top 5% of all journals in the field In top 25% of all journals in the field
However, I still remember the day when I (Nature, Cell, eLife, Neuron, EMBO...) (HMG, EMBO Reports, JBC, FASEB...)
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 15
TECH TRANSFER
+ +
1.3 M €
INDUSTRIAL
5
PATENT APPLICATIONS
1
SPIN-OFF
REVENUE IN 2017 IN 2017
Frederic Rousseau Joost Schymkowitz
Truly innovative research leads to We foster creative partnerships with The risk-averseness of private investors
the build-up of valuable intellectual clinical and basic investigators at KU and the poor reputation of investing in
property, but whether it is the discovery Leuven or other research centers. the neurological disease field means
of a new therapeutic target or the We aim for long-term strategic that forging partnerships is more AELIN THERAPEUTICS
development of a novel technology, partnerships with the pharmaceutical challenging than ever. That is why we The research from the lab of Frederic Rousseau and Joost for new antibiotics or in cancer treatment. The technology,
bringing it to the clinic or industry is industry with a mutual interest in want to explore different, less traditional Schymkowitz (Switch lab) is the foundation of VIB’s newest branded Pept-ins™, harnesses the power of protein
not always trivial. We constantly work translating fundamental insights into models of collaboration, through joint and largest-ever spin-off company Aelin Therapeutics. The aggregation to specifically induce the functional knockdown
together with the Technology Transfer hypotheses that can be tested in the ventures, patient charity partnerships team secured an investment of 27 million € to pioneer a novel of a target protein.
team at VIB, mainly through Floor Stam clinic. We are convinced that target and mixed models. We have also hired modality in drug development to induce cell death, for example
and Wim Grunewald, and with VIB validation and drug discovery should a ‘flying’ research technician, Alfonsa
Discovery Sciences to make this happen. be steered with deep mechanistic Laragione, who will support translational
biology insights, especially in the research projects at our center,
early stages. wherever opportunities arise. BACE1 TARGETING
BACE1 is one of the enzymes involved in the production to develop new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease.
of amyloid-beta in Alzheimer’s disease. BACE1 antibodies A biomarker test for BACE1 was also licensed to ADx
developed in the lab of Bart De Strooper were licensed to and is currently being commercialized.
Denali, a San Francisco-based pharmaceutical company,
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DRUG DISCOVERY
Our labs are a breeding ground for ideas and collaborations cell biology. We are also developing partnerships for
with pharma partners. We are for example collaborating with drug discovery and development projects, for example
industrial partners on single-cell sequencing and on synaptic to identify gamma-secretase stabilizers and inhibitors.
Floor Stam Wim Grunewald Alfonsa Laragione
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 17
Cupcakes for ‘Stichting
Alzheimer Onderzoek”
Bart De Strooper baking
200 cupcakes Mendelcraft workshop at the Kids University
Policy makers visit to
discuss animal research
Running at the
News crew in our labs Warmathon
Princess Astrid visits
the Voets lab
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8
OUTREACH The Van Den Bosch lab at the
Amsterdam City Swim for ALS
19SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT All CBD postdocs and staff scientists are represented by the postdoc association
(PDA) at our center and the VIB-wide Postdoc Committee (PDC). On both levels,
ASSOCIATION
the aim is to foster a sense of community and to provide resources for career and
personal development.
Have an idea or want to get involved? Get in touch!
The Scientific Support Association (SSA) is run by and for technicians
GOALS VIB POSTDOC COMMITTEE
• Exchange know-how between labs Represents all postdocs and staff scientists at VIB CBD representatives:
• Inform about expertise and services of the scientific Vinoy Vijayan (Verstreken lab) & Emanuela Pasciuto (Liston lab)
facilities and units at our center • Monthly networking in Brussels with postdoc representatives of
• Build bridges between the center management and the different VIB Centers
scientific support staff, including all lab managers and • Yearly postdoc day on career development
lab technicians • Stay up to date via facebook.com/VIBPostDocs
• Have a positive impact on the research center and VIB
by sharing ideas and solutions
IMPLEMENTATION
THE SSA ORGANIZES:
SSA PDA CBD POSTDOC ASSOCIATION
• Monthly meetings about a specific topic, ranging from safety Represents all postdocs and staff scientists at the CBD
policy to new technologies President: Vinoy Vijayan (Verstreken lab) & Anupam Das
- we invite speakers who share their expertise on innovative
technologies such as single cell analysis, RNA Scope, CRISPR-
Cas technology or electrophysiology.
GET INVOLVED (Goodchild lab)
• Organization of Tuesday progress seminars and pizza lunch:
- Speakers may also provide a basic introduction to specific Meetings are every first Tuesday Aleksandra Brajic (Liston lab), Luis Ribeira (de Wit lab) &
topics such as statistics or first aid. of every month (unless indicated Dan Dascenco (de Wit lab)
• Discussions between scientific support staff about particular differently) at noon in room • Lunches with speakers of the Thursday distinguished
experimental issues 07.339. lectures series:
• Ad hoc working groups that can help putting new ideas and Emanuela Pasciuto (Liston lab) & Annerieke Sierksma
initiatives into action Get in touch with questions and (De Strooper lab)
suggestions or let us know if • Coordination of the monthly happy hour:
The SSA is also involved in the organization of the VIB seminar and you want to join the organizing Vinoy Vijayan (Verstreken lab)
provides input for VIB trainings tailored to technical support staff, committee: ssa@kuleuven.be. • All CBD postdocs and staff scientists are automatically
such as the VIB CRISPR User meeting that took place on Jan 31st, included on the postdoc mailinglist
2017.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 21THE ANNUAL PHD WEEK ORGANIZED BY THE VIB-KU LEUVEN
CENTER FOR BRAIN & DISEASE RESEARCH AND NERF WAS
ON TO ITS 6TH EDITION IN 2017.
ACCORDING TO THE STUDENTS IT WAS AGAIN A
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!
Three days of PhD classes for all newbies (pictured) were followed by two days of symposium for all PhD students, with the location alternating
between imec and Gasthuisberg. During the PhD classes, the first-year PhD students had the chance to meet each other, present their projects
and share their dreams for the future. They were introduced to the different CBD and NERF PIs and their work and discussed science, career
development and everything in between. Another major goal of the PhD class was for the students to get acquainted with the cutting-edge
technologies available at our expertise units and the VIB core facilities. The PhD class was concluded with a social event organized by the students
themselves. On the final two days of the week, all other PhD students joined in for a symposium with internationally renowned speakers, poster
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 sessions and company workshops. 23WHEN YOUR PHD IS FINISHED – WHAT COMES NEXT?
It always seems impossible until it’s developing an early biomarker for Frightful, will I ever finish this project, get
done. Once you have reached that Parkinson’s disease and another in it published and be able to graduate?
milestone of obtaining your PhD, which we develop a specific inhibitor I look back with a lot of appreciation
how do you look back and what new for Miro, since several Parkinson- for my colleagues and for my mentors
adventures await? We asked some of related mutations impair Miro removal that enabled me to work in such an STEVEN: My friends, the great science and social interaction. For all of which have a high impact on
our recent graduates. and delay mitochondrial degradation. excellent scientific environment. A atmosphere, the happy hours. myself, I find basic research very your PhD experience. What I think is
JOE: I have started a post-doc at Baylor scientific discovery is never made by one ROELAND: Happy hours with the interesting, but it can also be very important is to always think one step
Where do you work now and what College of Medicine, researching individual, it takes a hard working team. Verstreken lab and others! slow and frustrating. So I wanted to go ahead and not lose sight of the bigger
do you do exactly? neurodegenerative diseases using JOE: My PhD was challenging but very JOE: The state-of-the-art equipment, for more applied science. Having the picture. Try to involve as many people
large screening platforms and mouse rewarding. It was a time of a lot of and the many networking events. sales aspect in my job was actually not as possible in your research. Try to
HERMIEN: I am a product specialist models of disease. personal and professional growth. planned, but I like to try new things. develop your soft skills: defining the
at Biognost. We distribute products, WENTING: I am working as a ISABEL: Even when the PhD could look What do you like most about your Another factor was the location, as I was problem (this is sometimes already
mainly in the field of autoimmunity postdoctoral researcher at CBD as well at some point very frustrating and you new job? looking for a job close to home. half of the work), explaining the science
and infectious serology. Our as the stem cell institute at KU Leuven. may feel that you are stuck without STEVEN: Because of the exciting (also to non-experts), making other
customers are hospital labs, private ISABEL: I’m currently still in the CBD doing or learning anything new; once HERMIEN: I meet a lot of people, with research environment. people enthusiastic about your work,
labs, but also contract research but looking for post-docs abroad. you start talking with people from other all kinds of different jobs. I like making ROELAND: Deciding what to do after my building your network… These skills are
organizations. My job is to give Preferably in a different field to be fields or institutes you realized how and giving presentations, teaching PhD was not easy. At the SfN meeting important in every job!
presentations and workshops, to train able to learn different approaches and much experience you actually acquired. people and this is also an important in San Diego, I talked with Xinnan LAURA: My advice to other PhD
people how to work with our products, points of views. Something I took for granted when I part of my job. My colleagues are also Wang, and she invited me to her lab students is to exploit the many
and to maintain a good relationship was in the lab! very nice. at Stanford to present my work. We opportunities at VIB and KU Leuven to
with our customers. Next to the How do you look back on your PhD WENTING: It was an exhausting but also LAURA: What I like of this job is the continued discussions over the following strengthen not just your scientific but
general portfolio, my specialty within experience? fruitful process. I gained a lot of new possibility to exploit my scientific months, and since I am very interested also your soft skills. Those will be useful
the company is neurodegeneration, knowledge in science and technology background and build up new in translational research, we worked later on, whatever you decide to do.
which is still quite new. HERMIEN: With a smile! Knowing what and also developed my soft skills. As knowledge in the patent law field. Plus, out an exciting project, where I am able STEVEN: I would say, don’t stress out too
LAURA: I am currently working for I know now, I would definitely do it a complete foreigner, I had to adapt working for a pharma company is very to collaborate with companies but still much, it will work out.
a pharma company in Switzerland. again. The people I met and the skills I to a completely new environment and exciting. develop my own ideas. ROELAND: My advice would be to
I entered the intellectual property developed were important for shaping culture and made some good friends STEVEN: The absolute freedom I get to JOE: They are leaders in their field define what your passion is and look for
field, my aim is to become a European me into who I am now. from totally different backgrounds. All pursue whatever I think is interesting, and experts in research areas and opportunities that are out there that can
patent attorney. This requires a LAURA: I think the PhD was a very of these enriched my life and enhanced and the extremely collaborative techniques that compliment my help you get there. Importantly, you will
training period (which is what I am interesting experience, definitely my career. environment. research interests. need to take action, don’t just wait until
doing now) and to pass exams for the helpful for the next professional steps. JOE: The fact that it builds upon the opportunities come to you, create your
qualification. STEVEN: I am very satisfied. I think I Is there something you already miss skills from my PhD to further develop Any advice for other PhD students? own.
STEVEN: I started a postdoc at got the most out of it. about the CBD? my long-term research goals JOE: Stay motivated and focused. In the
Stanford University in the lab of Aaron ROELAND: My time as a PhD-student HERMIEN: This is a difficult question, end, things always work if you do.
Gitler. was both exciting and frightful. HERMIEN: The international Why did you choose that job, as the experience of doing a PhD is
ROELAND: I also work at Stanford Exciting, learning how to handle a environment, the enthusiasm about company or lab? different for everyone. I was quite lucky
University, in the lab of Xinnan project, trying out new techniques, science, the good mix of scientific HERMIEN: A combination of reasons: with my project, my supervisors, the
Wang. I work on two projects: one on discussing and troubleshooting, etc. discussions and healthy gossip… I was looking for a job that combines colleagues and the available equipment,
CALLAERTS LAB CALLAERTS LAB
(CENTEROF
(CENTER FOR THE BIOLOGY FORDISEASE)
THE BIOLOGY OF DISEASE) DE STROOPER LAB DE STROOPER LAB VAN DEN BOSCH LAB
VAN DEN BOSCH LAB VAN DEN BOSCH LAB
VAN DEN BOSCH LAB VERSTREKEN LAB VERSTREKEN LAB VERSTREKEN LAB VERSTREKEN LAB VAN DEN BOSCH LAB
VAN DEN BOSCH LAB CHAVEZ-GUTIERREZCHAVEZ-GUTIERREZ
AND DE STROOPERAND
LABSDE STROOPER LABS DE STROOPER LAB DE STROOPER LAB
10/01/2017 10/01/2017 16/01/2017 16/01/2017 23/01/2017 23/01/2017 26/01/2017 26/01/201704/05/2017 04/05/201718/05/2017 18/05/201723/05/2017 23/05/2017 24/05/2017 24/05/201709/06/2017 09/06/201714/06/2017 14/06/2017 01/09/2017 01/09/201702/10/2017 02/10/201704/10/2017 04/10/201709/10/2017 09/10/2017 20/10/2017 20/10/201709/11/2017 09/11/2017 01/12/2017 01/12/2017
MARIJKE MARIJKE SIMON SIMON HERMIEN HERMIEN LAURA LAURA STEVEN STEVEN LALEH LALEH ANKE ANKE LADAN LADAN ROELAND ROELAND DEAN DEAN JOSPEH JOSPEH MIRIAN MIRIAN WENTING WENTING SANDER SANDER SARAH SARAH EMRE EMRE ISABEL ISABEL
VERSTEVEN VERSTEVENWEINBERGER WEINBERGER ACX ACX PAPARELLI PAPARELLI BOEYNAEMS BOEYNAEMSKHODAPARAST KHODAPARASTWOUTERS WOUTERS KHODAPARAST KHODAPARAST
VANHAUWAERT VANHAUWAERTFRANCKAERT FRANCKAERT MCINNES MCINNES SAIZ RUBIO SAIZ RUBIO GUO GUO BEEL BEEL VEUGELEN VEUGELEN ETLIOGLU ETLIOGLU SALAS SALAS
HASSAN LAB HASSAN LAB ANNAERT AND MUNCK
ANNAERT
LABSAND MUNCK LABS SWITCH LAB SWITCH LAB SWITCH LAB SWITCH LAB LISTON LAB LISTON LAB SWITCH LAB SWITCH LAB VAN DEN BOSCH LAB
VAN DEN BOSCH LAB SCHMUCKER LAB SCHMUCKER LAB
(CENTER FOR THE BIOLOGY
(CENTEROF
FORDISEASE)
THE BIOLOGY OF DISEASE)
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 25SINGLE CELL AND MICROFLUIDICS
Suresh Poovathingal
THE FACS CORE IS GROWING
VIB is investing in a FACS Core facility, with a site Christèle Nkama is a technician at the core and
in Leuven and a site in Ghent. On January 1st, the Matthew Holt and Susan Schlenner are on the user
existing Leuven FACS Core became the VIB-KU Leuven committee.
Have you met Suresh FACS Core, jointly hosted by the Center for Cancer Thanks to some exciting recent and upcoming
Poovathingal? He joined the CBD Biology and the Center for Brain & Disease Research. investments, the core continues to grow. These new
in 2017 to lead our newest single Adrian Liston remains the core’s director and Pier investments make the FACS core the best-equipped
cell expertise unit. Andrée Penttila the core manager. From our Center, one in Belgium, and one of the very top in Europe!
What is your background and how did What do you like about this new In terms of equipment, what are you
you end up as our single-cell analytics challenge of starting up the expertise hoping to add?
and microfluidics expert? unit at our center?
From my experience, we are well
I’m a chemical engineer by training and I’m interested in technology equipped. The core has access to a
did my PhD in computational biology. development and this is exactly what broad range of tools, either via VIB
My PhD focused on mitochondrial I like about my new position here. or KU Leuven. VIB’s tech watch also
biogenesis and the role of mitochondrial Our single cell expertise unit is not helps us get access to some of the key
genome drift in aging and degenerative just about servicing, we also want to emerging technologies on the market.
diseases. It is intriguing to observe a develop new methods. Together with Single cell analytics is a new field and
mosaic pattern of mitochondrial DNA
mutations in seemingly homogeneous
tissue. Some cells have a high load of
the group of Stein Aerts, we are trying
to develop novel assays for single
cell transcriptome, epigenome and
many technologies are still under
development. What I want for next year
doesn’t exist yet. We hope to develop
NEW INVESTMENTS IN 2017
mutations, whereas the neighboring ones proteome profiling based on droplet/ some of these technologies ourselves! BD Symphony, a 5-laser/28-color flow cytometry Amnis ImageStream, which combines the analysis
don’t. My project took computational nanowell platforms. If you have a related Spatial transcriptomics is something analyzer, currently the most powerful analyzer on the of flow cytometry and microscopy into one machine;
approaches using stochastic modeling research problem, we can always discuss that we want to set up soon, with market, and the only one in an academic setting in acquired via a KU Leuven small and medium equipment
techniques to understand the origin of it, even if it means developing new funding from a Hercules grant. Single Belgium; acquired via a Hercules grant (promoter Adrian grant (promoter Adrian Liston, co-promoters include
this heterogeneity. methods. cell proteomics is another technique Liston, co-promoters include Matthew Holt and Bart De Wim Annaert)
That project was the beginning of my I am hoping to add. Oligo-tagged Strooper)
single cell interest and it also made You also collaborate a lot with Mark antibodies are a powerful tool for
me realize the importance of bridging Fiers who leads our bioinformatics protein quantification and we hope to BD Influx, for Index sorting; equipped with 4 lasers and FACS Melody, Cancer foundation grant (promoter
the computational and experimental platform. integrate this with droplet-based assays 16 colors, housed under a BSL2 biosafety cabinet to sort Thierry Voet (KU Leuven), co-promoters include
domains. I wanted to explore and to increase the throughput of single cell infectious and human samples; acquired via the same Stein Aerts)
develop my wet-lab skills. It can be Yes, of course. Our projects inherently proteome profiling. Hercules grant
difficult to switch so radically, but I got have high computational requirements,
this opportunity during my postdoc. As so before actually starting the You have big plans! How busy are
part of a knowledge transfer fellowship
offered by Luxembourg, I had a chance
to work in a lab at Caltech focusing on
experiments, I encourage you to discuss
the bioinformatics with Mark Fiers and
Stein Aerts. Our analysis pipeline goes
things at the single cell unit?
Quite busy, actually! There are several
NEW INVESTMENTS IN 2018
single cell proteomics using microfluidics from the experimental design to sample collaborative and developmental • Immunology screening platform available through Stephanie Humblet-Baron (Liston lab)
technology. The idea of the fellowship preparation, single cell analysis and projects underway at the single cell core. • New equipment from the Center for Cancer Biology is being integrated (AriaIII and Verse)
was to bring the expertise to Luxembourg library processing. What comes after – If you or your team have any questions • We hope to acquire a CyTOF via a new Hercules grant (promoter Frederik De Smet (KU Leuven), co-promoters
to set up a single cell analysis facility in a data analysis and interpretation – is a big requiring a single cell approach, just get include Adrian Liston, Matthew Holt, Bart De Strooper and Joost Schymkowitz)
research institute focusing primarily on endeavor! in touch with me.
Parkinson’s disease. When I learned about
this position, setting up a single cell facility
at CBD in Leuven, I applied immediately.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 27STUDENTS HUNGRY FOR MORE
Ben Verpoort and Hannah Walgrave joined the CBD community as MSc students, working on their thesis project in the labs of
Joris de Wit and Bart De Strooper, respectively. Dries T’Syen did his BSc thesis project in the De Strooper lab as well. One year
later, all three received awards for their work and stayed with us for their next adventure: a PhD or a technician job.
How did they catch the bug for research and why did they stick around?
What was your project about? of the disease. That’s why we wanted to job at our center? The work, the topic,
explore whether it had the same effects in the colleagues, or all of the above?
BEN: In the Laboratory of Synapse Biology late stages, and if so, whether that might
(de Wit lab), we focus on the role of lead to potential therapeutic applications, DRIES: All of the above! There is still a lot
BIOINFORMATICS BIOPHYSICS ELECTRON MICROSCOPY synaptic cell adhesion molecules in the for example using Hannah’s approach. to be learned in the field of neuroscience
MARK FIERS FREDERIC ROUSSEAU & JOOST NATALIA GUNKO development of neural connectivity. Cell
adhesion molecules are cleft-spanning You were all selected as awardees for
so it is an exciting field to work in. With a
broad range of new topics and challenges,
The bioinformatics platform focuses SCHYMKOWITZ The electron microscopy platform fa-
proteins that engage in trans-synaptic different prizes. Why do you think your I’ll have the opportunity to learn new
on the data analysis and interpre- This collaborative technology platform cilitates ultrastructural imaging of bio-
complex formation to orchestrate various work was so well received? techniques like CRISPR/Cas to help move
tation of sequence data, specifically provides biophysical and structural logical samples and provides individual
aspects of synaptogenesis, i.e. the the research projects in our lab forward.
spatial and single-cell transcriptom- insight into biological phenomena training in scanning and transmission
formation of new synapses. During my BEN: I believe I got the award because of HANNAH: The decision to stay on for
ics, at different stages of pathology. that are driven by protein folding, electron microscopy and in sample
thesis, I tried to elucidate the intracellular the quality and quantity of the work that a PhD was based on a combination of
The expertise ranges from exper- aggregation and interactions. Expertise preparation. The platform provides
trafficking itinerary that governs axonal I was able to present. I talked to a few factors. For one, I really liked the people
imental design to data analysis spans from structural bioinformatics expertise in conventional scanning
targeting of neurexin, perhaps the most professors that were part of the selection in the lab and especially the collaboration
for genomics, transcriptomics and to molecular biophysics, including and transmission electron microscopy,
well-known cell adhesion molecule. In committee, each of them complemented with my supervisor Evgenia Salta. In
single-cell approaches. protein purification, in silico modelling, immunocytochemistry and advanced
view of the major role that neurexin plays me for my writing skills, for which I am addition, I could continue the work on
and studying protein conformation, 3D methods, and provides tailored
in brain function, a better understanding very grateful. the same project of my master thesis
structure and interactions. solutions for the different research
of how this key synaptic organizer reaches HANNAH: I think I got the prize because that I enjoyed working on. And finally, the
lines and projects at our center.
its site of action is crucial. it was a nice, well-designed project for opportunity to pursue a PhD in a very well
HANNAH: My project consisted of a master student. The goal was very established and big lab, that provides all
finding a clinically relevant way to get clear and achievable during the period possible opportunities, was an important
microRNA-132 into the brain, in a mouse I was in the lab, using several different factor as well.
model for Alzheimer’s, and to evaluate techniques. Also, the trouble shooting BEN: I decided to stay because of the very
if this has any beneficial effects on the during the optimization made sense and positive experience I had during those
disease progression. After several trials, contributed to the learning process. 9 months of intense research. Great
I was able to overexpress this microRNA DRIES: I think it is a combination of mentorship, both from my supervisor
in the hippocampus using intranasal several factors. For starters, the project Luis Ribeiro and our group leader Joris de
delivery. This overexpression caused itself and Alzheimer research more Wit, certainly played an important role in
some changes in amyloid β levels and generally are timely in light of the successfully finishing and defending my
tau phosphorylation, the two major pressing societal challenges of dementia. thesis work. Moreover, because of the
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY LIGHT MICROSCOPY MUTAMOUSE pathological hallmarks of the disease. Next, the goal of my internship was to cutting-edge technologies available in
KEIMPE WIERDA SEBASTIAN MUNCK SUSAN SCHLENNER, ADRIAN DRIES: I also looked at miR-132, more
specifically at the effect of increasing its
learn a wide variety of techniques and
incorporate all the obtained data into a
this institute and thanks to the support of
several expertise units, I believe that the
The electrophysiology platform Our light microscopy platform is
LISTON & LUTGARDE SERNEELS levels in old mice representing a late- fitting story. The lab helped me a lot with VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease
provides expertise and access to part of the VIB Bio Imaging Core, MutaMouse is a VIB-KU Leuven stage model for Alzheimer’s disease. Our achieving those goals. Research will grow to be at the forefront
state-of-the-art electrophysiology a dual site facility at Ghent and core facility that provides a range lab and others already demonstrated that of neuroscience research in Europe. So,
systems. The platform assists Leuven. The platform provides the of mouse genetics services from increasing the levels of this micro RNA What in particular convinced you to the question is: why wouldn’t I stay?
with the formulation, design and expertise and infrastructure for model creation to embryology, in young mice improves several aspects stay and pursue a PhD or a technician
execution of electrophysiological cutting-edge imaging and aims to including CRISPR/Cas9 genome
experiments to resolve the foster collaborations across our editing, mouse/embryo production
functional physiological aspects of center. Support ranges from macro (zygote, blastocyst injections),
ongoing research projects. Training to super-resolution microscopy and cryopreservation and cryorecovery
and support is also organized for the development of novel schemes (sperm/embryo and IVF), embryo
individual researchers, allowing for image analysis. rederivation, as well as rapid colony
them to conduct experiments development, line rescue and speed
independently. backcrossing.
CE NTER FO R BRA I N & DI S E AS E RE SE A R C H 2 0 1 8 29You can also read
