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An international research team led by Professor Kiavash Movahedi from the Brussels Center for Immunology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has published groundbreaking results today in the prestigious journal Immunity . Their study sheds new light on the possibility of effectively replacing defective microglia-the brain's immune cells-marking a potential breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel) have developed an innovative digital application that enables fast and efficient screening of cognitive and motor impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The app provides a simple and accessible way to track cognitive decline and motor limitations, marking an important step in the digitalization of neurological care.

Researchers have identified a key gene in the regulation of nerve circuits in "Caenorhabditis elegans", a small worm often used in research. This gene, also present in humans, is associated with a rare form of infantile epilepsy. Their work suggests that an excessive release of neuropeptides could play a key role in this disease, opening up new research prospects.

First developed in 2018 by Professor Christophe Ley , this innovative approach to machine learning is making waves far beyond the lab. By blending statistical insights with machine learning models, Statistically Enhanced Learning unlocks new predictive power. Let's check in on how this brainchild is growing up.

Dr. Lisa Ramaut from the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at the Brussels University Hospital (UZ Brussel) conducted research on the use of stem cells derived from adipose tissue for wound healing and scar formation. Her study sheds new light on the potential of these cells to improve surgical scars and prevent pathological scar formation.

On Rare Disease Day 2025, the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg illuminates once again its building in blue, green, pink, and purple, joining buildings across Luxembourg and around the world. This show of solidarity, organised in partnership with ALAN, the Luxembourg association for rare diseases , pays tribute to the 300 million people diagnosed worldwide with one of the more than 6000 known rare diseases, including 30,000 in Luxembourg.

February sees the start of alcohol-free month in Belgium. Alcohol dependence remains a major public health challenge, with high relapse rates despite treatment. Clémence Dousset, FNRS researcher at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), explores neurofeedback: a complementary method that offers patients the chance to become actors in their own recovery by learning to regulate their brain activity.

VUB Research Team Presents Innovative Local Treatment for Osteolytic Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma A team of researchers from the Translational Oncology Research Centre (TORC) of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), in collaboration with leading German universities, has developed a new biomaterial with high potential in in the treatment of bone lesions or minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma patients.

Study uncovers the early immune responses that make insect venom immunotherapy the gold standard for curing severe allergies, offering hope for improving treatments worldwide. In a landmark clinical study just published in Nature Communications, researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg, the Allergy Center Wiesbaden, Ulm University Hospital and Vrije Universiteit Brussels and UZ Brussel revealed the early immune mechanisms behind the exceptional success of insect venom immunotherapy.

In a surprising discovery, researchers have found evidence of an African intestinal parasite in a 500-year-old cesspit in Bruges. The find offers valuable insights into how diseases spread in the past. The research, a collaboration between Canada's McMaster University and Ghent University, shows how migration and trade contributed to the spread of infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis.

VUB Researchers Wear Purple on World Pancreatic Cancer Day to Raise Awareness About Deadly Disease Brussels, November 21, 2024 - Today marks World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

Ida Anna Cappello, a researcher at the Heart Rhythm Management Center at the University Hospital Brussels (VUB), developed biomedical technology with patient-specific, 3D printed surgical templates for cardiovascular procedures. Working closely with cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, Cappello's work holds great promise for significantly improving precision in complex cardiac surgeries.

KU Leuven team discovers that resistance to one antifungal medicine increases the efficacy of a different antifungal medicine Because Candida auris can easily develop resistance and because there is a limited range of antifungal medicine available, doctors are often faced with having exhausted all treatment options.

A recent publication by Professor Erik Cattrysse of the Experimental Anatomy research group at the Free University of Brussels and colleagues, highlights the benefits of direct access to physical therapy. The study, based on a scoping review of international literature, suggests that direct access to physical therapists offers benefits not only to patients but also to the broader health care system.

Sleep apnoea, a condition marked by pauses in breathing during sleep, affects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe health risks, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Traditionally, diagnosing this condition requires an overnight stay at a clinic for polysomnography (PSG) tests, which are costly, complex, and uncomfortable as they involve attaching multiple sensors to the body, making it difficult to sleep naturally.

A research team led by Professor Claudia Spits at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has made significant strides in understanding and improving the safety of stem cell therapies. Stem cells hold immense potential to repair damaged tissues due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types.

VUB research on immunotherapy for multiple myeloma establishes baseline for improved long-term success Dr. Heleen Hanssens from the Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH) Research Group at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has conducted research on the application of CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer that remains considered incurable.

From solid to "liquid", how skin regenerates after a wound - Researchers at the Free University of Brussels have discovered that wound healing relies on a change in the physical properties of the skin. The ability to repair tissue following injury is essential to the survival of animals. Following a wound, the skin repairs itself through the activation, migration and division of skin stem cells.

New KU Leuven research shows that the risk of contracting schistosomiasis, an infectious disease caused by a parasitic flatworm, will increase considerably over the next century.

The brain contains many cell types, from the prominent neurons to the lesser-known microglia. The latter are integral to the brain's immune system and play a crucial role as the brain's cleanup crew. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University Hospital Bonn and the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with colleagues from France, Hungary, and Germany, highlights that microglia establish connections with neurons through tunnelling nanotubes.