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Environment - 02.08.2023 
Tree rings show that it’s never been so hot in the last 1,200 years
The Middle Ages were tumultuous in climatic terms. It saw a cold phase, the Little Ice Age, and a warming period, the Medieval Climatic Optimum. The latter, according to data reconstructed from tree rings, saw temperatures sometimes higher than today's in northern Europe. This is an enigma: physics cannot explain this period of exceptional warmth, and climate models calculate more moderate temperatures for the period between the 10th and 14th centuries.
Life Sciences - Health - 28.07.2023
Pharmacology - Health - 06.07.2023
Life Sciences - 29.03.2023 
A pain is coming? Uncertainty intensifies brain activity and influences perception
The perception of pain is a crucial signal that allows us to protect our body integrity. On the other hand, when a pain persists over time, the brain must learn to predict its evolution in order to limit the risk of injury. A team of scientists from the Institute of Neuroscience of the UCLouvain (IoNS), Prof. André Mouraux and Dounia Mulders , FNRS research fellow, together with their colleagues Ben Seymour (University of Oxford, UK) and Flavia Mancini (University of Cambridge, UK) are trying to understand these prediction mechanisms.
Health - Life Sciences - 16.08.2022 
Discovery of a genetic factor that quadruples the risk of end-stage renal failure!
In brief: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 10% of the world's population, including over one million people in Belgium. Genetic mutations are a major cause of CKD. Some mutations are very rare and have very severe effects on the kidney. Others are much and have barely detectable effects. For the first time, a UCLouvain team has discovered an intermediate-effect genetic mutation, present in about one in 1,000 people, that strongly increases the risk of CKD.
Health - 10.05.2022
Health - Life Sciences - 24.01.2022 
Link between sugar metabolism and Parkinson’s disease
In brief: Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, but we still do not understand why this disease occurs. Scientists from the UCLouvain de Duve Institute have discovered a new type of molecular damage that is (glycolysis). They also discovered a mechanism that allows cells to prevent this type of damage.
Health - Life Sciences - 29.07.2021
Health - Life Sciences - 09.06.2021
Event - 02.04.2021
Social Sciences - 18.03.2021
Health - Life Sciences - 06.10.2020
Health - 11.09.2020
Health - 16.07.2020
Environment - 22.06.2020 
When planting trees threatens the forest
The first-of-its-kind study by UCLouvain and Stanford researchers reveals that subsidies for the planting of commercially valuable tree plantations in Chile resulted in the loss of biologically valuable natural forests and little, if any, additional carbon sequestration Campaigns to plant huge numbers of trees could backfire, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University, the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Concepción in Chile that is the first to rigorously analyze potential effects of subsidies in such schemes.
Life Sciences - Health - 22.06.2020 
Click... Resistant bacteria caught in the act !
As humanity fights against the coronavirus, the battle against antibiotic resistant bacteria continues Scientists at UCLouvain have succeeded in capturing unique images of protein soldiers that help bacteria resist drugs. This discovery is published in the prestigious scientific The image recordings will make it possible to develop new attacks on bacteria and thus produce Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-020-0575-0 The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major health problem.
Health - Astronomy / Space Science - 08.06.2020
Health - 13.05.2020
Health - Pharmacology - 23.01.2020
Pharmacology - Health - 16.12.2019
Catholic University of Louvain
Results 1 - 20 of 41.
The Middle Ages were tumultuous in climatic terms. It saw a cold phase, the Little Ice Age, and a warming period, the Medieval Climatic Optimum. The latter, according to data reconstructed from tree rings, saw temperatures sometimes higher than today's in northern Europe. This is an enigma: physics cannot explain this period of exceptional warmth, and climate models calculate more moderate temperatures for the period between the 10th and 14th centuries.
A key to detecting Alzheimer’s with certainty
For years, scientists trying to gain a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative disorders - tauopathies, since they involve the tau protein - have come up against one difficulty: how to diagnose the disease - beforehand - in a completely reliable way, since only autopsy today enables us to describe the tau protein aggregates in the brain, and thus to know with certainty what type of neurodegenerative disease the person was suffering from.
For years, scientists trying to gain a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative disorders - tauopathies, since they involve the tau protein - have come up against one difficulty: how to diagnose the disease - beforehand - in a completely reliable way, since only autopsy today enables us to describe the tau protein aggregates in the brain, and thus to know with certainty what type of neurodegenerative disease the person was suffering from.
A first for UCLouvain in the fight against organ transplant rejection
In Belgium, 40% of people waiting for a transplant are unable to find an organ and therefore have to wait, which is why it is so important to guarantee the success of transplants. One of the major factors in failure is inappropriate dosages of the anti-rejection drug tacrolimus . University of Louvain (UCLouvain)-s Laure Elens and Laure Bindels have uncovered the influence of intestinal microbiota in the variability of the drug's dosages.
In Belgium, 40% of people waiting for a transplant are unable to find an organ and therefore have to wait, which is why it is so important to guarantee the success of transplants. One of the major factors in failure is inappropriate dosages of the anti-rejection drug tacrolimus . University of Louvain (UCLouvain)-s Laure Elens and Laure Bindels have uncovered the influence of intestinal microbiota in the variability of the drug's dosages.
The perception of pain is a crucial signal that allows us to protect our body integrity. On the other hand, when a pain persists over time, the brain must learn to predict its evolution in order to limit the risk of injury. A team of scientists from the Institute of Neuroscience of the UCLouvain (IoNS), Prof. André Mouraux and Dounia Mulders , FNRS research fellow, together with their colleagues Ben Seymour (University of Oxford, UK) and Flavia Mancini (University of Cambridge, UK) are trying to understand these prediction mechanisms.
In brief: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 10% of the world's population, including over one million people in Belgium. Genetic mutations are a major cause of CKD. Some mutations are very rare and have very severe effects on the kidney. Others are much and have barely detectable effects. For the first time, a UCLouvain team has discovered an intermediate-effect genetic mutation, present in about one in 1,000 people, that strongly increases the risk of CKD.
Blocking spike captors to counter Covid
In brief: It's a very promising world first! Scientists at University of Louvain (UCLouvain) have managed to identify the key that allows the Covid virus to attack cells Better still, they have also managed to close the lock to block the virus and prevent its interaction with the cell, in other words, to prevent infection This discovery raises a huge hope : that of developing an antiviral, in the form of an aerosol , which would help to eradicat
In brief: It's a very promising world first! Scientists at University of Louvain (UCLouvain) have managed to identify the key that allows the Covid virus to attack cells Better still, they have also managed to close the lock to block the virus and prevent its interaction with the cell, in other words, to prevent infection This discovery raises a huge hope : that of developing an antiviral, in the form of an aerosol , which would help to eradicat
In brief: Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, but we still do not understand why this disease occurs. Scientists from the UCLouvain de Duve Institute have discovered a new type of molecular damage that is (glycolysis). They also discovered a mechanism that allows cells to prevent this type of damage.
The soft spaghetti of proteins, essential for the resistance of bacteria
IN BRIEF: University of Louvain (UCLouvain) scientists have identified destructured segments, still unexplored to date , in proteins necessary for the life of bacteria The result? These segments, shaped like soft spaghetti , are essential for the life of bacteria This discovery, published in the prestigious scientific , contributes to the search for new antibiotic treatments ARTICLE: Bacteria are increasingly resistant , especially to antibiotics, which is a major global health problem.
IN BRIEF: University of Louvain (UCLouvain) scientists have identified destructured segments, still unexplored to date , in proteins necessary for the life of bacteria The result? These segments, shaped like soft spaghetti , are essential for the life of bacteria This discovery, published in the prestigious scientific , contributes to the search for new antibiotic treatments ARTICLE: Bacteria are increasingly resistant , especially to antibiotics, which is a major global health problem.
A new bacteria, made in Belgium (and UCLouvain)
In brief: A research team from University of Louvain (UCLouvain) has discovered a new bacterium in the human intestine.
In brief: A research team from University of Louvain (UCLouvain) has discovered a new bacterium in the human intestine.
Mapping policy for how the EU can reduce its impact on tropical deforestation
In brief: EU imports of products contribute significantly to deforestation in other parts of the world. In a new study, published in One Earth , researchers from several universities worldwide, among them University of Louvain, evaluated thousands of policy proposals for how the EU could reduce this impact , to assess which would have the largest potential to reduce deforestation - while also being politically feasible.
In brief: EU imports of products contribute significantly to deforestation in other parts of the world. In a new study, published in One Earth , researchers from several universities worldwide, among them University of Louvain, evaluated thousands of policy proposals for how the EU could reduce this impact , to assess which would have the largest potential to reduce deforestation - while also being politically feasible.
Parental burnout hits individualist Western countries hardesttal
In brief : It's a first : approximately 100 scientists in 42 countries joined forces to learn about the incidence of parental burnout. They found that Western countries are the most affected by parental burnout. The cause? The often individualistic culture of Western countries. This international study, published in Affective Science , shows how culture, rather than socio-economic factors, plays a predominant role in parental burnout.
In brief : It's a first : approximately 100 scientists in 42 countries joined forces to learn about the incidence of parental burnout. They found that Western countries are the most affected by parental burnout. The cause? The often individualistic culture of Western countries. This international study, published in Affective Science , shows how culture, rather than socio-economic factors, plays a predominant role in parental burnout.
Targeting our second brain to fight diabetes
In brief: Patrice Cani (UCLouvain) and Claude Knauf (INSERM) have discovered a 'jammer' that blocks communication between the gut and the brain, thus preventing proper regulation of sugar and causing insulin resistance in people with diabetes They also discovered that a lipid produced by our body helps prevent this dysfunction and regulate sugar level, thus mitigating diabetes and intestinal inflammation.
In brief: Patrice Cani (UCLouvain) and Claude Knauf (INSERM) have discovered a 'jammer' that blocks communication between the gut and the brain, thus preventing proper regulation of sugar and causing insulin resistance in people with diabetes They also discovered that a lipid produced by our body helps prevent this dysfunction and regulate sugar level, thus mitigating diabetes and intestinal inflammation.
New immunotherapy to beat cancer
In brief: Sophie Lucas (UCLouvain de Duve Institute) and her team succeeded in neutralising a molecule that blocks the immune system against cancer UCLouvain scientists discovered that this new immunotherapy increases the action of another well-known but not always effective immunotherapy, and that it makes tumour regression possible This very promising discovery in the fight against cancer is published in the prestigious scientific journal Natu
In brief: Sophie Lucas (UCLouvain de Duve Institute) and her team succeeded in neutralising a molecule that blocks the immune system against cancer UCLouvain scientists discovered that this new immunotherapy increases the action of another well-known but not always effective immunotherapy, and that it makes tumour regression possible This very promising discovery in the fight against cancer is published in the prestigious scientific journal Natu
Covid-19 vs measles: 120 million children at risk
According to UCLouvain research conducted in collaboration with WHO, Stanford University, and Harvard Medical School, measles vaccination is taking a back seat to the fight against Covid-19 120 million children are at risk of not being vaccinated this year in poor countries, where Covid-19 claims far fewer victims than measles The study was published in the prestigious scientific journal Science Article: https://doi.org/10.1126/sci
According to UCLouvain research conducted in collaboration with WHO, Stanford University, and Harvard Medical School, measles vaccination is taking a back seat to the fight against Covid-19 120 million children are at risk of not being vaccinated this year in poor countries, where Covid-19 claims far fewer victims than measles The study was published in the prestigious scientific journal Science Article: https://doi.org/10.1126/sci
The first-of-its-kind study by UCLouvain and Stanford researchers reveals that subsidies for the planting of commercially valuable tree plantations in Chile resulted in the loss of biologically valuable natural forests and little, if any, additional carbon sequestration Campaigns to plant huge numbers of trees could backfire, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University, the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Concepción in Chile that is the first to rigorously analyze potential effects of subsidies in such schemes.
As humanity fights against the coronavirus, the battle against antibiotic resistant bacteria continues Scientists at UCLouvain have succeeded in capturing unique images of protein soldiers that help bacteria resist drugs. This discovery is published in the prestigious scientific The image recordings will make it possible to develop new attacks on bacteria and thus produce Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-020-0575-0 The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major health problem.
University of Louvain and European Space Agency join forces to screen COVID-19
Objective: increase COVID-19 screening capacity throughout Europe via a mobile, fast and flexible method First phase: Piedmont, Italy , to screen front-line teams (medical, volunteer, police, civil protection) The University of Louvain (UCLouvain ) and the European Space Agency (ESA ) are joining forces to deploy a mobile laboratory capable of testing front-line screening teams : doctors, nurses, volunteers, police, civil protection actors.
Objective: increase COVID-19 screening capacity throughout Europe via a mobile, fast and flexible method First phase: Piedmont, Italy , to screen front-line teams (medical, volunteer, police, civil protection) The University of Louvain (UCLouvain ) and the European Space Agency (ESA ) are joining forces to deploy a mobile laboratory capable of testing front-line screening teams : doctors, nurses, volunteers, police, civil protection actors.
Cancer cells deactivate their ’Velcro’ to go on the attack
To form metastases, cancer cells must be able to migrate. But cancer cells are connected to each other by 'Velcro'. University of Louvain (UCLouvain) researchers have discovered that certain cancer cells manage to suppress this 'Velcro' effect so that they can migrate more easily. It's a mechanism called endocytosis.
To form metastases, cancer cells must be able to migrate. But cancer cells are connected to each other by 'Velcro'. University of Louvain (UCLouvain) researchers have discovered that certain cancer cells manage to suppress this 'Velcro' effect so that they can migrate more easily. It's a mechanism called endocytosis.
Preventing metastasis by stopping cancer cells from making fat
In brief (18 seconds of reading): Olivier Feron , a UCLouvain researcher, studies how cancer spreads through the body via metastasis His major discovery was that cancer cells multiply by using lipids as food. His latest discovery, published in the scientific , is that lipid storage promotes cancer invasiveness A new drug currently being tested to treat obesity may also help fight metastasis Olivier Feron, a researcher at the University of Louvain (UCLouvain) Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, seeks to understand how metastases form from a tumour.
In brief (18 seconds of reading): Olivier Feron , a UCLouvain researcher, studies how cancer spreads through the body via metastasis His major discovery was that cancer cells multiply by using lipids as food. His latest discovery, published in the scientific , is that lipid storage promotes cancer invasiveness A new drug currently being tested to treat obesity may also help fight metastasis Olivier Feron, a researcher at the University of Louvain (UCLouvain) Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, seeks to understand how metastases form from a tumour.
Immunotherapy: a promising alternative
In brief (20 seconds of reading) : Since 2004, Sophie Lucas, a researcher at the UCLouvain de Duve Institute, has been studying the immune responses that cancer patients can develop against their own tumour She is currently testing a new anti-cancer drug that would strengthen such immune responses This research won the prestigious Academy of Medicine GSK Award , which recognises work in the fields of vaccinology and immunology Sophie Lucas , a researcher at the UCLouvain de Duve Institute , studies the immune responses that cancer patients can develop against their own tumour.
In brief (20 seconds of reading) : Since 2004, Sophie Lucas, a researcher at the UCLouvain de Duve Institute, has been studying the immune responses that cancer patients can develop against their own tumour She is currently testing a new anti-cancer drug that would strengthen such immune responses This research won the prestigious Academy of Medicine GSK Award , which recognises work in the fields of vaccinology and immunology Sophie Lucas , a researcher at the UCLouvain de Duve Institute , studies the immune responses that cancer patients can develop against their own tumour.
