Benoît Vanhollebeke’s "Blood-brain barrier" research project has been selected by the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation for Neuroscience, and will receive research funding for the period 2026-2028. Ultimately, this work could lead to better treatment of numerous neurological pathologies, such as brain tumors, strokes and neurodegenerative diseases.
The Board of Directors of the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation for Neuroscience (QEMF ) gave its verdict on December 9: the "Blood-brain barrier" project by Benoît Vanhollebeke - WELBIO Investigator, WELBIO Department, ULB Faculty of Science - is one of the selected projects. The only single-university project selected in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, it will receive research funding for the period 2026-2028.
An essential brain lock
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a fundamental protection system for the brain. Made up of endothelial cells with unique properties, it strictly controls exchanges between blood and brain tissue, protecting neurons from potentially harmful substances.
But when this barrier becomes permeable, the consequences can be disabling and even fatal. A defective BBB is implicated in numerous neurological pathologies, such as brain tumors, stroke, head trauma, certain congenital vascular malformations and neurodegenerative diseases. Conversely, its extreme efficacy is also a stubborn obstacle to the treatment of many neurological diseases, preventing the vast majority of neuroactive molecules from reaching effective concentrations in target brain regions.
Better understanding for better treatment
The aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation and functioning of the blood-brain barrier. Building on solid preliminary data, notably the recent identification of a brain-specific angiogenesis mechanism, Benoît Vanhollebeke’s team is proposing an integrated model describing BBB formation in three key stages.
These mechanisms regulating cerebral vascular development are particularly promising for identifying new therapeutic targets. Ultimately, this work could pave the way for innovative strategies to modulate the blood-brain barrier, both to protect it and to cross it in a controlled manner in a therapeutic context.