leuven research institute for neurodegenerative disorders · motor neuron diseases, and secondary...

Leuven research

Institute for

Neurodegenerative

Disorders

Citation: LIND (2011) Brochure: Leuven research Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders,

www.kuleuven.be/samenwerking/lind

LEUVEN RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Structure of LIND ................................................................................................................................. 4

Mode of operation of LIND ................................................................................................................. 6

Executive Board ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Bart De Strooper, M.D., Ph.D. ............................................................................................................. 7

Wim Robberecht, M.D., Ph.D. ........................................................................................................... 10

Steering Committee members .............................................................................................................. 13

Veerle Baekelandt, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................... 13

Peter Carmeliet, M.D., Ph.D. ............................................................................................................. 16

Rudi D’Hooge, Ph.D. .......................................................................................................................... 18

Peter Janssen, M.D., Ph.D. ................................................................................................................ 21

Stefan Sunaert, M.D., Ph.D. ............................................................................................................... 23

Koen Van Laere, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. ................................................................................................... 26

Rik Vandenberghe, M.D., Ph.D. ......................................................................................................... 28

Patrik Verstreken, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................... 31

Members ............................................................................................................................................... 33

Wim Annaert, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................... 33

Steven Boonen, M.D., Ph.D. .............................................................................................................. 36

Jan De Lepeleire, M.D., Ph.D. ............................................................................................................ 38

Bert De Smedt, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................................... 41

Anja Declercq, Ph.D. .......................................................................................................................... 43

Carlos Dotti, M.D., Ph.D ..................................................................................................................... 46

Bénédicte Dubois, M.D., Ph.D. .......................................................................................................... 49

Wolfgang Eberle, Ph.D. ...................................................................................................................... 51

Yves Engelborghs, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................... 53

An Goris, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................... 55

Ann Heylighen, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................................... 57

Bea Maes, Ph.D.................................................................................................................................. 60

Gert Matthijs, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................... 63

Lieve Moons, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................ 65

Alice Nieuwboer, Ph.D. ...................................................................................................................... 68


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Ilse Noens, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................ 70

Herman Nys, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................ 72

Anton Roebroek, Ph.D. ...................................................................................................................... 74

Birgitte Schoenmakers, M.D., Ph.D. .................................................................................................. 76

Raf Sciot M.D., Ph.D........................................................................................................................... 78

Nele Spruytte, Ph.D. .......................................................................................................................... 79

Stephan Swinnen, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................... 81

Johan Thevelein, Ph.D. ...................................................................................................................... 83

Vincent Thijs, M.D., Ph.D. .................................................................................................................. 85

Jos Tournoy, M.D., Ph.D. ................................................................................................................... 87

Thomas Tousseyn, M.D., Ph.D. .......................................................................................................... 89

Chantal Van Audenhove, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................... 92

Philip Van Damme, M.D., Ph.D. ......................................................................................................... 95

Ludo Van Den Bosch, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................... 98

Pieter Vanden Berghe, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................... 100

Wim Vandenberghe, M.D., Ph.D. .................................................................................................... 103

Joris Winderickx, Ph.D ..................................................................................................................... 105


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INTRODUCTION

The main objective of the Leuven research Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (LIND) is to

stimulate interactions between the different research groups working on these diseases at the

K.U.Leuven and to promote and accelerate the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

for these diseases.

Improvements in medical care and hygiene in the

last century have indeed caused a dramatic increase in

average life expectancy throughout the world. Age-

related neurodegenerative disorders represent now

more than ever a major biomedical challenge and an

enormous burden for health care systems.

For instance, different forms of age associated

dementia are estimated to presently affect 35.6 million

people worldwide (Alzheimer’s Disease International)

and 5.3 to 5.8 million people in the European Union (Alzheimer Europe) alone. Due to the increasing

life expectancy, the number of affected people in the European Union is expected to triple to 15.9

million by 2040, when about approximately 24% of the total population in Europe will be older than

65 years (http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/ERD/DB/data/hum/dem/dem_2.htm).

The societal costs of dementia in Europe are enormous and greatly affect the health care and

social systems. The total societal costs of dementia in Europe are estimated to 103 billion €, with an

average annual costs per patient of 12000 € (Alzheimer Europe).

Given the expected dramatic increase in the incidence of age-related neurodegenerative

disorders worldwide and the extreme burden put on the health care system, it is clear that finding a

treatment for these disorders, aimed at maintaining quality of life and independence for patients and

their families, is a highly prioritized and major scientific and social task. This aim can only be

accomplished by multidisciplinary translational research. A recent editorial in Nature stressed the

importance of translational research and interactions between clinicians and fundamental

researchers (“Hope in translation” Nature 467, page 499, 2010).

LIND will therefore bundle on a voluntary basis all interested fundamental and clinical

research groups at the K.U.Leuven that perform studies related to neurodegenerative disorders. LIND

will provide a platform for regular discussions between these research groups and the K.U.Leuven,

VIB and UZ Leuven and will stimulate the internal communication, and

encourage novel and otherwise unexplored collaborations. Given the

worldwide tendency to bundle efforts in this research area in dedicated

institutes (e.g. the Deutches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative

Erkrankungen (DZNE) in Germany), such bundling of efforts in Leuven

appears indeed crucial to maintain our international competitive

position. We intend to partner with European networks for research into

aging and neurodegenerative disorders and with companies interested

in our fundamental and clinical work. We hope to identify strengths and

to remedy weaknesses in our research structure and to bring the

different stake holders together to take common initiatives and to

coordinate efforts. We are convinced that the available expertise at the

http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/ERD/DB/data/hum/dem/dem_2.htm


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K.U.Leuven is broad and excellent and provides the

basis to develop LIND into a European center of

excellence.

In addition, LIND will act as an easy

accessible point of reference and expertise for

academic and governmental authorities interested

in neurodegenerative diseases. The institute will

lobby with the Flemish and the Belgian

governments to promote research into these

devastating disorders and to accelerate the

development of therapeutics.

As a center of excellence, LIND will also offer its expertise and help for the recruitment of

young investigators in this domain of research. Finally, LIND will provide the means to apply in a

coordinated way to major initiatives for funding of research in this domain of investigation (e.g. FET-

flagships).

STRUCTURE OF LIND

LIND will be directed by a general assembly consisting of all participating senior investigators of the

K.U.Leuven, VIB-Leuven and UZ Leuven. The leadership structure of LIND includes a strategic advisory

board, steering committee and an executive board (Fig. 1).

The following persons will be asked to reside in the strategic advisory board of the institute:

The rector of the K.U.Leuven, Mark Waer

The vice rector of Biomedical Sciences Group, Minne Casteels

The vice rector of Humanities and Social Sciences Group, Filip Abraham

The vice rector of Science, Engineering and Technology Group, Karen Maex

The vice rector of Research Policy, Peter Marynen

The vice rector International Policy, Bart De Moor

The general director of Technology Transfer, Paul Van Dun

The chairman of the steering committee UZ Leuven, Guy Mannaerts

The chairman of the executive committee UZ Leuven, Johan Kips

The chairman of the medical board UZ Leuven, Dirk Vlasselaers

The directors of the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Jo Bury and Rudy Dekeyser

The task of the strategic advisory board is to provide positive stimuli to the initiative, to critically

evaluate its work and to follow up on the progress of LIND. The strategic advisory board will receive

yearly a report on the progress of the institute.


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Figure 1: Structure of LIND. (ARCK: Alzheimer Research Center K.U.Leuven, ND: Neurodegenerative

Diseases)

The steering committee will be composed of scientists from various key research areas related to

neurodegenerative diseases. The following members are proposed for the steering committee:

Prof. Veerle Baekelandt as expert in Parkinson’s disease

Prof. Peter Carmeliet as expert on ALS and director of ‘Vesalius Research Center’ (VRC)

Prof. Rudi D’Hooge as expert in preclinical studies on pathophysiology and treatment of

neurodegeneration and use of rodent models for these diseases

Prof. Peter Janssen as expert in neurophysiology

Prof. Stefan Sunaert as expert in radiology

Prof. Koen Van Laere as expert in nuclear imaging

Prof. Rik Vandenberghe as expert in clinical treatment of patients with cortical

neurodegenerative diseases and director of the ‘Alzheimer’s Research Center K.U.Leuven’

(ARCK)

Prof. Patrik Verstreken as expert in synapse biology and Parkinson Disease

Prof. Bart De Strooper as specialist in Alzheimer’s disease and as contact person with the

brain research center ‘Neuroelectronics Research Flanders’ (NERF)

Prof. Wim Robberecht as head of the neurological clinic and translational research in ALS

Theme leaders, who will be appointed in a later stadium


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The executive board of LIND will be composed of founding director, Prof Bart De Strooper, and

founding co-director, Prof. Wim Robberecht. They will be supported by the coordinator, Dr. Griet

Holsbeek, who will assist them in managing the daily administration of the institute.

MODE OF OPERATION OF LIND

LIND will focus its research on four main themes: cortical neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s

disease and frontotemporal degeneration – ARCK), movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease),

motor neuron diseases, and secondary neurodegeneration (i.e. induced by secondary causes, such as

epilepsy, inflammation, etc.). One theme to be added in the future is social, economical and ethical

aspects of these diseases. Other themes can be included by the steering committee as appropriate.

The executive board will be responsible to kick off the initiative by calling together all

interested research groups at K.U.Leuven. They will make an inventory of the available expertise and

strengths. The institute will invite all interested scientists belonging to the various research domains,

such as clinical research, basic research, neurogenetics, neuropathology, imaging, social sciences. The

executive board will meet regularly to discuss the operation of the institute and agree upon future

actions to promote the working of the institute. Next to organizing meetings and congresses, an

important task of LIND will be to invite an external scientific advisory committee (SAC) consisting of

international renowned academicians, clinicians and industrial opinion leaders in the field of aging

and neurodegeneration to assist and advise the steering committee with its scientific and managerial

strategies. The contributing groups will assess on a regular basis strengths and weaknesses in the

institute and will cooperate to strengthen the scientific backbone of the institute. The SAC-report will

be a help and a support in this endeavor and its results will be submitted to the strategic advisory

board.

Finally, LIND will be used to increase awareness of this rapidly growing burden for our future

generation and to mobilize the necessary funding to support research in this area of enormous

societal importance.


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EXECUTIVE BOARD

BART DE STROOPER, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Center of Human Genetics

O&N I Herestraat 49 - bus 00602

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 62 27

Fax: +32 16 34 71 81

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://med.kuleuven.be/cme-mg/lncb/index_en.html

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

1985 Doctor in Medicine (M.D.), Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven

1988 Master of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven

1989 Ph.D., Center for Human Genetics, K.U.Leuven

1994-1995 Visiting Researcher, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany

1998-present Group leader, VIB

2002-present Full Professor in Molecular Medicine (Gewoon Hoogleraar), K.U.Leuven

2005-2010 Chairman of the Department of Human Genetics, K.U.Leuven

2007-present Scientific director of the Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, VIB

RESEARCH TOPICS

Neuronal cell biology

Gene transfer

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Regulated intramembrane proteolysis

APP, presenilin, γ-secretase, PARL, pink-1, LRRK2

RESEARCH AREAS

The work in my laboratory is focused on the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that

underlie neurodegenerative disorders. We work mainly on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease and

we start our functional studies with genes identified by human genetics research. We ask what the

biological role is of the protein under investigation, and to what extent disturbance of the normal

function can explain disease relevant phenotypes.

The work on Alzheimer’s Disease is centered on the Secretases, the proteases which are

involved in the generation of the Aβ-amyloid peptide that precipitates in the amyloid plaques in the

brain of patients. We have been the first group to link presenilins unequivocally with γ-Secretase

http://med.kuleuven.be/cme-mg/lncb/index_en.html


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activity (De Strooper et al., Nature, 1998) and have since then worked on intramembrane proteolysis

and the role of the different γ-Secretases. This work has been extremely productive and generated a

series of high impact publications over the years (Thathiah et al., Science, 2009; Serneels et al.,

Science, 2009, and Wakabayashi et al., Nat.Cell biol, 2009).

With regard to Parkinson’s disease we are using Drosophila in collaboration with Prof. P. Verstreken,

next to mammalian cells and mouse models. We follow three research lines:

The role of PARL and mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson Disease. This work is based on

our Cell paper (Cipolat et al., 2006) demonstrating the essential role of PARL in the control of

cytochrome c release. There are two reports that PARL is involved in the proteolysis of Pink1

which further corroborates the importance of this research line.

The kinome of Pink1. Following up on our paper in EMBO Molecular Med (Vanessa Morais et

al., 2009) we focus on complex I biology to understand how Pink1 affects mitochondrial

function.

The role of LRRK2 in neuronal vesicle transport and release. This work is also done in

collaboration with an industrial partner.

MAJOR SCIENTIFIC AWARDS

Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s and related Diseases (USA), 2002

Pioneer Award from the American Alzheimer Association (USA), 2002

Alois Alzheimer Award (Germany), 2003

Elected EMBO member, 2004

Joseph Maisin Price for fundamental biomedical sciences (Flanders), 2005

Methusalem grant of the Flemisch Government (Flanders), 2007

MetLife Foundation Award for Medical Research (USA), 2008

UCB Award, 2011

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Hébert S.S., Papadopoulou A.S., Smith P., Galas M.C., Planel E., Silahtaroglu A.N., Sergeant N.,

Buée L. and De Strooper B. (2010) Genetic ablation of Dicer in adult forebrain neurons results

in abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Human Molecular Genetics

19(20): 3959‐69.

2. Kuperstein I., Broersen K., Benilova I., Rozenski J., Jonckheere W., Debulpaep M.,

Vandersteen A., Segers‐Nolten I., Van Der Werf K., Subramaniam V., Braeken D., Callewaert

G., Bartic C., D'Hooge R., Martins I.C., Rousseau F., Schymkowitz J., De Strooper B. (2010)

Neurotoxicity of Alzheimer's disease Abeta peptides is induced by small changes in the Aβ42

to Aβ40 ratio. EMBO Journal 29: 3408-3420.

3. Morais V.A., Verstreken P., Roethig A., Smet J., Snellinx A., Vanbrabant M., Haddad D., Frezza

C., Mandemakers W., Vogt‐Weisenhorn D., Van Coster R., Wurst W., Scorrano L. and De

Strooper B. (2009) Parkinson's disease mutations in PINK1 result in decreased Complex I

activity and deficient synaptic function. EMBO Molecular Medicine 1(2): 99‐111.


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4. Thathiah A., Spittaels K., Hoffmann M., Staes M., Cohen A., Horré K., Vanbrabant M., Coun F.,

Baekelandt V., Delacourte A., Fischer D.F., Pollet D., De Strooper B. and Merchiers P. (2009)

The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 3 modulates amyloid-beta peptide generation in

neurons. Science 323(5916): 946-51.

5. Serneels L., Van Biervliet J., Craessaerts K., Dejaegere T., Horré K., Van Houtvin T., Esselmann

H., Paul S., Schäfer M.K., Berezovska O., Hyman B.T., Sprangers B., Sciot R., Moons L., Jucker

M., Yang Z., May P.C., Karran E., Wiltfang J., D'Hooge R. and De Strooper B. (2009) gamma-

Secretase heterogeneity in the Aph1 subunit: relevance for Alzheimer's disease. Science

324(5927): 639-42.

6. Wakabayashi T., Craessaerts K., Bammens L., Bentahir M., Borgions F., Herdewijn P., Staes A.,

Timmerman E., Vandekerckhove J., Rubinstein E., Boucheix C., Gevaert K. and De Strooper B.

(2009) Analysis of the -Secretase interactome and validation of its association with

tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. Nature Cell Biology 11(11): 1340-6.

7. Martins I., Kuperstein I., Wilkinson H., Vanbrabant M., Jonckheere W., Van Gelder P.,

Kümmerer N., Pastor‐Hernandez T., Serrano L., Hartmann D., De Strooper B., Schymkowitz J.

and Rousseau F. (2008) Lipids induce release of neurotoxic oligomers from inert amyloid

fibrils. EMBO Journal 27(1): 224‐33.

8. Hébert S.S., Horré K., Nicolaï L., Papadopoulou A.S., Mandemakers W., Silahtaroglu A.N.,

Kauppinen S., Delacourte A. and De Strooper B. (2008) Loss of microRNA cluster miR-29a/b-1

in sporadic Alzheimer's disease correlates with increased BACE1/beta-secretase expression.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA 105(17): 6415-20.

9. Dejaegere T., Serneels L., Schäfer M.K., Van Biervliet J., Horré K., Depboylu C., Alvarez-Fischer

D., Herreman A., Willem M., Haass C., Höglinger G.U., D'Hooge R. and De Strooper B. (2008)

Deficiency of Aph1B/C-gamma-secretase disturbs Nrg1 cleavage and sensorimotor gating

that can be reversed with antipsychotic treatment. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences (PNAS) USA 105(28): 9775-80.

10. Cipolat S., Rudka T., Hartmann D., Costa V., Serneels L., Craessaerts K., Metzger K., Frezza C.,

Annaert W., D’Adamio L., Derks C., Dejaegere T., Pellegrini L., D’Hooge R., Scorrano L. and De

Strooper B. (2006) Mitochondrial rhomboid PARL regulates cytochrome c release during

apoptosis via OPA1-dependent cristae remodelling. Cell 126(1): 163-75.

11. Serneels L., Dejaegere T., Craessaerts K., Horré K., Jorissen E., Tousseyn T., Hébert S., Coolen

M., Martens G., Zwijsen A., Annaert W., Hartmann D. and De Strooper B. (2005) Differential

contribution of the three Aph1 genes to -secretase activity in vivo. Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA 102(5): 1719-24.

12. Herreman A., Serneels L., Annaert W., Collen D., Schoonjans L., and De Strooper B. (2000)

Total inactivation of gamma-secretase activity in presenilin-deficient embryonic stem cells.

Nature Cell Biology 2: 461-462.

13. De Strooper B., Annaert W., Cupers P., Saftig P., Craessaerts K., Mumm J.S., Schroeter E.H.,

Schrijvers V., Wolfe M.S., Ray W.J., Goate A. and Kopan R.A. (1999) Presenilin-1-dependent,

gamma-secretase-like protease mediates release of Notch intracellular domain. Nature

398(6727): 518-22.

14. De Strooper B., Saftig P., Craessaerts K., Vanderstichele H., Guhde G., Annaert W., Von Figura

K. and Van Leuven F. (1998) Deficiency of presenilin 1 inhibits the normal cleavage of

Amyloid Precursor Protein. Nature 391: 387-390.


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WIM ROBBERECHT, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Division Experimental Neurology

UZ Herestraat 49 - bus 07003

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 34 42 80

Fax: + 32 16 34 42 85



1984 Medical Degree (Degree of 'Doctor in de genees-, heel- en verloskunde')

1984-1992 Residency and fellowship Neurology (University Hospital Leuven, Belgium; University

of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, Virginia USA and Massachusetts General

Hospital, Boston, US)

1990 Ph.D. (Degree of 'Geaggregeerde van het Hoger Onderwijs', University of Leuven,

Medical School).

1993 Full Appointment as member of the Senior Staff of Department of Neurology,

University Hospital Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Adjunct-

Kliniekhoofd)

1994-2004 Clinical Investigator Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders

1997 Professor (Hoogleraar), University of Leuven, Medical School, Leuven

1998-present Director of the Neuromuscular Reference Center, University Hospital Leuven

2001-present Full Professor (Gewoon Hoogleraar), University of Leuven, Medical School, Leuven

2001-present Chairman of the Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leuven, University of

Leuven, Medical School.

2001-2010 Chairman of the Department of Neurosciences, University of Leuven, Medical School,

Leuven

2001-present Chairman of the Section Experimental Neurology, University of Leuven, Medical

School, Leuven

2005 Member of the Board of Administration of the University Hospital Leuven, Leuven

2007 Group leader, Vesalius Research Center, Flanders Institute of Biotechnology

2008 Member of the Board of Administration of the National MS Center, Melsbroek.

2008-present Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Thierry Latran Foundation for ALS

research

2010-present Chairman of the Program Committee of the Motor Neuron Disease Association,

United Kingdom

RESEARCH TOPICS

Motor neuron degeneration (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

mailto:[email protected]


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Neurology/Neuromuscular Diseases

MAJOR SCIENTIFIC AWARDS AND HONORS

Sheila Essey award for ALS research, American Academy of Neurology, 2008

Pfizer visiting Professor Columbia University, New York (USA) 2009

Chair of the Foundation Franqui, University of Hasselt (Belgium) 2010

Brain visiting lectureship, King’s College, London (UK) 2010

Edwards Distinguished ALS Lecture, Houston, Texas (USA) 2010


1. Shatunov A., Mok K., Newhouse S., Weale M.E., Smith B., Vance C., Johnson L., Veldink J.H.,

van Es M.A., van den Berg L.H., Robberecht W., Van Damme P., Hardiman O., Farmer A.E.,

Lewis C.M., Butler A.W., Abel O., Andersen P.M., Fogh I., Silani V., ChiÒ A., Traynor B.J., Melki

J., Meininger V., Landers J.E., McGuffi n P., Glass J.D., Pall H., Leigh P.N., Hardy J., Brown Jr

R.H., Powell J.F., Orrell R.W., Morrison K.E., Shaw P.J., Shaw C.E. and Al-Chalabi A. (2010)

Chromosome 9p21 in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the UK and seven other

countries: a genome-wide association study. Lancet Neurology 10: 986-94.

2. Blauw H.M., Al-Chalabi A., Andersen P.M., van Vught P.W.J., Diekstra F.P., van Es M.A., Saris

C.G.J., Groen E.J.N., van Rheenen W., Koppers M., van’t Slot R., Strengman E., Estrada K.,

Rivadeneira F., Hofman A., Uitterlinden A.G., Kiemeney L.A., Vermeulen S.H.M., Birve A.,

Waibel S., Meyer T., Cronin S., McLaughlin R.L., Hardiman O., Sapp P.C., Tobin M.D., Wain

L.V., Tomik B., Slowik A., Lemmens R., Rujescu D., Schulte C., Gasser T., Brown Jr R.H.,

Landers J.E., Robberecht W., Ludolph A.C., Ophoff R.A., Veldink J.H. and van den Berg L.H.

(2010) A large genome scan for rare CNVs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Human Molecular

Genetics, doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddq323.

3. Bento-Abreu A., Van Damme P., Van Den Bosch L. and Robberecht W. (2010) The

neurobiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. European Journal of Neuroscience 31: 2247-65.

4. Irobi J., Almeida-Souza L., Asselbergh B., De Winter V., Goethals S., Dierick I., Krishnan J.,

Timmermans J.P., Robberecht W., De Jonghe P., Van Den Bosch L., Janssens S. and

Timmerman V. (2010) Mutant HSPB8 causes motor neuron-specific neurite degeneration.

Human Molecular Genetics 19: 3254-65.

5. Bogaert E., Goris A., Van Damme P., Geelen V., Lemmens R., van Es M.A., van den Berg L.H.,

Kristel Sleegers K., Verpoorten N., Timmerman V., De Jonghe P., Van Broeckhoven C., Traynor

B.J., Landers, J.E., Brown, Jr. R.H., Glass J.D., Al-Chalabi A., Shaw C.E., Birve A., Andersen

P.M., Slowik A., Tomik B., Melki J., Robberecht W. and Van Den Bosch L. (2010)

Polymorphisms in the GluR2 gene are not associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neurobiology of Aging, doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.03.007.

6. Taes I., Goris A., Lemmens R., van Es M.A., van den Berg L.H., Chio A., Traynor B.J., Birve A.,

Andersen P., Slowik A., Tomik B., Brown Jr. R.H., Shaw C.E., Al-Chalabi A., Boonen S., Van Den

Bosch L., Dubois B., Van Damme P. and Robberecht W. (2010) Tau levels do not influence

human ALS or motor neuron degeneration in the SOD1G93A mouse. Neurology 74(21): 1687-

93.


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7. Lemmens R., Moore M.J., Al-Chalabi A., Brown Jr. R.H. and Robberecht W. (2010) RNA

metabolism and the pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases. Trends in Neurosciences 33(5):

249-58.

8. Wang J.,Van Damme P.,Cruchaga C., Gitcho M.A., Manuel Vidal J., Seijo-Martínez M., Wang

L., Wu J.Y., Robberecht W. and Goate A. (2010) Pathogenic cysteine mutations affect

progranulin function and production of mature granulins. Journal of Neurochemistry 112(5):

1305-15.

9. van Es M.A., Veldink J.H., Saris C.G.J., Blauw H.M., van Vught P.W.J., Birve A., Lemmens R.,

Schelhaas H.J., Groen E.J.N., Huisman M.H.B., van der Kooi A.J., de Visser M., Dahlberg C.,

Estrada K., Rivadeneira F., Hofman A., Zwarts M.J., van Doormaal P.T.C., Rujescu D.,

Strengman E., Giegling I., Muglia P., Tomik B., Slowik A., Uitterlinden A.G., Hendrich C.,

Waibel S., Meyer T., Ludolph A.C., Glass J.D., Purcell S., Cichon S., Nöthen M.N., Wichmann

H.E., Schreiber S., Vermeulen S.H.H.M., Kiemeney L.A., Wokke J.H.J., Cronin S., McLaughlin

R.L., Hardiman O., Fumoto K., Pasterkamp R.J., Meininger V., Melki J., Leigh P.N., Shaw C.E.,

Landers J.E., Al-Chalabi A., Brown Jr. R.H., Robberecht W., Andersen P.M., Ophoff R.A. and

van den Berg L.H. (2009) Genome-wide association study identifies 19p13.3 (UNC13A) and

9p21.2 as susceptibility loci for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nature Genetics 41:

1083-1087.

10. Van Damme P. and Robberecht W. (2009) Recent advances in motor neuron disease. Current

Opinion in Neurology 22: 486-492.

11. Gijselinck I., Sleegers K., Engelborghs S., Robberecht W., Martin J.J., Vandenberghe R., Sciot

R., Dermaut B., Goossens D., van der Zee J., De Pooter T., Del-Favero J., Santens P., De Jonghe

P., De Deyn P.P., Van Broeckhoven C. and Cruts M. (2009) Neuronal inclusion protein TDP-43

has no primary genetic role in FTD and ALS. Neurobiology of Aging 30(8): 1329-31.

12. Brugman F., Veldink J.H., Franssen H., de Visser M., de Jong J.M., Faber C.G., Kremer B.H.,

Schelhaas H.J., van Doorn P.A., Verschuuren J.J., Bruyn R.P., Kuks J.B., Robberecht W., Wokke

J.H. and van den Berg L.H. (2009) Differentiation of hereditary spastic paraparesis from

primary lateral sclerosis in sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndromes. Archives of

Neurology 66: 509-14.

13. Bogaert E., Van Damme P., Poesen K., Dhondt J., Hersmus N., Kiraly D., Scheveneels W.,

Robberecht W. and Van Den Bosch L. (2009) VEGF protects motor neurons against

excitotoxicity by upregulation of GluR2. Neurobiology of Aging 31(12): 2185-91.

14. Sleegers K., Brouwers N., Van Damme P., Engelborghs S., Gijselinck I., van der Zee J., Peeters

K., Mattheijssens M., Cruts M., Vandenberghe R., De Deyn P.P., Robberecht W. and Van

Broeckhoven C. (2009) Serum biomarker for progranulin-associated frontotemporal lobar

degeneration. Annals of Neurology 65: 603-609.

15. Simpson C.L., Lemmens R., Miskiewicz K., Broom W.J., Hansen V.K., van Vught P.W., Landers

J.E., Sapp P., Van Den Bosch L., Knight J., Neale B.M., Turner M.R., Veldink J.H., Ophoff R.A.,

Tripathi V.B., Beleza A., Shah M.N., Proitsi P., Van Hoecke A., Carmeliet P., Horvitz H.R., Leigh

P.N., Shaw C.E., van den Berg L.H., Sham P.C., Powell J.F., Verstreken P., Brown Jr. R.H.,

Robberecht W., and Al-Chalabi A. (2009) Variants of the elongator protein 3 (ELP3) gene are

associated with motor neuron degeneration. Human Molecular Genetics 18(3): 472-81.


13

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

VEERLE BAEKELANDT, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy

Division of Molecular Medicine

K.U.Leuven – Faculty of Medicine

Kapucijnenvoer 33 B7001 (VCTB+5)

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 63 32 or +32 16 33 21 56

Fax: +32 16 33 63 36


Website: www.kuleuven.be/molmed


1983-1987 Licentiate in Romance languages, K.U.Leuven

1987-1991 Licentiate in biology, group zoology, K.U.Leuven

1995 Ph.D. degree in biology, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Parkinson’s disease

Adult neurogenesis

Viral vector technology

RESEARCH AREAS

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Over the last 10

years, PD research has been fueled by the identification of genes that are linked to rare familial forms

of the disease. Understanding the function of these genes will undoubtedly provide crucial insights

into the pathogenesis of the more common sporadic forms of PD. Our research focuses on these

familial PD-linked proteins since they provide valuable clues to unravel the pathogenic pathways

involved. We are using viral vector technology and molecular imaging as core technologies to

develop and characterize new cellular and rodent models. Basic insight in the pathogenesis of PD will

help to design and explore new rational, therapeutic strategies based on small molecules, neuronal

stem cells, and/or gene therapy.

Our specific research interests include: the role of α-synuclein protein aggregation, the

function of PINK1 and parkin in mitochondrial metabolism, LRRK2 and signal transduction pathways

in PD, and therapeutic modulation of endogenous neural stem cells.


http://www.kuleuven.be/molmed


14


Frank Boas Scholarship (Fulbright Fellowship) for graduate study at Harvard University, 1992-

1993

Triennial scientific prize of the Alumni of Botany and Zoology of Leuven (Belgium) 1997

Biennial prize of the Belgian Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (Belgium)

2002

Biennial René De Cooman prize for research related to Aging, 2006

Prize Viscountess Valine de Spoelberch of the Medical Foundation Queen Elisabeth, 2008


1. Carlon M., Toelen J., Van der Perren A., Vandenberghe L.H., Reumers V., Sbragia L., Gijsbers

R., Baekelandt V., Himmelreich U., Wilson J.M., Deprest J. and Debyser Z. Efficient gene

transfer into the mouse lung by fetal intratracheal injection of AAV2/6.2. Molecular Therapy,

in press.

2. Daniëls V., Vancraenenbroeck R., Law B.M.H., Greggio E., Lobbestael E., Gao F., De Maeyer

M., Cookson M.R., Harvey K., Baekelandt V., Taymans J.-M. Insight into the mode of action of

the LRRK2 Y1699C pathogenic mutant. Journal of Neurochemistry, in press.

3. Fiesel F.C., Voigt A., Weber S.S., Van den Haute C., Waldenmaier A., Görner K., Walter M.,

Anderson M.L., Kern J.V., Rasse T.M., Schmidt T., Springer W, Kirchner R., Bonin M.,

Neumann M., Baekelandt V., Alunni-Fabbroni M., Schulz J.B. and Kahle P.J. (2010)

Knockdown of transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) downregulates histone

deacetylase 6. EMBO Journal 29(1): 209-21.

4. Slaets H., Hendriks J.J.A., Van den Haute C., Coun F., Baekelandt V., Stinissen P. and Hellings

N. (2010) CNS-targeted LIF Expression Improves Therapeutic Efficacy and Limits

Autoimmune-mediated Demyelination in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Molecular Therapy

18(4): 684-91.

5. Gerard M., Deleersnijder A., Daniëls V., Schreurs S., Munck S., Reumers V., Pottel H.,

Engelborghs Y., Van den Haute C., Taymans J.-M., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2010)

Inhibition of FK506 Binding Proteins reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation and Parkinson’s

disease-like pathology. Journal of Neurosciences 30: 2454-2463.

6. Thathiah A., Spittaels K., Hoffmann M., Staes M., Cohen A., Horré K., Vanbrabant M., Coun F.,

Baekelandt V., Delacourte A., Fischer D.F., Pollet D., De Strooper B., and Merchiers P. (2009)

The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 3 is a novel modulator of amyloid-beta peptide

generation in neurons. Science 323(5916): 946-51.

7. Waak J., Springer W., Weber S.S., Waldenmaier A., Görner K., Alunni-Fabbroni M., Vogt-

Weisenhorn D., Pham T.-T., Schütz M., Autenrieth I.B., Reumers V., Baekelandt V., Wurst W.,

and Kahle P.J. (2009) Regulation of Astrocyte Inflammatory Responses by the Parkinson’s

Disease-Associated Gene DJ-1. FASEB Journal 23(8): 2478-89.

8. Ibrahimi A., Vande Velde G., Thiry I.,, Reumers V., Vandeputte C., Deroose C., Toelen J.,

Baekelandt V., Debyser Z., Gijsbers R. (2009) Efficient co-expression of multiple imaging

reporters in rodent brain using polycistronic lentivectors. Human Gene Therapy, 20(8): 845-

860.


15

9. Parisiadou L., Xie C., Lin X., Gu X., Long C.-X., Baekelandt V., Lobbestael E., Taymans J.-M., Sun

L., and Cai H. (2009) Phosphorylation of ERM Proteins by LRRK2 Promotes the

Rearrangement of Actin Cytoskeleton in Neuronal Morphogenesis. Journal of Neurosciences

29(44): 13971-80.

10. Greggio E., Zambrano I., Kaganovich A., Beilina A., Taymans J.-M., Daniëls V., Lewis P., Jain S.,

Ding J., Syed A., Thomas K.J., Baekelandt V. and Cookson M.R. (2008) The Parkinson’s disease

associated Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a dimer that undergoes intra-molecular

autophosphorylation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(24): 16906-14.

11. Reumers, V., Deroose C.M., Krylyshkina O., Nuyts J., Geraerts M., Mortelmans L., Gijsbers R.,

Van den Haute C., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2008) Non-invasive and quantitative

monitoring of adult neuronal stem cell migration in mouse brain using bioluminescence

imaging. Stem Cells 26(9): 2382-9.

12. Lauwers E., Bequé D., Van Laere K., Nuyts J., Bormans G., Mortelmans L., Vercammen L.,

Bockstael O., Nuttin B., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2007) Non-invasive imaging of

neuropathology in a rat model of alpha-synuclein overexpression. Neurobiology of Aging 28:

248-257.

13. Geraerts M., Krylychkina O., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2007) Therapeutic strategies for

Parkinson’s disease based on the modulation of adult neurogenesis. Stem Cells 25: 263-270.

14. Taymans J.-M., Vandenberghe L., Van den Haute C., Thiry I., Deroose C., Mortelmans L.,

Wilson J.M., Debyser Z., and Baekelandt V. (2007) Comparative Analysis of Adeno-Associated

Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8 in Mouse Brain. Human Gene Therapy 18: 195-206.

15. Gérard M., Debyser Z., Desender L., Kahle P.J., Baert J., Baekelandt V. and Engelborghs Y.

(2006) The aggregation of alpha-synuclein is stimulated by FK506 Binding Proteins as shown

by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. FASEB Journal 20(3): 524-526.

16. Geraerts M., Eggermont K., Hernandez-Acosta P., Garcia-Verdugo J.-M., Baekelandt V. and

Debyser Z. (2006) Lentiviral vectors mediate efficient and stable gene transfer in adult neural

stem cells in vivo. Human Gene Therapy 17(6): 635-50.

17. Taymans J.-M., Van den Haute C. and Baekelandt V. (2006) Distribution of PINK1 and LRRK2

in rat and mouse brain. Journal of Neurochemistry 98: 951-961.

18. Deroose C.M., Reumers V., Gijsbers R., Bormans G., Debyser Z., Mortelmans L. and

Baekelandt V. (2006) Noninvasive monitoring of long-term lentiviral vector-mediated gene

expression in rodent brain with bioluminescence imaging. Molecular Therapy 14: 423-431.

19. Vercammen L., Van der Perren A., Vaudano E., Gijsbers R., Debyser Z., Van den Haute C. and

Baekelandt V. (2006) Parkin protects against neurotoxicity in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat

model for Parkinson’s disease. Molecular Therapy 14: 716-723.

20. Lauwers E., Debyser Z., Van Dorpe J., De Strooper B., Nuttin B. and Baekelandt V. (2003)

Neuropathology and neurodegeneration in rodent brain induced by lentiviral vector-

mediated overexpression of α-synuclein. Brain Pathology 13: 364-372.

21. Baekelandt V., Eggermont K., Michiels M., Nuttin B. and Debyser Z. (2003) Optimized

lentiviral vector production and purification procedure prevents immune response after

transduction of mouse brain. Gene Therapy 10: 1933-1940.

22. Van den Haute C., Eggermont K., Nuttin B., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2003) Lentiviral

vector-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA results in persistent knock-down of gene

expression in mouse brain. Human Gene Therapy 14: 1799-1807.


16

PETER CARMELIET, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Vesalius Research Centrum

O&N I Herestraat 49 - bus 00912

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 34 57 74

Fax: + 32 16 34 59 90



1985-1989 Aspirant “National Fund for Scientific Research of Belgium” (NFWO)

1990-1994 Research Associate “National Fund for Scientific Research of Belgium” (Aangesteld

Navorser, NFWO)

1993-1995 Lecturer in "Master & Ph.D. Program in Medical and Pharmaceutical Research", Free

University of Brussels

1993-1996 Member of the Bureau of the Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Biology,

Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven

1994-1998 Associate Professor (Hoofddocent), Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven,

Belgium

1994-1996 Adjunct Staff, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA

1995-1997 Visiting Professor, Free University of Brussels

1996-2008 Adjunct-Director, Center Transgene Technology & Gene Therapy, Flanders

Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, University of Leuven, Belgium.

1996-present Ph.D. thesis committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium

1996-1997 Student-Researcher committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium

1998-2000 Professor (Hoogleraar), Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium

1999-present Professor, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

2000-present Full Professor (Gewoon Hoogleraar), Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven,

Belgium

2004-present Visiting Professor, Darthmouth University, NH, USA

2008-present Director, Vesalius Research Center, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, VIB

RESEARCH TOPICS

Using genetic and gene-manipulation technologies in mice, zebrafish, Xenopus and humans

angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in health and disease

neurodegeneration; in particular the role of VEGF in motor neuron degeneration

(ALS)

neurovascular link and oxygen sensing



17


Paulo Gontijo Prize, Instituto Paulo Gontijo, Sao Paulo (Brazil) 2009

Francqui Leerstoel, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels (Belgium) 2008

Francqui Leerstoel, University of Brussels (Belgium) 2007

Francqui Leerstoel, University of Liege (Belgium) 2006

Lucian Award for research in Circulatory Disease, McGill University, 2007

Presidential Special Lecture, Society of Neuroscience Annual meeting, Atlanta (USA) 2006

Feodor Lynen Lecture, Nature Biotechnology Winter Symposium, Miami (USA) 2006

Interbrew-Baillet Latour Prize (Belgium) 2005 (jointly with Désiré Collen)

Liliane Bettencourt Life Sciences Award, 2002

Francqui Prize, Belgian Academy Medicine (Belgium) 2002


1. Mazzone M., Dettori D, Leite de Oliveira R., Loges S., Schmidt T., Jonckx B., Tian Y., Lanahan

A.A., Pollard P., Ruiz de Almodovar C., De Smet F., Vinckier S., Aragones J., Luttun A., Wyns S.,

Jordan B., Pisacane A., Gallez B., Lampugnani M.G., Dejana E., Simons M., Ratcliffe P.,

Maxwell P. and Carmeliet P. (2009) Heterozygous deficiency of PHD2 restores tumor

oxygenation and inhibits metastasis via endothelial normalization. Cell 136(5): 839-51.

2. Aragones J., Schneider M., Van Geyte K., Fraisl P., Dresselaers T., Mazzone M., Dirkx R.,

Zacchigna S., Lemieux H., Jeoung N.H., Lambrechts D., Bishop T., Lafuste P., Diez-Juan A.,

Harten S. K., Van Noten P., De Bock K., Willam C., Tjwa M., Grosfeld A., Navet R., Moons L.,

Vandendriessche T., Deroose C., Wijeyekoon B., Nuyts J., Jordan B., Silasi-Mansat R., Lupu F.,

Dewerchin M., Pugh C., Salmon P., Mortelmans L., Gallez B., Gorus F., Buyse J., Sluse F.,

Harris R.A., Gnaiger E., Hespel P., Van Hecke P., Schuit F., Van Veldhoven P., Ratcliffe P., Baes

M., Maxwell P. and Carmeliet P. (2008) Deficiency or inhibition of oxygen sensor Phd1

induces hypoxia tolerance by reprogramming basal metabolism. Nature Genetics 40(2): 170-

80.

3. Fischer C., Jonckx B., Mazzone M., Zacchigna S., Loges S., Pattarini L., Chorianopoulos E.,

Liesenborghs L., Koch M., De Mol M., Autiero M., Wyns S., Plaisance S., Moons L., van

Rooijen N., Giacca M., Stassen J.M., Dewerchin M., Collen D. and Carmeliet P. (2007) Anti-

PlGF inhibits growth of VEGF(R)-Inhibitor-Resistant tumors without affecting healthy vessels.

Cell 131(3): 463-75.

4. Ny A., Koch M., Schneider M., Neven E., Tong R.T., Maity S., Fischer C., Plaisance S.,

Lambrechts D., Heligon C., Terclavers S., Ciesiolka M., Kalin R., Man W.Y., Senn I., Wyns S.,

Lupu F., Brandli A., Vleminckx K., Collen D., Dewerchin M., Conway E.M., Moons L., Jain R.K.

and Carmeliet P. (2005) A genetic Xenopus laevis tadpole model to study lymphangiogenesis.

Nature Medicine 11: 998-1004.

5. Storkebaum E., Lambrechts D., Dewerchin M., Moreno-Murciano M.P., Appelmans S., Oh H.,

Van Damme P., Rutten B., Man W.Y., De Mol M., Wyns S., Manka D., Vermeulen K., Van Den

Bosch L., Mertens N., Schmitz C., Robberecht W., Conway E.M., Collen D., Moons L. and

Carmeliet P. (2005) Treatment of motoneuron degeneration by intracerebro-ventricular

delivery of VEGF in a rat model of ALS. Nature Neuroscience 8: 85-92.


18

RUDI D’HOOGE, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory of Biological Psychology

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Tiensestraat 102

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 32 61 42



1988 Master’s Degree in Biotechnology, Antwerp University [Licentiaat in de Dierkunde –

Biotechnologie, UIA]

1990 Master’s Degree in Experimental Psychology, Brussels University [Licentiaat in de

Psychologie, Optie Experimentele Psychologie, VUB]

1994 Ph.D., Doctor in Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp University

1996-2003 Assistant professor & senior researcher at Born-Bunge Foundation

2002 Ph.D., Doctor in Psychology, Brussels University (VUB)

2003-present Head of Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Dept. Psychology, K.U.Leuven

2003-2007 Professor, Dept. Psychology, K.U.Leuven

2007-present Full professor, Dept. Psychology, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Mechanisms of neural and behavioural plasticity; learning and memory

Biopsychological mechanisms of brain and behavioural disorders

Preclinical studies on pathophysiology & treatment of neurocognitive disorders (including

metabolic brain disease, neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, etc.)

Behavioural assessment and brain activity recording techniques in rodent models


Postdoctoral fellowship funded by Research Fund FWO-Vlaanderen at UA Association Health

Science Dept., University of Antwerp (Belgium) 1997-2003

Ph.D. studentship funded by Flemish research fund IWONL/IWT atUA Association Health

Science Dept., University of Antwerp (Belgium) 1992-1995



19


1. Vervoort R., Ceulemans H., Van Aerschot L., D'Hooge R. and David G. (2010) Genetic

modification of the inner ear lateral semicircular canal phenotype of the Bmp4 haplo-

insufficient mouse. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 394: 780-785.

2. Glyvuk N., Tsytsyura Y., Geumann C., D'Hooge R., Hüve J., Kratzke M., Baltes J., Böning D.,

Klingauf J. and Schu P. (2010) AP-1/σ1B-adaptin mediates endosomal synaptic vesicle

recycling, learning and memory. EMBO Journal 29: 1318-1330.

3. Woolley D.G., Vermaercke B., Op de Beeck H., Wagemans J., Gantois I., D'Hooge R., Swinnen

S.P. and Wenderoth N. (2010) Sex differences in human virtual water maze performance:

Novel measures reveal the relative contribution of directional responding and spatial

knowledge. Behavioural Brain Research 208: 408-414.

4. Coremans V., Ahmed T., Balschun D., D’Hooge R., De Vriese A., Cremer J., Antonucci F.,

Moons M., Baekelandt V., Reumers V., Cremer H., Eisch A., Lagace D., Janssens T., Bozzi Y.,

Caleo M. and Conway E. (2010) Impaired neurogenesis, learning and memory and low seizure

threshold associated with loss of neural precursor cell survivin. BMC Neuroscience 11: 2.

5. Balschun D., Moechars D., Callaerts-Vegh Z., Vermaercke B., Van Acker N., Andries L. and

D’Hooge R. (2010) Vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT1 has a role in hippocampal long-

term potentiation and spatial reversal learning. Cerebral Cortex 20: 684-693.

6. Leo S., D'Hooge R. andMeert T. (2010) Exploring the role of nociceptor-specific sodium

channels in pain transmission using Na(v)1.8 and Na(v)1.9 knockout mice. Behavioural Brain

Research 208: 149-157.

7. Kalus I., Salmen B., Viebahn C., von Figura K., Schmitz D., D'Hooge R. and Dierks T. (2009)

Differential involvement of the extracellular 6-O-endosulfatases Sulf1 and Sulf2 in brain

development, and neuronal and behavioral plasticity. Journal of Cellular and Molecular

Medicine 13: 4505-4521.

8. Leo S., Moechars D., Callaerts-Vegh Z., D’Hooge R. and Meert T. (2009) Impairment of

VGLUT2 but not VGLUT1 signaling reduces neuropathy-induced hypersensitivity. European

Journal of Pain 13: 1008-1017.

9. Van Calsteren K., Hartmann D., Van Aerschot L., Verbesselt R., Van Bree R., D’Hooge R. and

Amant F. (2009) Vinblastine and doxorubicin administration to pregnant mice affects brain

development and behaviour in the offspring. Neurotoxicology 30: 647-657.

10. Kerkhof I., Goesaert E., Dirikx T., Vansteenwegen D., Baeyens F., D’Hooge R. and Hermans D.

(2009) Assessing valence indirectly and online. Cognition & Emotion 23: 1615-1629.

11. Leroy T., Stroobants S., Aerts J.-M., D’Hooge R. and Berckmans D. (2009) Automatic analysis

of altered gait in arylsulfatase A-deficient mice in the open field. Behavior Research Methods

41: 787-794.

12. Matzner U., Lüllmann-Rauch R., Stroobants S., Andersson C., Weigelt C., Eistrup C., Fogh J.,

D’Hooge R. and Gieselmann V. (2009) Enzyme replacement improves ataxic gait and central

nervous system histopathology in a mouse model of metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Molecular Therapy 17: 600-606.

13. Bollen B., Bouslama M., Matrot B., Rotrou Y., Vardon G., Lofaso F., Van den Bergh O.,

D’Hooge R. and Gallego J. (2009) Cold stimulates the behavioral response to hypoxia in

newborn mice. American Journal of Physiology (Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative

Physiology) 296: R1503-1511.


20

14. Serneels L., Van Biervliet J., Craessaerts K., Dejaegere T., Horré K., Van Houtvin T., Esselmann

H., Paul S., Schäfer M.K., Berezovska O., Hyman B.T., Sprangers B., Sciot R., Moons L., Jucker

M., Yang Z., May P.C., Karran E., Wiltfang J., D’Hooge R. and De Strooper B. (2009) γ-

Secretase heterogeneity in the Aph1 subunit: relevance for Alzheimer’s Disease. Science 324:

639-642.

15. Goddyn H., Callaerts-Vegh Z., Stroobants S., Dirikx T., Vansteenwegen D., Hermans D., van

der Putten H. and D'Hooge R. (2008) Deficits in acquisition and extinction of conditioned

responses in mGluR7 knockout mice. Neurobiology of Learning & Memory 90: 103-111.

16. Callaerts-Vegh Z., Beckers T., Ball S.M., Baeyens F., Callaerts P.F., Cryan J.F., Molnar E. and

D’Hooge R. (2006) Concomitant deficits in working memory and fear extinction are

functionally dissociated from reduced anxiety in mGluR7-deficient mice. Journal of

Neurosciences 26: 6573-6582.

17. D’Hooge R., Lüllmann-Rauch R., Beckers T., Balschun D., Schwake M., Reiss K. and Saftig P.

(2005) Neurocognitive and psychotiform behavioral alterations and enhanced hippocampal

long-term potentiation in transgenic mice displaying neuropathological features of human

alpha-mannosidosis. Journal of Neurosciences 25: 6539-6549.


21

PETER JANSSEN, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Division Neurophysiology

O&N II Herestraat 49, bus 1021

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 57 45

Fax: +32 16 34 59 93


Website: www.neuroserv.kuleuven.be


1996 Master in Medicine, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1996 Master in Psychology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2000 PhD in Medical Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2001-2003 postdoctoral researcher, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

RESEARCH TOPICS

The representation of objects in the dorsal visual stream

The neural basis of perceptual judgments on 3D shape from disparity

Functional interactions between premotor and parietal cortex during visually-guided

grasping

The premotor cortex in monkeys and humans

Spatial attention and the planning of eye movements

The relation between haemodynamic responses and neural responses studied with fMRI and

single-cell recordings

Amygdala kindling as a model for temporal lobe epilepsy

RESEARCH AREAS

We live in a three-dimensional (3D) world. In everyday life, we continuously interact with objects in

an effortless way: we scrutinize the world with our eye movements; we recognize, grasp and

manipulate objects skillfully and at a remarkable speed. My research focuses on the neural basis of

3D object vision. The areas involved in the visual analysis of 3D objects for recognition and actions

are located in the parietal, premotor and inferotemporal cortex. To elucidate the underlying neural

mechanisms we employ an integrated approach, in which single-cell recordings, electrical

microstimulation, reversible inactivation and fMRI are combined. In this way we achieve high spatial

and temporal resolution (the responses of single neurons recorded on a timescale of milliseconds), a

general overview of the brain areas activated by 3D stimuli (fMRI) and causal techniques to study the

relation between neural activity and behavior (microstimulation and inactivation) . We use the only

animal model that is relevant to study these high-level cognitive processes: the macaque monkey.


http://www.neuroserv.kuleuven.be/


22

When possible, studies on human patients provide invaluable information that can be compared with

the data acquired in the monkey.

More recently, we started to investigate the neural basis of temporal lobe epilepsy using an

amygdala kindling model in the macaque monkey. With this model we can carefully study the

process of epileptogenesis in a longitudinal way using PET and MR imaging combined with single-cell

and local field potential recordings.


Award of the Research Council of the K.U.Leuven for Biomedical Sciences (Belgium) 2001

Honorary fellowship of the Belgian-American Educational Foundation, 2001

Career Development Award of the Human Frontiers Science Program, 2005


1. Verhoef B.-E., Vogels R. and Janssen, P. (2010) The contribution of inferior temporal and

posterior parietal activity to three-dimensional shape perception. Current Biology 20: 909-

913.

2. Srivastava S., Orban G. A., De Maziere P. and Janssen P. (2009) A distinct representation of three-

dimensional shape in macaque anterior intraparietal area: fast, metric and coarse. Journal of

Neuroscience 29: 10613-10626.

3. Janssen P., Srivastava S., Ombelet S. and Orban G.A. (2008) Coding of shape and position in

macaque lateral intraparietal area. Journal of Neuroscience 28: 6679-6690.

4. Janssen P. and Shadlen M. N. (2005) A representation of the hazard rate of elapsed time in

macaque area LIP. Nature Neuroscience 8: 234-241.

5. Janssen P., Vogels R., Liu Y. and Orban G. A. (2003) At least in inferior temporal cortex the

stereo correspondence problem is solved. Neuron 37: 693-701.

6. Janssen P., Vogels R. and Orban G. A. (2000a) Selectivity for three-dimensional shape that

reveals distinct areas in macaque inferior temporal cortex. Science 288: 2054-2056.

7. Janssen P., Vogels R. and Orban G. A. (2000b) Three-dimensional shape coding in inferior

temporal cortex. Neuron 27: 385-397.


23

STEFAN SUNAERT, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Dept. of Radiology – Medical Imaging Research Center

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 37 71

Fax: +32 16 34 37 65


Website: http://mic.uzleuven.be


1995 Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

2001 Doctor in the Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

2002 Radiology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Magnetic resonance imaging

MR imaging

Analysis of neuroanatomic and neurofunctional substrates in autism

Structural and functional imaging in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

Functional and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

RESEARCH AREAS

The main research topic is the study of the functional and structural organization of the normal and

pathological human brain by the combination of functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging.

The current research topics are structured along three lines:

1/ Investment and research in large imaging infrastructure (MRI at 1.5 and 3T; EEG).

2/ Promotorship of PhD students:

S. Kovacs on the topic “The use of fMRI and DTI for the non-invasive characterization and

treatment of non-pulsatile tinnitus”

C. Sage on the topic “fMRI and DTI of the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”

J. Verhoeven on the topic “Imaging of the neuro-anatomical and neuro-functional subtrates

of autism”

S. Deprez on the topic “MRI of the cognitive dysfunction in patients with adjuvant

chemotherapy”


http://mic.uzleuven.be/


24

3/ Involvement in other projects, including:

Structural and functional imaging in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

Endophenotyping of the autism spectrum disorder: neurocognition and brain imaging.

Cortical mechanisms of attentional shift towards visual objects: combined EEG-FMRI studies.

Dyslexia as an auditory temporal information disorder

Structural plasticity of the adult brain.

Integration of EEG and fMRI

The contribution of cortical areas in higher order sensorimotor control as determined by

fMRI

Impact of new treatment strategies on the long-term morbidity of the neonate-at-risk

Sensory functions in cerebral palsy.

Structure and function of the cerebral cortex in the human and non-human primate

3T MRI for the non-invasive anatomical and functional imaging of large animals


Winner of the Horlait-Dapsens Medical Scholarship, 2001

Nomination of Excellence for the Sixth Lucien Appel Prize for Neuroradiology, 2002

Winner of the ECR 2004 Research & Education Fund, 2004

1st prize of the Best Scientific Paper Awards 2006 within the topic "Neuro" during the 18th

European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2006, Vienna (Austria) 2006

Course Director of the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology

(ESMRMB) – School of MRI on clinical fMRI, 2007

Winner of the Outstanding Teaching Award of the International Society for Magnetic

Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), 2008

Section Editor of the journal Neuroradiology, 2008

Member of the Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC) of the 17th Scientific Meeting &

Exhibition of the international society of magnetic resonance imaging in medicine (ISMRM),

2009

Member of the Postgraduate Educational Programme (PEP) of the European Congress of

Radiology 2010 (European Society for Radiology), 2010

Chair of the Scientific Program Committee of the European Society for Magnetic Resonance

in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB) congress in 2012, 2010


1. Sage C. A., Van Hecke W., Peeters R., Sijbers J., Robberecht W., Parizel P., Marchal G.,

Leemans A. and Sunaert S. (2009) Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging in amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis: Revisited. Human Brain Mapping 30(11): 3657-3675.

2. Sage C.A., Peeters R., Görner A., Robberecht W. and Sunaert S. (2007) Quantitative diffusion

tensor imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NeuroImage 2: 486-499.


25

3. Thomas B., Eyssen M., Peeters R., Molenaers G., Van Hecke P., De Cock P. and Sunaert S.

(2005) Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging in cerebral palsy due to periventricular white

matter injury. Brain 11: 2562-2577.

4. Vanduffel W., Fize D., Peuskens H., Denys K., Sunaert S., Todd J.T. and Orban G. (2002)

Extracting 3D from motion: differences in human and monkey intraparietal cortex. Science

5592: 413-5.

5. Sunaert S., Van Hecke P., Marchal G. and Orban G. (1999) Motion-responsive regions of the

human brain. Experimental brain research 4: 355-70.


26

KOEN VAN LAERE, M.D., PH.D., D.SC.

Contact address:

Division of Nuclear Medicine

E901, Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 37 13

Fax: +32 16 34 37 59


Website: www.kuleuven.be/nucmed


1987 Licence (M.Sc.) physics, Ghent University, Belgium

1992 Ph.D. in radiation physics, Ghent University, Belgium

1997 Medical doctor, Ghent University, Belgium

2001 Ph.D. in Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium

2002 Board Certified Specialist in Nuclear Medicine

2007 Full professor faculty of Medicine

RESEARCH TOPICS

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging in primary and secondary neurodegeneration,

especially focused on protein and neuroreceptor imaging

PET Imaging for CNS drug development

RESEARCH AREAS

1. Development and evaluation of new fluorine-18 labeled tracer agents for study of amyloid and

tau pathology in human brain and for therapy follow-up of disease modifying drugs in

Alzheimer’s disease, other dementing disorders, amyloid angiopathy and old age depression

(collab Prof. R. Vandenberghe, Prof. M. Vandenbulcke, Prof. V. Thijs).

2. Development and evaluation of tracers for study of endocannabinoid related pathology in the

human brain (Prof. D. Lambert (UCL), Prof. J. van Os (Maastricht), Prof. M. Leweke (MPI Cologne,

Mannheim, Prof. W.Vandenberghe, Prof.M.Vandenbulcke). We have established an intensive

(pre)clinical endocannabinoid imaging research team and the established first successful clinical

imaging of both CB1 receptors (collab. with Merck, USA) and CB2 receptors, which are

investigated in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

3. Validation of animal models for neurodegenerative disorders enabling biomarker development

and stem cell therapy (collab. Prof. V. Baekelandt, Prof. O. Riess (U. Tubingen), Prof. C.Verfaillie):

Objective preclinical molecular neuroimaging data will be used to validate these animal models

and surpass the limitations of the currently used behavioural tests. New imaging strategies for

stem cell therapy are being developed and validated.

http://www.kuleuven.be/nucmed


27

4. Development and evaluation of tracer agents for study of dopamine (DA) related pathology in

the human brain [dopamine transporters, D2/D3 receptors, dopamine release; collab. Prof. S.

Claes, Prof. J. van Os (U. Maastricht)], e.g. in movement disorders and psychiatric disorders

(depression, psychosis).

5. Development of an optimized CNS image reconstruction and processing pipeline applicable to

quantitative CNS studies from rodent to man: The research goal is to improve the image quality

and quantification in PET and SPECT using complementary multimodal sources, in particular MRI,

for improved reconstruction, partial volume correction and automated sensitive voxelwise

analysis.

6. Development and clinical application of novel tracers for in vivo quantification in

neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. phosphodiesterase type 10A in movement disorders, histamine

H3 receptor, …).


First Prize "Specia" Faculty of Medicine Ghent University, for exceptional study efforts, 1997

Second prize Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) "Best Basic Science Investigation of the year

2000", 2001

"Van Vaerenbergh - De Visscher" award, Belgian Society for Nuclear Medicine, 2002

Alavi-Mandell award in Nuclear Medicine, Society for Nuclear Medicine (USA) 2002

Scientific Prize Pfizer for best PhD dissertation in medical sciences 2002, Ghent University

(Belgium) 2002


1. Vandenberghe R., Van Laere K., Ivanoiu A., Salmon A., Salmon E., Bastin C., Triau E.,

Hasselbalch S., Law I., Andersen A., Korner A., Minthon L., Garraux G., Nelissen N., Bormans

G., Bucley C., Owenius R., Thurfjell L., Farrar G. and Brooks D.J. (2010) 18F-flutemetamol

amyloid imaging in Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment: a phase 2 trial. Annals

of Neurology 68(3): 319-329.

2. Van Laere K., Cleerinckx K., Dhont E., de Groot T. and Vandenberghe W. (2010) Combined

striatal binding and cerebral influx analysis of dynamic 11C-Raclopride PET improves early

differentiation between multiple-system atrophy and Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Nuclear

Medicine 51(4): 588-595.

3. Burns D., Van Laere K., Sanabria-Bohórquez S., Hamill T., Bormans G., Wai-Si E., Gibson R.,

Ryan C., Conolly B., Vanko A., Patel S., Krause S., Van Hecken A., Dupont P., De Lepeleire I.,

Rothenberg P., Stoch S., Cote J., Hagmann W., Jewell J., Lin L., Liu P., Goulet M., Gottesdiener

K., Wagner J., de Hoon J., Mortelmans L., Fong T. and Hargreaves R. (2007) [18F]MK-9470, a

positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for in vivo human PET brain imaging of the

Cannabinoid-type 1 receptor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA

104(23): 9800-9805.


28

RIK VANDENBERGHE, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Neurology

University Hospital Leuven

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 42 80

Fax: +32 16 34 42 85


Website: http://med.kuleuven.be/lcn/

http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/


1991 Degree of Medical Doctor, Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1993-1997 Research fellow of the National Fund for Scientific Research (N.F.W.O.), Laboratorium

voor Neuro- en Psychofysiologie (director: Professor Dr. G.A. Orban), Faculty of

Medicine, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1995-1997 Research Fellow, Functional Imaging Laboratory, Wellcome Department of Cognitive

Neurology (director: Professor Dr. R.S.J. Frackowiak), Institute of Neurology, Queen

Square, London, United Kingdom

1997 Ph.D. degree, "The Anatomy of Visual Cognition Measured with Positron Emission

Tomography", advisor Professor Dr. G.A. Orban, Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven,

Belgium

1997-1999 Affiliated Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United

Kingdom

1999-present Registered as Specialist in Neurology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1999-2000 Human Frontiers Long-term Fellowship, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease

Center (director: Professor Dr. M.M. Mesulam), Northwestern University Medical

School, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

2000-present Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Functional neuroanatomy of language and spatial attention

Clinical research in cortical neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer, Frontotemporal

degeneration)

RESEARCH AREAS

Rik Vandenberghe is director of the memory clinic of the University Hospitals Leuven and, since 2005,

head of the newly founded Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, K.U.Leuven. The memory clinic of the


http://med.kuleuven.be/lcn/

http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/


29

University Hospitals Leuven is part of the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium (EADC) and

provides early diagnosis, treatment and care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and

frontotemporal degeneration across the disease spectrum with a special interest in early-onset

dementia as well as atypical variants (primary progressive aphasia, posterior cortical atrophy). The

memory clinic also actively contributes to biomarker and clinical drug development (phase 1, 2, and

3), both investigator-driven and through collaboration with industrial partners. The Laboratory for

Cognitive Neurology is part of a K.U.Leuven Centre of Excellence and combines cognitive research in

cognitively intact volunteers with studies in patients with cortical neurodegenerative disease and

focal cortical stroke using different methodologies from behavioral assessment over functional

magnetic resonance imaging to molecular imaging. The two primary aims are to define the

organization of brain circuits for language and spatial attention in the intact brain and the underlying

pathophysiological mechanisms leading to clinical dysfunction (http://med.kuleuven.be/lcn/).


Inbev-Baillet Latour Clinical Research Prize, 2007

Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation UCB scientific award for neuroscience (Belgium) 2008


1. Vandenberghe R., Van Laere K., Ivanoiu A., Salmon E., Bastin C., Triau E., Hasselbalch S., Law

I., Andersen A., Korner A., Minthon L., Garraux G., Nelissen N., Bormans G., Buckley C.,

Owenius R., Thurfjell L., Farrar G. and Brooks D.J. (2010) 18F-flutemetamol amyloid imaging

in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a phase 2 trial. Annals of Neurology

68: 319-329.

2. Nelissen N., Pazzaglia M., Vandenbulcke M., Sunaert S., Fannes K., Dupont P., Aglioti S.M.,

Vandenberghe R. (2010) Gesture discrimination in primary progressive aphasia: the

intersection between gesture and language processing pathways. Journal of Neurosciences

30: 6334-6341.

3. Nelissen N., Van Laere K., Thurfjell L., Owenius R., Vandenbulcke M., Koole M., Bormans G.,

Brooks D.J. and Vandenberghe R. (2009) Phase I study of the PIB derivative 18F-flutemetamol

in healthy volunteers and patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Nuclear

Medicine 50: 1251-1259.

4. Molenberghs P., Peeters R. and Vandenberghe R. (2008) Convergence between lesion-

symptom mapping and fMRI of spatially selective attention in the intact brain. Journal of

Neurosciences 28: 3359-3373.

5. Nelissen N., Vandenbulcke M., Fannes K., Verbruggen A., Peeters R., Dupont P., Van Laere K.,

Bormans G. and Vandenberghe R. (2007) Abeta amyloid deposition in the language system

and how the brain responds. Brain 130: 2055-2069.

6. Molenberghs P., Mesulam M.M., Peeters R. and Vandenberghe R. (2007) Remapping

attentional priorities: Differential contribution of superior parietal lobule and intraparietal

sulcus. Cerebral Cortex 17: 2703-2712.


30

7. Vandenbulcke M., Peeters R., Fannes K. and Vandenberghe R. (2006) Knowledge of visual

attributes in the right hemisphere. Nature Neuroscience 9: 964-970.

8. Vandenbulcke M., Peeters R., Dupont P., Van Hecke P. and Vandenberghe R. (2007) Word

reading and posterior temporal dysfunction in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Cerebral

Cortex 17: 542-551.

9. Theuns J., Marjaux E., Vandenbulcke M., Van Laere K., Kumar-Singh S., Bormans G., Van den

Broeck M., Vennekens K., Corsmit E., De Strooper B., Van Broeckhoven C. and Vandenberghe

R. (2006) Alzheimer dementia caused by a novel mutation located in the APP C-terminal

intracytosolic fragment. Human Mutation 27: 888-896.

10. Cruts M., Gijselinck I., van der Zee J., Engelborghs S., Wils H., Pirici D., Rademakers R.,

Vandenberghe R., Dermaut B., Martin J.J., van Duijn C., Peeters K., Sciot R., Santens P., De

Pooter T., Mattheijssens M., Van den Broeck M., Cuijt I., Vennekens K., De Deyn P.P., Kumar-

Singh S., Van Broeckhoven C. (2006) Null mutations in progranulin cause ubiquitin-positive

frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17q21. Nature 442: 920-924.

11. Vandenbulcke M., Peeters R., Van Hecke P. and Vandenberghe R. (2005) Anterior temporal

laterality in primary progressive aphasia shifts to the right. Annals of Neurology 58: 362-370.

12. Vandenberghe R., Geeraerts S., Molenberghs P., Lafosse C., Vandenbulcke M., Peeters K.,

Peeters M., Van Hecke P. and Orban G.A. (2005) Attentional responses to un-attended

stimuli in human parietal cortex, Brain 128: 2843-2857.

13. Vandenberghe R., Vandenbulcke M., Weintraub S., Johnson N., Porke K., Thompson C.K. and

Mesulam M. (2005) Paradoxical features of word finding difficulty in primary progressive

aphasia. Annals of Neurology 57: 204-209.

14. Vandenberghe R., Nobre A.C. and Price C.J. (2002) The response of left temporal cortex to

sentences. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 14: 550-560.

15. Vandenberghe R., Gitelman D.R., Parrish T.B. and Mesulam M.M. (2001) Functional

specificity of superior parietal mediation of spatial shifting. NeuroImage 14: 661-673.

16. Mummery C.J., Patterson K., Wise R., Vandenberghe R., Price C.J. and Hodges J. (1999)

Disrupted temporal lobe connections in semantic dementia. Brain 122: 61-73.

17. Vandenberghe R., Duncan J., Dupont P., Ward R., Poline J.B., Bormans G., Michiels J.,

Mortelmans L. and Orban G.A. (1997) Attention to one or two features in left or right visual

field: a PET study. The Journal of Neuroscience 17: 3739-3750.

18. Vandenberghe R., Price C., Wise R., Josephs O. and Frackowiak R.S.J. (1996) Functional

anatomy of a common semantic system for words and pictures. Nature 383: 254-256.


31

PATRIK VERSTREKEN, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory of Neuronal Communication

O&N3, Herestraat 49 bus 602

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 00 18

Fax: +32 16 34 71 90


Website: http://verstreken.vib.be/


2003 Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

1998 Bio-Engineering - cell and gene technology (Engineering degree & Masters in

Science), University of Brussels (V.U.B.), Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission

Molecular and genetic studies of Parkinson’s disease

RESEARCH AREAS

We study neuronal communication in health and disease, by combining fruit fly genetics and

molecular biology with electrophysiological measurements of synaptic transmission and an array of

imaging strategies involving fluorescent markers and EM. Neurons in circuits communicate by

releasing transmitters from vesicles and to maintain communication, neurons depend on

evolutionary conserved mechanisms that ensure a continuous supply of synaptic vesicles to release

sites; these include endocytosis, vesicle mobilization and trafficking, calcium signalling, etc. Our long

term goal is to understand these molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication using

morphological and functional assays. The central importance of neuronal communication in the brain

is underscored by numerous psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease,

epilepsy and addiction arising from defects in neuronal function. Hence, our studies will not only help

elucidate mechanisms of normal but also of pathological brain function.

Our strategy is to use genome-wide genetic screens to identify components affecting synaptic

function to subsequently analyze the function of these genes in detail at live synapses. A prominent

set of genes we identified are either directly involved in Parkinson’s disease or modulate phenotypes

linked to Parkinson related genes. We are now studying these genes in detail at the synapse not only

allowing us to gain insight into the ethiology of the neurological disease but also allowing us to gain

further insight into the mechanisms and concepts of synaptic function.


http://verstreken.vib.be/


32


ERC Starting Grant recipient, 2010

Francqui Docent recipient, 2009

Marie Curie Excellence Grant recipient, 2007

Finalist European Young Investigator award, 2006

1st place Baylor College of Medicine Department of Molecular and Human Genetics

publication/achievement award, 2005

1st place Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society dissertation award, 2004

Runner up 17th Larry Sandler Memorial Lecture, 45th Drosophila Research Conference, 2004

Post-doctoral fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) and Fellow of

the Brussels Hoover Foundation, 2003

1st place Beckmann Coulter Best platform presentation award, 2002


1. Khong T.M., Habets R.L.P., Slabbaert J. and Verstreken P. (2010) Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome

Protein is activated by PI(4,5)P2 to restrict neuromuscular junction growth in a pathway

parallel to BMP signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107: 17379-

17384.

2. Verstreken P., Ohyama T., Haueter C., Habets R.L.P., Lin Y.Q., Swan L.E., Ly C.V., Venken K.J.,

De Camilli P. and Bellen H.J. (2009) Tweek, an evolutionarily conserved protein, is required

for synaptic vesicle recycling. Neuron 63: 203-215.

3. Choi C.M., Vilain S., Van Kelst S., Langen M., De Geest N., Yan J., Verstreken P. and Hassan

B.A. (2009) Conditional mutagenesis in Drosophila. Science 324: 54.

4. Morais V.A., Verstreken P., Röthig A., Smet J., Snellinx A., Haddad D.M., Mandemakers W.,

Van Coster R., Wurst W., Scorrano L. and De Strooper B. (2009) Parkinson’s disease

mutations in PINK1 affect Complex I activity in mitochondria. EMBO Molecular Medicine 1:

99-101.

5. Kasprowicz J., Kuenen S., Habets R., Miskiewicz K., Smitz L. and Verstreken P. (2008)

Inactivation of clathrin heavy chain inhibits synaptic recycling but allows bulk membrane

uptake. Journal of Cell Biology 182: 1007-1016.

6. Romero E., Cha G.H., Verstreken P., Ly C.V., Hughes R.E., Bellen H.J. and Botas J. (2008)

Suppression of neurodegeneration and increased neurotransmission caused by expanded

full-length huntingtin accumulating in the cytoplasm. Neuron 57: 27-40.

7. Verstreken P., Ly C.V., Venken K.J.T., Koh T.W., Zhou Y. and Bellen H.J. (2005) Synaptic

mitochondria are critical for mobilization of the reserve pool vesicles at the Drosophila

neuromuscular junction. Neuron 47: 365-378.

8. Verstreken P., Kjaerulff O., Lloyd T.E., Atkinson R., Zhou Y., Meinertzhagen I.A. and Bellen H.J.

(2002) Endophilin mutations block clathrin-mediated endocytosis but not neurotransmitter

release. Cell 109: 101-112.


33

MEMBERS

WIM ANNAERT, PH.D.

Contact address:

Center of Human Genetics

Laboratory of Membrane Trafficking

O&N1, Herestraat 49 – bus 602

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 05 20

Fax: +32 16 33 05 22



1993 PhD in Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Univ. Antwerp

1994‐1996 Postdoc Yale University, HHMI, (BAEF/Collen‐fellow/NIH), USA

1997‐2002 FWO‐Postdoc Researcher, K.U.Leuven, Center for Human Genetics

2000‐present ZAP (10%) Independent Researcher, K.U.Leuven, Center for Human Genetics

2001‐present Group leader, VIB

2002‐present Professor BOF‐ZAP, K.U.Leuven, Center for Human Genetics

2007‐present Associate Director of the Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, VIB

2008‐present Full professor, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Mechanisms of γ‐secretase sorting

Quality control of γ‐secretase assembly

γ‐Secretase independent functions

RESEARCH AREAS

Research of the Annaert lab is focused on the subcellular localization and regulatory sorting

mechanisms of key proteins involved in human neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease) and

developmental disorders that include neurological abnormalities (congenital disorders of

glycosylation (CDG), monosomy 1p36). Specifically, we are interested in the γ‐secretase complex, a

key enzyme involved in Alzheimer’s disease pathology, as well as proteins that regulate its assembly

or trafficking. By exploring the normal function of proteins that are affected in these diseases, we

aim to understand the early onsets leading to neurodegeneration and mental retardation. We make

use of a broad range of cell biological and biochemical approaches implementing advanced

technologies such as superresolution microscopy (PALM, PIMP) and subcellular ‘omics’ (using



34

superparamagnetic nanoparticles, SPMNPs). Research models comprise mouse embryonic

fibroblasts, primary hippocampal neurons and small animal models (zebrafish and Drosophila).


Two‐yearly Award “UPJOHN‐PHARMACIA”, 1997

Five‐yearly “Marie‐Thérèse De Lava”‐award, 2001

Antoine FAES prijs, 2004

Certificate of Honor awarded by SAO‐FRMA, 2009


1. Annaert W.G., Becker B., Kistner U., Reth M. and Jahn R. (1997) Export of cellubrevin from

the endoplasmic reticulum is controlled by BAP31. Journal of Cell Biology 139(6): 1397‐1410.

2. Annaert W.G., Levesque L., Craessaerts K., Dierinck I., Snellings G., Westaway D., St. George-

Hyslop P., Fraser P. and De Strooper B. (1999) Presenilin 1 controls γ‐secretase processing of

the amyloid precursor protein in pre‐Golgi compartments of hippocampal neurons. Journal

of Cell Biology 147(2): 277‐294.

3. Cupers P., Bentahir M., Craessaerts K., Orlans I., Vanderstichele H., Saftig P., De Strooper B.

and Annaert W. (2001) The discrepancy between presenilin subcellular localization and γ‐

secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein. Journal of Cell Biology 154(4): 731‐740.

4. Annaert W.G., Esselens C., Boeve C., Baert V., Snellings G., Cupers P., Craessaerts K. and De

Strooper B. (2001) Interaction with telencephalin and the amyloid precursor protein predicts

a ring structure for presenilins. Neuron 32: 579‐589.

5. Esselens C., Oorschot V., Baert V., Raemaekers T., Spittaels K., Serneels L., Zheng H., De

Strooper B., Klumperman J. and Annaert W. (2004) Presenilin 1 mediates the turnover of

telencephalin in hippocampal neurons via an autophagic degradative pathway. Journal of Cell

Biology 166(7): 1041‐54.

6. Foulquier F., Vasile E., Schollen E., Callewaert N., Raemaekers T., Quelhas D., Jaeken J., Mills

P., Winchester B., Krieger M., Annaert W., Matthijs G. (2006) COG1 deficiency: a new type of

Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation type II. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

(PNAS) USA 103(10): 3764‐9.

7. Spasic D., Tolia A., Dillen K., Baert V., De Strooper B., Vrijens S. and Annaert W. (2006)

Presenilin 1 maintains a nine transmembrane topology throughout the secretory pathway.

Journal of Biological Chemistry 281: 26569‐77.

8. Urra M.S., Escudero C., Ramos P., Lisbona F., Covarrubias P., Parraguez J., Zampieri N., Chao

M., Annaert W. and Bronfman F. (2007) Membrane bound carboxyterminal fragments of p75

neurotrophin receptor are generated by the activation of trkA and internalized to endosomes

for γ‐secretase mediated processing. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282(10): 7606‐15.

9. Spasic D., Raemaekers T., Dillen K., Declerck I., Baert V., Serneels L., Füllekrug J., Annaert W.

(2007) Rer1p competes with APH‐1 for binding to Nicastrin and regulates γ‐secretase

complex assembly in the early secretory pathway. Journal of Cell Biology 176(5): 629‐640.


35

10. Reynders E., Foulquier F., Leao Teles E., Quelhas D., Morell W., Rabouille C., Annaert W.G.

and Matthijs G. (2009) Golgi function and dysfunction in the first COG4‐deficient CDG type II

patient. Human Molecular Genetics 18(17): 3244‐56.


36

STEVEN BOONEN, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Leuven University Hospital Division of Geriatric Medicine

UZ Leuven campus Gasthuisberg

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 26 48 (direct line), +32 16 34 26 40 (medical

office), +32 16 34 48 24 (research office)



1987 M.D. degree, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven magna cum laude

1987-1992 Residency in internal medicine in Leuven

1992-1993 Specialization in clinical gerontology and geriatric medicine in London (prof. dr. A.

Young, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, University of London)

1993-present Medical staff member of the Leuven University Department of Internal Medicine

1998-present Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

2005-present Head of the Gerontology and Geriatrics Section of the Leuven University Department

of Experimental Medicine

2008-present Head of the Leuven University Hospital Division of Geriatric Medicine

1997-present Director of the Leuven University Hospital Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases

2000-present Senior Clinical Investigator of the National Fund for Scientific Research

RESEARCH TOPICS

The research program ‘age-related bone fragility and fracture risk’ of the Gerontology and Geriatrics

Section of the Leuven University Department of Experimental Medicine is best known for its central

role in a significant number of pivotal intervention studies in the field of age-associated osteoporosis.

Particular strengths of the program’s profile include: the innovative character of its research and its

major clinical consequences; the implementation of a truly translational approach, bringing research

advances to the area of medical practice; and the exceptionally broad spectrum of its research focus,

resulting in an extensive output, which now includes well over 250 PubMed-referenced papers.

RESEARCH AREAS

Dr. Boonen’s translational and clinical research activities focus on determinants of age-related frailty,

falls, and fracture risk and on strategies to prevent fracture and fracture-related complications.

Specific areas of expertise include osteoporosis in old age and innovative trial design. In recent years,

he has been intimately involved in the design and coordination of a number of multicenter clinical

trials of various pharmacological agents for the promotion of musculoskeletal integrity in patients

with osteoporosis, and has acted as a principal investigator in major multinational trials of new

therapeutic agents for osteoporosis. More recently, he has been involved in studies addressing

determinants and consequences of cognitive impairment in ageing men.


37


Gerontological Research Award from the Sandoz Foundation for Gerontological Research,

1996

Research Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research en the

International Bone and Mineral Society, 1998

Investigator Award from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, 2002

Research Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral, 2004

Research Award from the European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of

Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis, 2007

Clinical Science Research Award from the European League Against Rheumatism, 2008

Research Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2009


1. Lee D.M., Tajar A., Ulubaev A., Pendleton N., O’Neill T.W., O’Connor D.B., Bartfai G., Boonen

S., Bouillon R., Casanueva F.F., Finn J.D., Forti G., Giwercman A., Han T.S., Huhtaniemi I.T.,

Kula K., Lean M., Punab M., Silman A.J., Vanderschueren D. and Wu F. (in press) Association

between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older

European men. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

2. Tournoy J., Lee D.M., Pendleton N., O’Neill T.W., O’connor D.B., Bartfai G., Casanueva F.F.,

Finn J.D., Forti G., Giwercman A., Han T.S., Huhtaniemi I.T., Kula K., Lean M.E., Moseley C.M.,

Punab M., Silman A.J., Vanderschueren D., Wu F.C. and Boonen S. (2010) Association of

cognitive performance with the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older European

men: the European male ageing study. Diabetes and Metabolism Research and Review 26:

668-676.

3. Haentjens P., Magaziner J., Colón-Emeric C., Vanderschueren D., Milisen K., Velkeniers B. and

Boonen S. (2010) Excess mortality after hip fracture among older women and men. Annals of

Internal Medicine 152: 380-390.

4. Lee D.M., Tajar A., Ulubaev A., Pendleton N., O'Neill T.W., O'connor D.B., Bartfai G., Boonen

S., Casanueva F.F., Finn J.D., Forti G., Giwercman A., Han T.S., Huhtaniemi I.T., Kula K., Lean

M.E., Punab M., Silman A.J., Vanderschueren D. and Wu F.C. (2009) The association between

different cognitive domains and age in a multi-centre study of middle-aged and older

European men. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 24: 1257-1266.

5. Wardlaw D., Cummings S.R., Van Meirhaeghe J., Bastian L., Tillman J.B., Ranstam J., Eastell R.,

Shabe P., Talmadge K. and Boonen S. (2009) Efficacy and safety of balloon kyphoplasty

compared with non-surgical care for vertebral compression fracture: A randomised

controlled trial. Lancet 21: 1016-1024.

6. Lyles K., Colon-Emeric C., Magaziner J., Adachi J., Pieper C., Mautalen C., Hyldstrup L.,

Recknor C., Nordsletten L., Moore K., Lavecchia C., Zhang J., Mesenbrink P., Hodgson P.,

Abrams K., Orloff J., Horowitz Z., Eriksen E. and Boonen S. (2007) Zoledronic acid and clinical

fractures and mortality after hip fracture. New England Journal of Medicine 357: 1799-1809.


38

JAN DE LEPELEIRE, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Academic Centre for General Practice

Kapucijenvoer 33 blok J PB 7001

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 74 68

Fax: +32 3 454 32 00


Website: www.qualidem.be


1982 Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree at K.U.Leuven

2000 Ph.D. degree at K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Dementia

Organization of health care

Palliative care

Psychiatric Care

RESEARCH AREAS

Dementia

- In our research we are focusing on the diagnosis of important diseases like dementia and psychosis.

The process of early diagnosis in general practice being a low prevalence environment requires

special techniques.

- The need of care for dementia patients is another issue. We performed the Qualidem and Interface

study.

- A third topic is the care for carers of dementia and quality of life of dementia patients and their

carers.

Psychiatric Care

How to recognize early psychosis in primary care and the evaluation of new strategies for the

cooperation of care between primary and secondary care of early psychotic patients is a new topic of

our research. Also the epidemiology of psychosis is a new cornerstone.


http://www.qualidem.be/


39


1. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2010) Supporting family carers of

community-dwelling elder with cognitive decline: A randomized controlled trial. International

Journal of Family Medicine doi:10.1155/2010/184152.

2. De Lepeleire J., Beyen A., Burin M., Fabri R., Ghijsebrechts G., Lisaerde J., Temmerman B.,

Van Den Eynden B. and Van Den Noortgate N. (2010) Reflexions critiques à propos de

l'euthanasie de personnes atteintes de démence. RMLG. Revue médicale de Liège 65: 453-8.

3. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2010) Supporting the dementia family

caregiver: the effect of home care intervention on general well-being. Aging & Mental Health

14(1): 44-56.

4. Spinewine A., Foulon V., Claeys C., De Lepeleire J., Chevalier P., Desplenter F., De Winter S.,

Dumont C., Lacour V., Simoens S., Dubois C. and Paulus D. (2010) Continuïteit van de

medicamenteuze behandeling tussen ziekenhuis en thuis. Health Services Research (HSR).

Brussel: Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg (KCE) Report no KCE Rapporten

131 A.

5. De Lepeleire J., Iliffe S., Mann E. and Degryse J.M. (2009) Frailty: an emerging concept for

general practice. The Britisch Journal of General Practice 59(562): e177-e182.

6. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and Delepeleire J. (2009) What is the role of the general

practitioner towards the family caregiver of a community-dwelling demented relative? A

systematic literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 27(1): 31-40.

7. De Lepeleire J., Wind A.W., Iliffe S., Moniz-Cook E.D., Wilcock J., Gonzalez V.M., Derksen E.,

Gianelli M.V. and Vernooij-Dassen M. (2008) The primary care diagnosis of dementia in

Europe: an analysis using multidisciplinary, multinational expert groups. Aging & Mental

Health 12(5): 568-76.

8. De Lepeleire J., Beyen A., Burin M., Ceulemans L., Fabri R., Ghijsebrechts G., Lisaerde J.,

Temmerman B., Van den Eynden B. and Van de Noortgate N. (2008) Euthanasie bij personen

met dementie. Reflecties van artsen. Ethische Perspectieven 18(2): 175-81.

9. Vernooij-Dassen M., Moniz-Cook E., Woods B., De Lepeleire J., Leuchner A., Zanetti O., de

Rotrou J., Kenny G., Franco M., Peters V. and Iliffe S. (2005) Factors affecting timely

recognition and diagnosis of dementia across Europe: From awareness to stigma.

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 20(4): 377-86.

10. De Lepeleire J., Heyrman J., Baro F. and Buntinx F. (2005) A combination of tests for the

diagnosis of dementia has a significant diagnostic value. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

58(3): 217-25.

11. Iliffe S., De Lepeleire J., Van Hout H., Kenny G., Lewis A. and Vernooij-Dassen M. (2005)

Understanding obstacles to the recognition of and response to dementia in different

European countries: a modified focus group approach using multinational, multi-disciplinary

expert groups. Aging & Mental Health 9: 1-6.

12. De Lepeleire J., Iliffe S., Vernooij-Dassen M., Moniz-Cook E. and Aertgeerts B. (2004)

Diagnosing dementia in primary Care. Age Ageing 33: 321.

13. De Lepeleire J., Falez F., Ylieff M., Fontaine O., Paquay L. and Buntinx F. (2004) The evolution

of the organization of homecare in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Archives of Public Health

62: 197-208.


40

14. De Lepeleire J., Ylieff M., Stessens J., Buntinx F. and Paquay L. (2004) The validity of the frail

instrument in general practice. Archives of Public Health 62: 185-96.

15. De Lepeleire J. and Heyrman J. (1999) Diagnosis and management of dementia in primary

care at an early stage: the need for a new concept and an adapted procedure. Theoretical

Medicine 20: 215-28.

16. De Lepeleire J., Baro F., Buntinx F. and Lasuy C. (1994) How do general practitioners diagnose

dementia? Family Practice 11(2): 148-52.


41

BERT DE SMEDT, PH.D.

Contact address:

Parenting and Special Education Research Group

Andreas Vesaliusstraat 2

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 32 57 05

Fax: + 32 16 32 59 33


Website: https://perswww.kuleuven.be/~u0040938/


1997 Bachelor in Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

2001 Master in Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

2002 Certificate Completion in Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,

Belgium

2002-2006 Research Assistant, Research Foundation Flanders

2006 PhD in Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

2007 Post-doc Department Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

2007-2010 Post-doc Research Foundation Flanders

2008-2010 Visiting Scientist, University of Western Ontario, Canada

2010-2015 Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Dyscalculia

Individual differences in arithmetic skills

Neuroscience and education

Cognitive phenotypes of genetic disorders

RESEARCH AREAS

The major aim of my research program is to understand the neurocognitive origins of difficulties in

mathematical skills. I use both behavioral and brain imaging methods to understand how people

develop arithmetical skills and what neurocognitive mechanisms underlie this development. I

investigate these issues in both typically developing children and adults as well as in disorders with

atypical mathematical development, including dyscalculia, dyslexia, 22q11 Deletion Syndrome,

Turner Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and mild mental retardation. The aim is to integrate

cognitive neuroscience into educational research, contributing to the new field of educational

neuroscience or Mind, Brain and Education.


42


Burgen Scholar, Academia Europeae, 2010


1. De Smedt B., Holloway I.D. and Ansari D. (in press). Effects of problem size and arithmetic

operation on brain activation in children with varying levels of arithmetical fluency.

NeuroImage.

2. De Smedt B. and Boets B. (2010) Phonological processing and arithmetic fact retrieval:

Evidence from developmental dyslexia. Neuropsychologia 48(14): 3973-3981.

3. De Smedt B., Reynvoet B., Swillen A., Verschaffel L., Boets B. and Ghesquière P. (2009) Basic

number processing and difficulties in single-digit arithmetic: Evidence from Velo-Cardio-

Facial Syndrome. Cortex 45(2): 177-188.


43

ANJA DECLERCQ, PH.D.

Contact address:

LUCAS, Center for Care Research and Consultancy


Kapucijnenvoer 39

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 69 10

Fax: +32 16 33 69 22


Website: www.kuleuven.be/lucas, www.steunpuntwvg.be


1989-1991 Master in Applied Economics, Faculty of Economy and Applied Economics,

K.U.Leuven

1991-1994 Master in Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, K.U.Leuven

2000 Ph.D. thesis at Faculty of Social Sciences, K.U.Leuven

2005 Associate professor Faculty of Social Sciences, K.U.Leuven

2003-2005 Guest professor Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, U. Gent

2003 Project leader at LUCAS, K.U.Leuven

2007-2011 Promotor of the policy research center for health, social wellfare and family a

research network between the Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Gent,

the Free university of Brussels and Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Organization of elderly care

Quality of life and quality of care for elderly people

Care for people with dementia

Innovations in care

The interRAI-instruments

Small-scale living arrangements for people with dementia

RESEARCH AREAS

LUCAS' research is mainly applied, practically-oriented, and policy-supporting research. It deals with

various target groups: mentally ill people, (demented) elderly people, disabled people, young people,

etc. Furthermore, LUCAS treats a diversity of research topics such as professional and informal care,

quality of care, prevention of suicide, discrepancies between needed and provided care, relations

between caretakers and care-receivers, expressed emotion, community support systems, vocational

rehabilitation, stepped-care programs, case management, mobbing, discrimination, etc. Despite the

diversity there is a specialization in a few lines of research. Anja Declercq’s main research topics are

http://www.kuleuven.be/lucas

http://www.steunpuntwvg.be/

http://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/unit/50000243




44

in the field of the organization of care for elderly people, quality of life and quality of care for the

elderly, innovations in elderly care, comprehensive geriatric assessments, and specialized care for

people with dementia.


1. De Rooij A., Luijkx K., Declercq A. and Schols J. (2010) Small-scale living facilities in the

Netherlands and Belgium. A longitudinal study on patient outcome (abstract). Journal of

Clinical Nursing 19(1): 139-140.

2. De Rooij A., Luijkx K., Declercq A. and Schols, J. (2010) The impact of small-scale living in the

Netherlands and Belgium: Triangulation of data analysis. The Gerontologist 50(S1): 506.

3. Vanden Boer L., Bronselaer J., Declercq A., Demaerschalck M. and Molenberghs G. (2010) Het

belang van omgevingsfactoren voor beleidsgericht ouderenonderzoek. Tijdschrift voor

Welzijnswerk 34: 5-11.

4. Morris J., Berg K., Björkgren M., Declercq A. and others (2010) Assessment Form and User's

Manuel - InterRAI Assessment System - InterRAI Community Health (CHA). USA: interRAI.

5. Declercq A., Spruytte N. and De Almeida Mello J. (2009) Ervaringen van zorgverleners.

Werken in kleinschalige woonvoorzieningen in Vlaanderen. Denkbeeld: Tijdschrift voor

Psychogeriatrie 21: 14-17.

6. Declercq A. (2010) BelRAI. Stand van zaken in 2010. Nota in opdracht van het Ministerie van

Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu. Brussel, België.

7. Declercq A., Gosset C., Milisen K., Moons K., Flamaing J., Vesentini L., Vanneste D., Roovers

S., Grevendonck L., Van Eenoo L., De Almeida Mello J. and others (2010) BelRAI 2010 -

Tussentijds rapport. Rapport in opdracht van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid

van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu. Brussel, België.

8. Declercq A., Gosset C., De Almeida Mello J., Detroyer E., Spruytte N., Vanneste D., Vesentini

L., Grevendonck L., Roovers S., Paepen B., Berden J., Collard J., Grauwels N., Londot A.,

Lepère C., Gillain N. and Van Audenhove C. (2010) BelRAI IV: "Actie-onderzoek ter

voorbereiding van de implementatie van de RAI-methode in Belgie" Eindrapport in opdracht

van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu.

Brussel, België.

9. Declercq A. (2009) Small-scale nursing homes in Belgium. Symposium abstract of the IAGG

World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 13

(Suppl.1): 50.

10. Spruytte N., Declercq A., Herbots B., Holvoet M., Elst R., Van der Flaas J., Molenberghs C.,

Kuylen L., Lecoutere J., Van den Heuvel B. and Van Audenhove C. (2009) Kleinschalig

genormaliseerd wonen voor mensen met dementie, Het antwoord op 101 vragen.

Antwerpen: Garant.

11. Van Audenhove C., Spruytte N., Detroyer E., De Coster I., Declercq A., Ylieff M., Squelard G.

and Misotten P. (2009) De zorg voor personen met dementie: perspectieven en uitdagingen.

Brussel, Koning Boudewijnstichting.


45


and Misotten P. (2009) Les soins aux personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer ou d’une

maladie apparentée: perspectives et enjeux. Brussel, Koning Boudewijnstichting.

13. Declercq A. (2009) Kleinschalig genormaliseerd wonen in Vlaanderen. In: Grote kwaliteit op

kleine schaal (pp. 61-68). Tilburg, Nederland: De Kievitshorst.

14. Declercq A., Demaerschalk M., Vanden Boer L., Bronselaer J., De Witte N., Verté D. and

Molenberghs G. (2009) De invloed van individuele en gemeentelijke kenmerken op het

formele en informele zorggebruik van Vlaamse ouderen. In: Focus Gezondheid Sociale Staat

van Vlaanderen (pp. 381-399).

15. Declercq A., Gosset C., Paepen B., De Almeida Mello J., Vanneste D., Detroyer E., Spruytte N.,

De Vliegher K., Berden J., Degey S., Philippet C., Tancredi A., Lepère C., Renard F., Gillain N.

and Van Audenhove C. (2009) Actieproject BelRAI III: Haalbaarheid van de RAI-methode in

België. Eindrapport in opdracht van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de

Voedselketen en Leefmilieu. Brussel, België.

16. Declercq A., Gosset C., Paepen B., Mello J., Vanneste D., Detroyer E., Milisen K., Moons P.,

Berden J., Collard J., Londot A., Schumacher I., Demul N., Piette N., Joiris T., Gillain N. and Van

Audenhove C. (2008) Actieproject BelRAI II: Haalbaarheid van de Rai-Methode in België.

Eindrapport in opdracht van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de

Voedselketen en Leefmilieu (Brussel, België).

17. De Rooij A., Luijkx K., Declercq A. and Schols J. (2008) The pro's and con's of small-scale living

in The Netherlands. The Gerontologist GSA-congress (abstract 336): 106.

18. Declercq A., Gosset C., Wellens N., Collard J., Filee D., Londot A., Polome L., Sprenghetti N.,

Moons P., Milisen K. and Van Audenhove C. (2007) Actie-onderzoek naar het gebruik van het

RAI-instrument in de geriatrische dagziekenhuizen, de rust- en verzorgingstehuizen, de

dagcentra en de geïntegreerde diensten voor de thuiszorg. Eindrapport. Brussel, België.

19. Van Audenhove C. and Declercq A. (2007) De mantelzorg. Over zorglast, veerkracht en het

belang van een goede relatie. Welzijnsgids, Afl. 65.

20. Wellens N. and Declercq A. (2006) De ontwikkeling van een vormingsprogramma over de

zorg voor allochtone ouderen in rusthuizen en rust- en verzorgingstehuizen. Leuven: Lucas.

21. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C. and Declercq A. (2004) Mental health, burnout and job

satisfaction among professionals in sheltered living in Flanders. A pilot study. Social

psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 39(7): 569-75.

22. Van Audenhove C., Declercq A., De Coster I., Spruytte N., Molenberghs C. and Van den

Heuvel B. (2003) Kleinschalig genormaliseerd wonen voor personen met dementie.

Antwerpen: Garant.

23. Declercq A. and Van Audenhove C. (2003) Small is beautiful in Belgium. Occupational Therapy

News (10): 26.


46

CARLOS DOTTI, M.D., PH.D

Contact address:

Laboratory of Neuronal Differentiation


B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 05 23



1979 M.D. National University of Cordoba, Argentina.

1985 Ph.D. National Council Research. Argentina

1985-1988 Post-doc. Albany Medical College., New York, USA.

1988-1990 Post-doc. European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg. Germany.

1990-1991 Staff Scientist. European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Heidelberg. Germany

1991-2000 Group Leader. European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Heidelberg. Germany

2000-2005 Coordinator. Institute of Neuroscience. University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

2005-present Full Professor. Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Establishment of Neuronal Polarity

Survival and Performance in the Aged Brain

RESEARCH AREAS

Establishment of neuronal polarity: A central process in the development of functional brain circuitry

is the generation of axons and dendrites, which starts immediately after the last mitosis. Their

maturation however, occurs during neuronal migration. It is our aim to dissect these aspects of

neuronal polarity: generation and stabilization. To reach our goals we take a dual approach:

genetics/live cell analysis in Drosophila melanogaster and biochemistry/cell biology/in vivo in

mammalian systems. Drosophila are used to test the effect and pathways of genes with known or

unknown roles in cell polarity, in other cell types and in other systems (yeast). Through this approach

we investigate pathways involved in initial polarization (first neurite), axon-dendrite differentiation,

axon navigation. My laboratory has established a Drosophila unit, suited for these types of

experiments. In mammalian neurons, we validate the relevance of the fly identified genes and

pathways, at the biochemical and cell biological level. Studies are performed first in rodent neurons

in primary culture conditions and in a second step in neurons in situ. In addition to the generation of

basic knowledge, this type of work should be of help to bring insights on the pathogeny of

neurologic/neurodegenerative syndromes (see below).

Survival and Performance in the aged brain: relevance to neuropathology of the aged. Except

for a few peculiar cases, neurons of the central nervous system undergo their last mitosis around



47

birth-time. This simple biological phenomenon renders the brain an organ most incompetent to

replace neurons that get damaged from normal oxidative metabolism. In fact, except for certain

types of neurodegenerative diseases, the senescent brain does not present a significant level of dead

neurons. This per se is a clear demonstration that neurons possess most robust mechanisms of

survival against natural cellular stress. On the other hand, it is obvious to the eyes of anyone that age

comes accompanied by functional loss. Given the above premises, my laboratory attempts to

elucidate the mechanisms of neuronal survival and performance in the aged brain to later allow us to

determine the pathways compromised in neurodegeneration. To address these issues my laboratory

takes, like for the polarity project, a dual, Drosophila genetics and mammalian cell biology, approach.


NIH Fogarty International Fellow, 1985

Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, 1988

EMBO Member, 2000


1. Sodero A.O., Weissmann C., Ledesma M.D. and Dotti C.G. (2010) Metabolic stress from

excitatory neurotransmission contributes to cholesterol loss in hippocampal neurons in vitro.

Neurobiology of Aging. In press.

2. Martin M.G., Trovo L., Perga S., Sadowska A., Rasola A., Chiara F. and Dotti C.G. (2009)

Cyp46-mediated cholesterol loss promotes survival in stressed hippocampal neurons.

Neurobiology of Aging. In press

3. Iannilli F., Sodero A.O., Ledesma M.D. and Dotti C.G. (2009) Oxidative stress activates the

pro-survival TrkA pathway through membrane cholesterol loss. Neurobiology of Aging. In

press

4. Calderon de Anda F., Gärtner A., Tsai L-H. and Dotti C.G. (2008) Pyramidal neuron polarity

axis is defined at the bipolar stage. Journal of Cell Science 121: 178-185.

5. Martin M., Perga S., Trovo L., Rasola A., Holm P., Rantamäki T., Harkany T., Castrén E., Chiara

F. and Dotti C.G. (2008) Cholesterol loss enhances TrkB signaling in hippocampal neurons

aging in vitro. Molecular Biology of the Cell 19(5): 2101-2112.

6. Schubert V., Santos Da Silva J.P. and Dotti C.G. (2006) Localized recruitment and activation of

RhoA underlies dendritic spine morphology in a glutamate receptor dependent manner.

Journal of Cell Biology 172: 453-468.

7. Santos da Silva J., Hasegawa T., Miyagi T., Dotti C.G and Abad-Rodríguez J. (2005) Asymmetric

membrane ganglioside sialidase activity specifies axonal fate. Nature Neuroscience 8: 606-

615.

8. Calderon de Anda F., Pollarolo G., Da Silva J.S., Feiguin F. and Dotti C.G. (2005) Centrosome

localization determines neuronal polarity. Nature 436: 704-8.

9. Abad-Rodríguez J., Ledesma M.D., Crassaerts K., Perga S., Medina M., Delacourte A.,

Dingwall C., De Strooper B. and Dotti C.G. (2004) Neuronal membrane cholesterol loss

enhances amyloid peptide generation. Journal of Cell Biology 167(5): 953-960.


48

10. Camera P., Santos da Silva J., Griffiths G., Giuffrida M.G., Ferrara L., Schubert V., Imarisio S.,

Silengo L., Dotti C.G. and di Cunto F. (2003) Citron-N is a neuronal Rho-associated protein

involved in Golgi organization through actin cytoskeleton regulation. Nature Cell Biology

5(12): 1071-1079.

11. Ledesma M.D., Abad-Rodríguez J., Galvan C., Biondi E., Navarro P., Delacourte A., Dingwall C.

and Dotti C.G. (2003) Raft disorganization leads to reduced plasmin activity in Alzheimer’s

disease brains. EMBO Reports 4(12): 1190-1196.

12. Santos da Silva J., Medina M., Zuliani C., Di Nardo A., Witke W. and Dotti C.G. (2003)

RhoA/ROCK regulation of neuritogenesis via Profilin IIa-mediated control of actin stability.

Journal of Cell Biology 162: 1267-1279.

13. Santos da Silva J. and Dotti C.G. (2002) Breaking the Neuronal Sphere: Regulation of the actin

cytoskeleton in neuritogenesis. Nature Neuroscience 3: 694-704.

14. Abad-Rodríguez J., Piddini E., Hasegawa T., Miyagi T. and Dotti C.G. (2001) Plasma membrane

ganglioside sialidase regulates axonal growth and regeneration in hippocampal neurons in

culture. Journal of Neurosciences 21(21): 8387-8395.

15. Piddini E., Schmidt J., de Martin R. and Dotti C.G. (2001) The Ras-like GTPase GEM is involved

in cell shape generation and interacts with the novel kinesin-like protein KIF-9. EMBO Journal

20(15): 4076-4087.

16. Kaether C., Skehel P. and Dotti C.G. (2000) Axonal membrane proteins are transported in

distinct carriers: a 2-colour video microscopy study in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Molecular Biology of the Cell 11: 1213-1224.

17. Ruberti F. and Dotti C.G. (2000) Involvement of the proximal C terminus of the AMPA

receptor subunit GlluR1 in dendritic sorting. Journal of Neurosciences 20: RC78 1-5.

18. Bradke F. and Dotti C.G. (2000) Differentiated neurons retain the capacity to generate axons

from dendrites. Current Biology 10: 1467-1470.

19. Ledesma M.D., Santos da Silva J., Crassaerts K., Delacourte A., De Strooper B. and Dotti C.G.

(2000) Brain plasmin enhances APP a-cleavage and Aβ degradation and is reduced in

Alzheimer’s disease brains. EMBO Reports 1(6): 530-535.


49

BÉNÉDICTE DUBOIS, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

University Hospital Gasthuisberg-Department of Neurology

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 42 88

Fax: +32 16 34 42 85


Website: www.neurology-kuleuven.be


1994 MD, University of Leuven, Belgium

2000 PhD, University of Leuven, Belgium

2001 Neurologist, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Immunology and genetics of multiple sclerosis

Clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis

Clinical trials with new drugs in multiple sclerosis

RESEARCH AREAS

Neurological diseases have a substantial and growing impact in our society. Multiple Sclerosis is one

of the most common neurological disorders. Life-time risk of developing the disease is 1/500 in

north-western Europe. Approximately 1.3 million individuals worldwide and 10,000 individuals in

Belgium suffer from the disease. Onset of the disease typically occurs in early adulthood, between 20

and 40 years of age, at the start of building out a family and a professional career. The disease leads

to significant physical and cognitive disability and hence has an important impact on the personal,

social and professional life of patients and their relatives. The pathogenesis of the disease has not

been unravelled yet. Treatment of multiple sclerosis is very expensive, being in the top 10 of

outpatient medicines cost in Belgium. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of current treatments

is only partially understood and they are only partially effective.

The structure of the Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, with expertise both at the clinical

(Bénédicte Dubois) and the research side (An Goris), offers an optimal setting for translating

observations at the bedside to the laboratory, investigating them in the best possible way making use

of a valuable well-characterized study population, and translating results back to the clinic.

We focus on the identification of genetic risk factors for MS and the understanding of their

mechanism of action. This will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the

disease and the identification of key players, translating in the development of novel and well-

targeted treatment strategies.


http://www.neurology-kuleuven.be/


50

As is obvious at the bedside, multiple sclerosis is also characterized by a striking degree of

heterogeneity at several levels (laboratory and imaging parameters, clinical course, response to or

side effects upon treatment). This heterogeneity is still largely unexplained and unpredictable and

can prevent e.g. a patient from getting the best treatment strategy for him/her as early as possible. If

heterogeneity is based on underlying differences in pathogenetic pathways, comprehension of

aspects of heterogeneity and their mechanisms of action would contribute to e.g. tailored choice of

treatment for subsets of patients.


Wetenschappelijke Prijs Neurologie van de Vereniging van Vlaamse Zenuwartsen-Eli Lilly,

1999

Glaxo-Smith-Kline Study Grant in Neurology, 2001

European Charcot Foundation TEVA-AVENTIS Young Investigators Awards, 2002


1. Goris A., Boonen S., D'hooghe M.B. and Dubois B. (2010) Replication of KIF21B as a

susceptibility locus for multiple sclerosis. Journal of Medical Genetics 47(11): 775-6.

2. Kappos L., Radue E.W., O'Connor P., Polman C., Hohlfeld R., Calabresi P., Selmaj K.,

Agoropoulou C., Leyk M., Zhang-Auberson L. and Burtin P. (2010) A placebo-controlled trial

of oral fingolimod in relapsing multiple sclerosis. The New England Journal of Medicine

362(5): 387-401.

3. Goris A., Dobosi R., Boonen S., Nagels G. and Dubois B. (2009) KIR2DL4 (CD158d)

polymorphisms and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimmunology 210(1-

2): 113-5.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20587413







51

WOLFGANG EBERLE, PH.D.

Contact address:

Imec

Bioelectronic Systems

Manager Bioelectronic Systems

Program Manager Cell Interfacing Technology

Kapeldreef 75

B-3001 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 28 81 37

Fax: +32 16 28 15 15


Website: http://www.imec.be, http://www.humanplusplus.com


2006 Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

1991 Dipl.-Ing. (MSc) Electrical Engineering, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany

RESEARCH TOPICS

Massively parallel single-cell resolution electrophysiological arrays for stimulation, recording,

electroporation, transfection of cells in cell cultures and slices

multi-site neural probes for cortical and deep brain stimulation and recording and fully

implantable microsystems with wireless interfacing, e.g. for small rodents

grid arrays with on-grid recording and stimulation sites for tissue slices and tissue

engineering

surface coatings and topologies for influencing cell adhesion, guidance, and growth with

applications for neural network formation and neural regeneration

development and characterization of hybrid transducers for bi-directional cell interfacing

based on electrical (e.g. carbon nanostructures), biochemical), or optical methods (e.g. gan

leds)

investigation of biocompatibility of surface materials under in vitro and in vivo conditions

RESEARCH AREAS

The research group develops novel transducers, devices, and instruments for pharmaceutical,

diagnostic, and therapeutic medical applications and for fundamental research into cell interfacing

with a primary focus on the brain and secondary target areas on cardiac cells and cancer cells.

We use as much as possible cost-efficient wafer-scale processing to obtain reproducible,

reliable chips with sub-micrometer structures and the ability to directly embed electronics for read-

out or actuation into the transducers. We employ surface coating and topology modifications (e.g.

micronails or microsyringes) directly on the chip to improve cell adhesion and signal quality.

http://www.imec.be/

http://www.humanplusplus.com/


52

The group has been developing devices for in vitro electrophysiology on cell lines and

primary neuronal cultures, acute and cultured slices with single-cell addressability and the capability

of stimulation, recording, electroporation, and transfection of cells. Furthermore, MRI-compatible

implantable brain probes have been fabricated for cortical and deep brain recording and stimulation

in small rodents. The group is currently working on a fully implantable microsystem for chronic use in

small rodents.

Imec employs a wide range of materials for these devices for biocompatible passivation, but

also for the active sensor and electrode sites, including various types of carbon materials,

nanoparticles, and light-emitting or light-sensitive materials. We work on transducer modules

allowing electrical, biochemical, or optical interaction with cells including optogenetics.


1. Braeken D., Huys R., Loo J., Bartic C., Borghs G., Callewaert G. and Eberle W. (2010) Localized

electrical stimulation of in vitro neurons using an array of sub-cellular sized electrodes.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics 26: 1474-1477.

2. Nguyen T., Braeken D., Musa S., Krylychkina O., Bartic C., Gielen G. and Eberle W. (2010)

Towards a closed-loop system for stimulation and recording: An in vitro approach with

embyronic cardiomyocytes. Proc. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference

(EMBC), pp. 2735-2738.

3. Musa S., Welkenhuysen M., Prodanov D., Eberle W., Bartic C. and Nuttin B. (2009) In vitro

and in vivo electrochemical characterization of a microfabricated neural probe. Proc. IEEE

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC), pp. 7143-7146.

4. Huys R., Braeken D., Van Meerbergen B., Winters K., Eberle W., Loo J., Tsvetanova D., Chen

C., Severi S., Yitzchaik S., Spira M., Shappir J., Callewaert G., Borghs G. and Bartic C. (2008)

Novel concepts for improved communication between nerve cells and silicon electronic

devices. Solid-State Electronics (52)4: 533-539.

5. Eberle W. (2008) Wireless transceiver systems design. Springer, New York.


53

YVES ENGELBORGHS, PH.D.

Contact address:

Biomolecular Dynamics

Celestijnenlaan 200G box 2403

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 32 71 60

Fax: +32 16 32 79 74


Website:

http://www.chem.kuleuven.be/research/bio/webye_en.html


1968 Master degree in Chemistry, University of Leuven, Belgium.

1968-1991 Research fellow of the Belgian National Fund for scientific research (NFWO)

1972 Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Leuven, Belgium.

1973-1974 Post-doctoral fellowship at University of Bristol (England).

1985 Associate Professor University Leuven.

1989-1991 Research Director (NFWO)

1991 Full Associate Professor, University of Leuven

1993-present Full Professor at the University of Leuven in the department of Chemistry and

Biochemistry.

1993-present Head of the Biochemistry division in the department of Chemistry

RESEARCH AREA

The research activities of Y. Engelborghs are concentrated around the study of dynamics and

interactions of biological macromolecules in vitro and in the living cell, mainly using fluorescence

techniques, and in recent years focusing on Advance Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques, making

biochemistry visible in the living cell (Fluorescence (Cross) Correlation Microscopy). Applications to

protein-protein interactions of HIV-proteins, nuclear proteins, aggregating proteins e.g. alpha-

synuclein.


1. Nath S., Meuvis J., Hendrix J., Carl S.A. and Engelborghs Y. (2010) Early aggregation steps in

alpha-Synuclein as measured by FCS and FRET: Evidence for a contagious conformational

change. Biophysical Journal 98(7): 1302-1311.

2. Meuvis J., Gerard M., Desender L., Baekelandt V. and Engelborghs Y. (2010) The

conformation and the aggregation kinetics of alpha-Synuclein depend on the proline residues

in Its C-Terminal region. Biochemistry 49(43): 9345-9352.


http://www.chem.kuleuven.be/research/bio/webye_en.html


54

3. Brandt I., Gerard M., Sergeant K., Devreese B., Baekelandt V., Augustyns K., Scharpe S.,

Engelborghs Y. and Lambeir A.M. (2008) Prolyl oligopeptidase stimulates the aggregation of

alpha-synuclein. Peptides 29(9): 1472-1478.


55

AN GORIS, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory for Neuroimmunology

Section of Experimental Neurology


B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 07 72

Fax: +32 16 33 07 70


Website: http://www.kuleuven.be/cv/u0031949.htm#


1996 Bachelor Pharmaceutical Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1999 Master Pharmaceutical Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2004 PhD Biomedical Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

neuroinflammatory disorders

neurodegenerative disorders

genetics

RESEARCH AREAS

During my PhD at the K.U.Leuven (Belgium), postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge,

(UK), and current position as Tenure Track Lecturer at the Section of Experimental Neurology, I have

been involved in genetic studies on neurological diseases (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease,

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke). These include Mendelian genetics (e.g. FUS and TDP-43 in

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, LRRK2 and SNCA in Parkinson’s disease) and complex genetics

investigating association of genetic markers with these diseases (e.g. IL7R, IL2RA, CD58, CLEC16A,

TYK2, and KIF21B in multiple sclerosis). For the investigation of multiple sclerosis genetics, I

collaborate with other research groups within the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics

Consortium (IMSGC) and Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC).

Within the Laboratory for Neuroimmunology, my main research focus is on multiple sclerosis,

a disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss. We start from genetic risk

factors to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease. For a long time, the Human Leukocyte Antigen

(HLA) region on chromosome 6 was the only established risk locus, but over the last three years the

number of identified and replicated risk genes has strongly increased. As currently identified genes

explain only a fraction of the heritability, our first aim is to identify other risk factors (other common

variants, rare variants, copy number variants). Secondly, we focus not only on genetic susceptibility


http://www.kuleuven.be/cv/u0031949.htm


56

for multiple sclerosis, but also on genetic factors underlying the marked heterogeneity of the disease

through close collaboration with the clinic, making use where possible of quantitative disease

parameters. Thirdly, we follow up the mechanism of action of established risk factors by investigating

their effect on gene and protein expression and immunological phenotype in patient and control

samples.


Master Thesis Award Alumni Organization Pharmaceutical Sciences (Farmaleuven), 1999


1. Goris A., Boonen S., D'hooghe M. and Dubois B. (2010) Replication of KIF21B as a

susceptibility locus for multiple sclerosis. Journal of Medical Genetics 47: 775-776.

2. Taes I., Goris A., Lemmens R., van Es M., van den Berg L., Chio A., Traynor B., Birve A.,

Andersen P., Slowik A., Tomik B., Brown R., Shaw C., Al-Chalabi A., Boonen S., Van Den Bosch

L., Dubois B., Van Damme P. and Robberecht W. (2010) Tau levels do not influence human

ALS or motor neuron degeneration in the SOD1G93A mouse. Neurology 74(21): 1687-93.

3. Gregory S.G., Schmidt S., Seth P., Oksenberg J.R., Hart J., Prokop A., Caillier S.J., Ban M., Goris

A., Barcellos L.F., Lincoln R., McCauley J.L., Sawcer S.J., Compston D.A., Dubois B., Hauser S.L.,

Garcia-Blanco M.A., Pericak-Vance M.A. and Haines J.L. (2007) Interleukin 7 receptor alpha

chain (IL7R) shows allelic and functional association with multiple sclerosis. Nature Genetics

39: 1083-1091.


57

ANN HEYLIGHEN, PH.D.

Contact address:

K.U.Leuven - Dept. Architecture, Urbanism & Planning

Kasteelpark Arenberg 1/2431

BE 3001 Heverlee

Tel: +32 16 32 17 41

Fax: +32 16 32 19 84


Website: http://www2.asro.kuleuven.be/home/heylighen

http://www.asro.kuleuven.be/aida


1991-1993 Ba in Engineering: Architecture, K.U.Leuven (kandidaat burgerlijk ingenieur-architect)

1993-1996 MSc in Engineering: Architecture, K.U.Leuven (burgerlijk ingenieur-architect)

1995-1996 guest student at ETH Zürich

1996-2000 PhD Fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)

2000 PhD in Engineering: Architecture, K.U.Leuven

2000-2006 Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)

2001 Visiting Research Associate, Harvard University, Center for Design Informatics

2002, 2004-05 Visiting Research Fellow at UC Berkeley, College of Environmental Design

2006 Associate Professor (BOF-ZAP, docent)

2009-present Associate Professor (BOF-ZAP, hoofddocent)

RESEARCH TOPICS

(inclusive) design processes in architecture

the spatial experience of people with different perspectives and conditions: people with

blindness, autism, dementia, ...

the effect of the built environment on the wellbeing of (bedridden) patients, and of older

people with and without dementia

RESEARCH AREAS

At the department of Architecture, Urbanism & Planning (ASRO), the research group CAAD, Design &

Building Methodology studies innovation in the design and building process. Within this overall

objective, the team under supervision of Ann Heylighen explores how the spatial experience of


58

people with diverse perspectives and conditions can be disclosed to inform architects’ design process

and trigger innovative design concepts in architecture.

The trigger to establish this team came from a Starting Grant awarded by the European

Research Council for the project Architectural design In Dialogue with dis-Ability (AIDA). AIDA

combines the expertise of researchers with a background in architecture/design and

sociology/anthropology with the expertise by experience of people living with disabilities and the

design expertise of professional architects/designers. It forms the framework for more specific (PhD)

projects, each with its own objective and approach. Topics addressed in these projects include how

the spatial experience of people born blind may inform architects in paying more attention to haptic

qualities of the built environment; how people with autism use and interact with the built

environment from a ‘different’ mental disposition; or what spatial aspects influence the wellbeing of

(bedridden) patients in hospital environments or, more recently, of older people with and without

dementia, and how architects/designers can take these into account.


Best Presentation Award Design Cognition & Computing ’10 (DCC’10), 2010

ERC Starting Grant - Architectural design In Dialogue with disAbility (AIDA), 2008

Best Paper Award Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access & Assistive Technology

(CWUAAT 2008), 2008

Best Paper Award Design Cognition & Computing ’04 (DCC’04), 2004

Best Presentation Award Architectural Research Centres Consortium (ARCC), 2004

Best Paper Award European Association of Architectural Education (EAAE), 2000


1. Heylighen A. (2011) Studying the unthinkable designer: Designing in the absence of sight. In:

Gero J. (Eds.), Design Computing and Cognition DCC’10 (pp. 23-34). Springer

2. Herssens J. and Heylighen A. (2011) Haptic design research: A blind sense of space. In:

Proceedings of the ARCC/EAAE 2010 International Conference on Architectural Research.

ARCC & EAAE (in print).

3. Vermeersch P. and Heylighen A. (2011) Blindness and multi-sensoriality in architecture. The

case of Carlos Mourão Pereira. In: Proceedings of the ARCC/EAAE 2010 International

Conference on Architectural Research. ARCC & EAAE (in print).

4. Heylighen A., Rychtarikova M. and Vermeir G. (2010) Designing Spaces for Every Listener.

Universal Access in the Information Society 9(3):283-292.

5. Baumers S. and Heylighen A. (2010) Harnessing Different Dimensions of Space: The Built

Environment in Auti-Biographies. In: Langdon P., Clarkson J., Robinson P. (Eds.), Designing

Inclusive Interactions, Chapt. 2 (pp. 13-23). London, UK: Springer-Verlag.

6. Baumers S. and Heylighen A. (2010) Beyond the Designers' View. How people with autism

experience space. In: Durling, D., Bousbaci, R., Chen, L., Gauthier, P., Poldma, T., Rowarth-

Stokes, S., Stolterman, E. (Eds.), Design and Complexity (8p.). Design Research Society.


59

7. Heylighen A., Neyt E., Baumers S., Herssens J. and Vermeersch P. (2010) Conservation Meets

Inclusion. Model Meets Reality. In: Clarkson, P., Langdon, P., Robinson, P. (Eds.), Proceedings

of the 5th Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (pp. 209-218).

Cambridge (UK): University of Cambridge.

8. Herssens J. and Heylighen A. (2010) Blind Body Language. In: Clarkson, P., Langdon, P.,

Robinson, P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and

Assistive Technology, (pp. 109-118). Cambridge (UK): University of Cambridge.

9. Nijs G., Vermeersch P., Devlieger P. and Heylighen A. (2010) Extending the Dialogue between

Design(ers) and Disabled Use(rs). From Conversation to Embodied Skill. In: Design 2010 (10

p.). Design Society.

10. Herssens J. and Heylighen A. (2009) A lens into the haptic world. In: Include 2009

Proceedings. London: RCA Helen Hamlyn Centre.

11. Heylighen A. (2008) Sustainable and inclusive design: a matter of knowledge? Local

Environment, 13(6): 531-540.

12. Heylighen A., Vermeir G. and Rychtarikova M. (2008) The Sound of Inclusion: A Case Study on

Acoustic Comfort for All. In: Langdon P., Clarkson J., Robinson P. (Eds.), Designing Inclusive

Futures (pp. 77-86). London: Springer-Verlag.


60

BEA MAES, PH.D.

Contact address:

K.U.Leuven


Vesaliusstraat 2

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 32 62 24

Fax: +32 16 32 59 33


Website: http://ppw.kuleuven.be/ogop/maes


1985 Bachelor Educational Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1987 Master Educational Sciences, specialisation special education, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1987 Qualified high school teacher, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

1994 Ph.D. in Educational Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1995-present Full professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Parenting and

Special Education Research Group

RESEARCH TOPICS

Quality of life and quality of support for persons with a disability, with specific focus on

o persons with (congenital or acquired) profound intellectual and severe neuromotor

disabilities

o ageing persons with a disability

o persons with an intellectual disability and behavioral or emotional problems

RESEARCH AREAS

The research in our group is focused on different aspects of quality of life and quality of support for

persons with a disability. This includes the theoretical conceptualisation of ‘quality of life’ and

‘quality of care’, the development of tools and evaluation procedures, and the evaluation of quality

of life and quality of care for disabled persons in different living situations. Specific areas of interest

are communication and interaction, adapted activities and supporting parents and direct care staff.

We have chosen for some specific target groups in our research:

persons with profound multiple disabilities: the care for children and adults with

profound multiple (i.e. severe neuromotor and intellectual) disabilities is very complex

and demanding. This area of research is aimed at the development of strategies for the

optimisation of the educational and support processes with regard to this target group.

http://ppw.kuleuven.be/ogop/maes


61

ageing persons with an intellectual disability: we conduct research with regard to the

specific needs of ageing people with an intellectual disability, with a strong focus on the

social-emotional wellbeing of the people in question.

behavioural and emotional problems of persons with a disability: on the one hand, this

area of research is focused on the educational and parenting factors that influence the

occurrence of behavioural problems in persons with a disability; on the other hand,

research is being conducted to study the effects of specific support interventions for this

target group.


Junior researcher FWO, 1988-1992


1. Hostyn I., Petry K., Lambrechts G. and Maes B. (2011) Evaluating the quality of the

interaction between persons with profound intellectual disabilities and direct support staff: A

preliminary application of three observation scales from parent-infant research. Journal of

Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2010.00618.x

2. Vos P., De Cock P., Petry K., Van Den Noortgate W. and Maes B. (2010) What makes them

feel like they do? Investigating the subjective well-being in people with severe and profound

disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities 31(6): 1623-1632.

3. Vos P., De Cock P., Petry K., Van Den Noortgate W. and Maes B. (2010) Do you know what I

feel? A first step towards a physiological measure of the subjective well-being of persons

with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual

Disabilities 23(4): 366-378.

4. Heyvaert M., Maes B. and Onghena P. (2010) A meta-analysis of intervention effects on

challenging behaviour among persons with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual

Disability Research 54(7): 634-649.

5. Lambrechts G., Van Den Noortgate W., Eeman L. and Maes B. (2010) Staff reactions to

challenging behaviour: An observation study. Research in Developmental Disabilities 31(2):

525-535.

6. Hostyn I., Daelman M., Janssen M. and Maes B. (2010) Describing dialogue between persons

with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and direct support staff using the scale for

dialogical meaning making. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 54(8): 679-690.

7. Kuppens S., Bossaert G., Buntinx W., Molleman C., Van den Abeele A. and Maes B. (2010)

Factorial Validity of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS). American Journal on Intellectual and

Developmental Disabilities 115(4): 327-339.

8. Petry K., Maes B. and Vlaskamp C. (2009) Measuring the quality of life of people with

profound multiple disabilities using the QOL-PMD: First results. Research in Developmental

Disabilities 30(6): 1394-1405.


62

9. Lambrechts G., Kuppens S. and Maes B. (2009) Staff variables associated with the challenging

behaviour of clients with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of intellectual

disability research 53(7): 620-632.

10. Van Puyenbroeck J. and Maes B. (2009) The Effect of Reminiscence Group Work on Life

Satisfaction, Self-Esteem and Mood of Ageing People with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of

applied research in intellectual disabilities 22(1): 23-33.

11. Maes B. and Van Puyenbroeck J. (2008) Adaptation of Flemish services to accommodate and

support the aging of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in

Intellectual Disabilities 5(4): 245-252.

12. Maes B., Lambrechts G., Hostyn I. and Petry K. (2007) Quality-enhancing interventions for

people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: a review of the empirical research

literature. Journal of intellectual and developmental disability 32(3): 163-178.

13. Petry K. and Maes B. (2007) Description of the support needs of people with profound

multiple disabilities using the 2002 AAMR system: An overview of literature. Education and

training in developmental disabilities 42(2): 130-143.

14. Petry K. and Maes B. (2006) Identifying expressions of pleasure and displeasure by persons

with profound and multiple disabilities. Journal of intellectual and developmental disability

31(1): 28-38.


63

GERT MATTHIJS, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics

Center for Human Genetics

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 60 70

Fax: +32 16 34 60 60


Website: http://med.kuleuven.be/cme


1985 Pharmacist (K.U.Leuven)

1989 Doctor in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) (K.U.Leuven)

1990-1996 Postdoctoral grant NFWO

1997 Assistant Professor (Docent)

2000 Associate Professor (Hoofddocent)

2002 Registered as Clinical Molecular Geneticist (The Netherlands)

2003 Professor (Deeltijds hoogleraar)

2006-present Professor (Buitengewoon hoogleraar)

RESEARCH TOPICS

Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG)

Molecular diagnostics: validation of novel technologies for genetic diagnostics and the

introduction of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms for diagnostic use

Gene patents and public health (in collaboration with CIR, Faculty of Law)

RESEARCH AREAS

My research interest is in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), a group of rare inborn errors

of metabolism. We focus on the systematic search for novel types of CDG. There is an enlarging

group of unsolved cases, with a defect, probably in the tailoring of the N- (and O-) linked glycans in

the Golgi. However, it has been shown that some of the types result from trafficking defects, and,

more generally, from (any) disturbance of the Golgi structure and function. We want to focus on the

genetic approach towards the identification of novel defects: we have collected families, which can

now be analysed by homozygosity mapping, and we have also embarked on exome sequencing for

the most interesting cases. Our success with CDG is partly due to the fact that we have committed

ourselves, since 1999, to the coordination of a European network on CDG.

My (translational) research activities deal with the development and validation of novel

technologies for diagnostic use. Currently, we focus on the implementation of the newest massive


http://med.kuleuven.be/cme


64

parallel sequencing platforms for mutation scanning in a diagnostic setting. We are involved in

TECHGENE, a European project that specifically deals with NGS applications. For the quality aspects

of diagnostic testing, we are strongly involved in another European project, EuroGentest, which we

are coordinating from Leuven.


“Körber European Science Award” (Hamburg, Germany), together with Prof. von Figura, Prof.

Aebi, Prof. Hennet, Prof. Jaeken and Prof. Lehle, 2004

“Prix Madame Vve. Mathys-Bové” (Université Catholique de Louvain), 2000


1. Reynders E., Foulquier F., Annaert W. and Matthijs G. (2010) How Golgi glycosylation meets

and needs trafficking: the case of the COG complex. Glycobiology [Epub ahead of print]

2. Mattocks C.J., Morris M.A., Matthijs G., Swinnen E., Corveleyn A., Dequeker E., Müller C.R.,

Pratt V. and Wallace A. (2010) A standardized framework for the validation and verification

of clinical molecular genetic tests. European Journal of Human Genetics 18(12): 1276-88.

3. Reynders E., Foulquier F., Leão Teles E., Quelhas D., Morelle W., Rabouille C., Annaert W. and

Matthijs G. (2009) Golgi function and dysfunction in the first COG4-deficient CDG type II

patient. Human Molecular Genetics 18(17): 3244-56.

4. Huys I., Berthels N., Matthijs G. and Van Overwalle G. (2009) Legal uncertainty in the area of

genetic diagnostic testing. Nature Biotechnology 27(10): 903-9.

5. Foulquier F., Vasile E., Schollen E., Callewaert N., Raemaekers T., Quelhas D., Jaeken J., Mills

P., Winchester B., Krieger M., Annaert W. and Matthijs G. (2006) COG1 deficiency: a new

type of Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation type II. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (PNAS) 103: 3764-9.

6. Van Overwalle G., van Zimmeren E., Verbeure B. and Matthijs G. (2006) Models for

facilitating access to patents on genetic inventions. Nature Reviews Genetics 7(2): 143-8.


65

LIEVE MOONS, PH.D.

Contact address:

Premonstreit College

Naamsestraat 61

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 32 39 91

Fax: +32 16 32 42 62


Website: http://bio.kuleuven.be/df/LM/


1984 MSc in Biology/Zoology, Faculty of Science - Department of Biology, Catholic

University of Leuven, Belgium

1990 PhD in Animal Morphology and Physiology, Department of Biology/Zoology, Catholic

University of Leuven, Belgiu

1990-1991 Post-doc Fellow, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Immunological

Biotechnology, University of Leuven, Belgium

1991-1994 Research Associate, National Foundation for Scientific Research Belgium (NFWO),

Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Immunological Biotechnology, University of

Leuven, Belgium

1994-1995 Staff Scientist, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (Prof. Dr. D. Collen),

University of Leuven, Belgium

1995-2007 Group Leader/Senior Scientist, Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy,

Flemish Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Belgium

2000-2004 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular

Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium

2004-2007 Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular

Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium

2007-2008 Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Leuven,

Belgium

2008-present Full Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Leuven,

Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

The role of matrix metalloproteinases in neuronal migration and axon guidance during brain

development

Axonal regeneration and neural plasticity in the injured central nervous system: role for

proteinases and signaling neuropeptides



66

The impact of glaucoma from retina to cortex: novel therapies to promote retinal ganglion

cell survival

RESEARCH AREAS

The research group Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration was established in 2008. The

overall goal of the ongoing research program is to investigate the involvement of proteinases, growth

factors and signalling neuropeptides in neural circuit development, remodelling and regeneration by

using mouse and zebrafish models to study neuronal patterning, neural plasticity and axon

outgrowth. Several transgenic technologies and in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro experiments are being

applied to investigate the importance of these molecules in neuronal patterning/survival and in axon

outgrowth/regeneration and to understand underlying mechanisms and substrate interactions.

The group currently focuses on some well–defined research topics: (1) morphogenesis and

remodeling of the developing mouse cerebellum; (2) development of the retinotectal circuit and

survival/regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after optic nerve neuropathy or retinal disease in

zebrafish and mice; (3) development of innovative therapeutic strategies for treatment of glaucoma,

a neurodegenerative disorder.


Triannual prize Alumni-Society Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, for doctoral theses

1988-1990, received in 1991

8th Prize Boehringer Ingelheim for Research on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (jointly with M.

Dewerchin), 1999

15th Congress Memorial Award for best publication between July 1998 and and March 2000,

XVth International Congress on Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis (Hamamatsu, Japan), 2000


1. Ruiz de Almodovar C., Coulon C., Salin P., Knevels E., Chounlamountri N., Poesen K., Hermans

K., Lambrechts D., Van Geyte K., Dhondt J., Dresselaers T., Renaud J., Aragones J., Zacchigna

S., Geudens I., Gall D., Stroobants S., Mutin M., Dassonville K., Storkebaum E., Jordan B.,

Eriksson U., Moons L., D'Hooge R., Haigh J., Belin M., Schiffmann S., Van Hecke P., Gallez B.,

Vinckier S., Chédotal A., Honnorat J., Thomasset N., Carmeliet P. and Meissirel C. (2010)

Matrix-binding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms guide granule cell

migration in the cerebellum via VEGF receptor Flk1. Journal of Neuroscience 30(45): 15052-

15066.

2. Zacchigna S., Oh H., Wilsch-Braeuninger M., Missol-Kolka E., Jaszai J., Jansen A., Tanimoto N.,

Tonagel F., Seeliger M., Huttner W., Corbeil D., Dewerchin M., Vinckier S., Moons L. and

Carmeliet P. (2009) Loss of the Cholesterol-Binding Protein Prominin-1/CD133 Causes Disk

Dysmorphogenesis and Photoreceptor Degeneration. Journal of Neuroscience 29(7): 2297-

2308.

3. Li Z., Van Bergen T., Van de Veire S., Van de Vel I., Moreau H., Dewerchin M., Maudgal P.,


67

Zeyen T., Spileers W., Moons L. and Stalmans I. (2009) Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial

Growth Factor Reduces Scar Formation after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery. Investigative

Ophthalmology & Visual Science 50(11): 5217-5225.

4. Tjwa M., Bellido-Martin L., Lin Y., Lutgens E., Plaisance S., Bono F., Delesque-Touchard N.,

Herve C., Moura R., Billiau A., Aparicio C., Levi M., Daemen M., Dewerchin M., Lupu F.,

Arnout J., Herbert J., Waer M., Garcia de Frutos P., Dahlback B., Carmeliet P., Hoylaerts M.

and Moons L. (2008) GAS6 promotes inflammation by enhancing interactions between

endothelial cells, platelets and leukocytes. Blood 111(8): 4096-4105.

5. Lutgens E., Tjwa M., Garcia de Frutos P., Wijnands E., Beckers L., Dahlbäck B., Daemen M.,

Carmeliet P. and Moons, L. (2008) Genetic loss of Gas6 induces plaque stability in

experimental atherosclerosis. Journal of Pathology 216(1): 55-63.

6. Cacquevel M., Launay S., Castel H., Benchenane K., Chéenne S., Buée L., Moons L.,

Delacourte A., Carmeliet P. and Vivien D. (2007) Ageing and amyloid-beta peptide deposition

contribute to an impaired brain tissue plasminogen activator activity by different

mechanisms. Neurobiology of Disease 27(2): 164-173.

7. Heymans S., Lupu F., Terclavers S., Vanwetswinkel B., Herbert J., Baker A., Collen D.,

Carmeliet P. and Moons L. (2005) Loss or inhibition of uPA or MMP-9 attenuates LV

remodeling and dysfunction after acute pressure overload in mice. American Journal of

Pathology 166(1): 15-25.

8. Storkebaum E., Lambrechts D., Dewerchin M., Moreno-Murciano M., Appelmans S., Oh H.,

Van Damme P., Rutten B., Man W., De Mol M., Wyns S., Manka D., Vermeulen K., Van Den

Bosch L., Mertens N., Schmitz C., Robberecht W., Conway E., Collen D., Moons L. and

Carmeliet P. (2005) Treatment of motoneuron degeneration by intracerebroventricular

delivery of VEGF in a rat model of ALS. Nature Neuroscience 8(1): 85-92.

9. Li X., Tjwa M., Moons L., Fons P., Noel A., Ny A., Zhou J., Lennartsson J., Li H., Luttun A.,

Pontén A., Devy L., Bouché A., Oh H., Manderveld A., Blacher S., Communi D., Savi P., Bono

F., Dewerchin M., Foidart J., Autiero M., Herbert J., Collen D., Heldin C., Eriksson U. and

Carmeliet P. (2005) Revascularization of ischemic tissues by PDGF-CC via effects on

endothelial cells and their progenitors. Journal of Clinical Investigation 115(1): 118-127.

10. Ny A., Koch M., Schneider M., Neven E., Tong R., Maity S., Fischer C., Plaisance S.,

Lambrechts D., Héligon C., Terclavers S., Ciesiolka M., Kälin R., Man W., Senn I., Wyns S.,

Lupu F., Brändli A., Vleminckx K., Collen D., Dewerchin M., Conway E., Moons L., Jain R. and

Carmeliet P. (2005) A genetic Xenopus laevis tadpole model to study lymphangiogenesis.

Nature medicine 11(9): 998-1004.

11. Luttun A., Lutgens E., Manderveld A., Maris K., Collen D., Carmeliet P. and Moons L. (2004)

Loss of matrix metalloproteinase-9 or matrix metalloproteinase-12 protects apolipoprotein

E-deficient mice against atherosclerotic media destruction but differentially affects plaque

growth. Circulation 109(11): 1408-1409.

12. Oosthuyse B., Moons L., Beck H., Van Dorpe J., Hellings P., Gorselink M., Nuyens D., Heymans

S., Theilmeier G., Dewerchin M., Laudenbach V., Vermylen P., Acker T., Damert A., Cashman

N., Fujisawa H., Drost M.R., Robberecht W., Sciot R., Bruyninckx F., Gressens P., Plate K.H.,

Lupu F., Herbert J.M., Collen D. and Carmeliet P. (2001) Deletion of the hypoxia-response

element in the VEGF promotor causes adult onset motor neuron degeneration. Nature

Genetics 28(2): 131-138.


68

ALICE NIEUWBOER, PH.D.

Contact address:

Research Centre for Neuromotor, Paediatric and Pelvic

Rehabilitation

Tervuursevest 101

B-3001 Heverlee

Tel: +32 16 32 91 19

Fax: +32 16 32 91 97



1980 B.Sc. Physiotherapy, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

1988 M.Sc. Rehabilitation Studies, University of Southampton, UK

1999 Ph.D. Motor Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Parkinson’s disease

Freezing of Gait

Rehabilitation

RESEARCH AREAS

The main research area under the supervision of Alice Nieuwboer is particularly dedicated to how

basal ganglia deficits influence gait and upper limb movements and the shared mechanisms of

repetitive movement breakdown. Since 2007, she is running two research projects involving gait

analysis of freezing and brain imaging of upper limb freezing in collaboration with the department of

Biomedical Kinesiology and Experimental Neurology. The second area of research involves studying

the capability of the brain to restore function when affected by degenerative pathology. This

research area was developed under the impetus of the EU-funded RESCUE-project (2002-2005) on

cueing in Parkinson’s disease. As an extension of this project, studies are currently undertaken which

look at motor and cognitive compensatory mechanisms by investigating the effects of offering

external stimuli during exercise, dual tasking, motor imagery and motor learning in PD patients with

and without cognitive impairment.


1. Nieuwboer A., Vercruysse S., Feys P., Levin O., Spildooren J. and Swinnen S. (2009) Upper

limb movement interruptions are correlated to freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease.

European Journal of Neuroscience 29(7): 1422-30.


69

2. Nieuwboer A., Kwakkel G., Rochester L., Jones D., van Wegen E., Willems A., Chavret F.,

Hetherington V., Baker K. and Lim I. (2007) Cueing training in the home improves gait-related

mobility in Parkinson's disease: The RESCUE-trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and

Psychiatry 78(2): 134-140.

3. Nieuwboer A., Dom R., De Weerdt W., Desloovere K., Janssens L. and Stijn V. (2004)

Electromyographic profiles of gait prior to onset of freezing episodes in patients with

Parkinson's disease. Brain 127: 1650-60.


70

ILSE NOENS, PH.D.

Contact address:

K.U.Leuven

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences


Andreas Vesaliusstraat 2 - bus 3765

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 32 62 36/04

Fax: +32 16 32 59 33


Website: http://ppw.kuleuven.be/english/pserg/noens/


1994 Bachelor Educational Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1997 Master Educational Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2004 PhD Educational Sciences, Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands

RESEARCH TOPICS

Autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral and cognitive phenotypes

Parenting and special education

RESEARCH AREAS

My primary research area concerns autism spectrum disorders in an educational perspective. A first

line of research focuses on the nature and etiology of autism spectrum disorders and other

neurodevelopmental disorders in terms of behavior, cognition and educational aspects. A second,

more applied research line involves the development and evaluation of diagnostic instruments and

intervention strategies, e.g. regarding augmentative communication and parenting behavior.

I am interested in LIND for two reasons: (1) specific neurodegenerative genetic syndromes (e.g. Rett

syndrome) can co-occur with autism-related phenotypes, and (2) some of our diagnostic instruments

and intervention strategies, especially regarding adaptive behavior, augmentative communication

and care giving behavior, may be applicable to age-related neurodegenerative disorders.


Research Fellowship Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, 2005

Dissertation Award 2003-2005 Leiden University, Netherlands, 2006


71


1. Lambrechts G., Van Leeuwen K., Boonen H., Maes B. and Noens I. (in press) Parenting

behaviour among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism

Spectrum Disorders.

2. Tsatsanis K., Noens I., Illmann C., Pauls D., Volkmar F., Schultz R. and Klin A. (in press).

Managing complexity: Impact of organization and processing style on nonverbal memory in

autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

3. Noens I., Van Berckelaer-Onnes I., Verpoorten R. and Van Duijn G. (2006) The ComFor: An

instrument for the indication of augmentative communication in people with autism and

learning disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 50(9): 621-632.

4. Noens I. and Van Berckelaer-Onnes I. (2004) Making sense in a fragmentary world.

Communication in people with autism and learning disability. Autism 8(2): 197-218.


72

HERMAN NYS, PH.D.

Contact address:

Interfaculty Centre for Biomedial Ethics and Law

Kapucijnenvoer 35

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 69 51

Fax: +32 16 33 69 52


Website: www.kuleuven/cbmer.be


1971 Bachelor in Law, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1974 Master in Law, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

1980 Doctor in Law (Ph.D), K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1985-present Professor in medical law, K.U.Leuven

1989-present Director, Center of Biomedical Ethics and Law, K.U.Leuven

2000-20005 Professor in international health law, University of Maastricht

2008-present Co-founder and Director of the European Association of Health Law

RESEARCH TOPICS

Medical and Health (care) Law

End-of-life decisions

Medical research with human beings


Elizur Wright Award 1978 for the book “National Health Insurance and Health Resources. The

European Experience”, Harvard University Press, 1978

Member of the European Group of Advisors on Ethics in Science and Biotechnology (EGE)

(2011-2015), 2010

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (STRICTLY LIMITED TO END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS)

1. Fobelets G. and Nys H. (2009) ‘Evolution in research biobanks and its Legal consequences’ in

Dierickx K. and Borry P. (eds), New challenges for biobanks: ethics, law and governance,

Antwerp, Intersentia, 19-29.

2. Nys H. (2008) The Biomedicine Convention as an object and a stimulus for comparative

research in the European Journal of Health Law. European Journal of Health Law 15: 273-283.


73

3. Ang T.W., ten Have H., Solbak J.H. and Nys H. (2008) UNESCO global ethics observatory:

database on ethics related legislation and guidelines. Journal Medical Ethics 34: 738-741.

4. Nys H. and Adams M. (2008) ‘The legalisation of euthanasia in Belgium’ in Griffiths J., Weyers

H. and Adams M. (eds), Euthanasia and law in Europe, Oxford, Hart, 275-294.

5. Nys H. and Adams M. (2008) ‘Belgian law on euthanasia and other MBPSL’ in Griffiths J.,

Weyers H. and Adams M. (eds), Euthanasia and law in Europe, Oxford, Hart, 295-330.

6. Gastmans C., Dierickx K., Nys H. and Schotsmans P. (ed) (2007) New Pathways for European

Bioethics, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 224 p.

7. Nys H. (2007) ‘Physician involvement in a patient’s death: a continental European

perspective’, in Jost T.S. (ed), Readings in comparative health law and bioethics, second

edition, Durham, Carolina Academic Press, 279-294 and 319-324.

8. Nys H. (2005) ‘The Belgian law of August 22,2002 concerning the rights of patients’ in

Yearbook of European Medical Law, Lidingö (Sweden), The Institute of Medical Law, 91-100.

9. Nys H. and Adams M. (2005) ‘Euthanasia in the low countries. Comparative reflections on the

Belgian and Dutch euthanasia act’ in Schotsmans P. and Meulenberghs T. (eds), Euthanasia

and palliative care in the Low Countries, Leuven, Peeters, Ethical Perspectives Monograph

Series, 5-33.

10. Nys H. (2004) ‘A presentation of the Belgian Act on euthanasia against the background of

Dutch euthanasia law’ in Eutanasia: un problema aperto, Milano, Centro Nazionale di

prevenzione e difesa sociale, 35-61.

11. Nys H. (2001) ‘Physician involvement in a Patient’s Death: a Continental European

perspective’ in Jost T. (ed), Readings in Comparative Health Law and Bioethics, Durham,

Carolina Academic Press, 300-313.

12. Nys H. (2000) ‘Country Report Belgium’, in Taupitz J. (ed), Zivilrechtliche Regelungen zur

Absicherung der Patientenautonomie am Ende des Lebens. Eine internationale

documentation/ Regulations of civil law to safeguard the autonomy of patients at the end of

their life. An international documentation, Berlin, Springer, 135-161.


74

ANTON ROEBROEK, PH.D.

Contact address:

Laboratory for Experimental Mouse Genetics

Center for Human Genetics

KULeuven

Herestraat 49, box 602

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 34 62 25

Fax: + 32 16 34 62 59


Website: http://med.kuleuven.be/cme/index.html?en


1979 B.Sc. in Biology (KU Nijmegen, the Netherlands)

1982 M.Sc. in Biology (KU Nijmegen, the Netherlands)

1987 PhD. in Sciences (KU Nijmegen, the Netherlands)

1987 - 1989 Post-Doc (KU Nijmegen, the Netherlands)

1989 - 1994 Research associate (K.U.Leuven)

1994 – 1999 Assistant professor (K.U.Leuven)

2001 – 2006 VIB group leader

1999-present Associate professor (K.U.Leuven)

RESEARCH TOPICS

LRP1 and Aß metabolism

LRP1, atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome

LRP1 and cancer

RESEARCH AREAS

The research of the Laboratory of Experimental Mouse Genetics is focused upon the biological role of

the multifunctional endocytic receptor LRP1. LRP1 binds more than 30 unrelated ligands and it

participates as such in a number of diverse physiological and pathological processes ranging from

homeostasis of plasma lipoproteins, cell growth and atherosclerosis to neuronal regeneration and

survival. The intracellular or cytoplasmic domain of LRP1 encodes many potential (internalization)

signals, to which many different scaffold and adaptor proteins are binding. These multiple signals are

likely essential for relay or modulation of differential responses upon binding of different ligands to

the receptor. Mutagenesis of these putative signals, presumably disturbing only a part of the

biological functions of LRP1 is expected to be instrumental in further determination of their

significance and for our understanding of the biology of LRP1. During the last years, multiple


http://med.kuleuven.be/cme/index.html?en


75

mutations were introduced in the endogenous LRP1 gene of the mouse by application of a specially

designed, novel Recombination Mediated Cassette Exchange (RMCE) method. The impact of the

mutations, introduced into the LRP1 intracellular domain, is presently investigated with respect to

the role of LRP1 in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, more specific its role in APP metabolism

and degradation and clearing of Aß. Also the significance of LRP1 for the development of

atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism and the metabolic syndrome is being studied in the mutant mice.

Furthermore in relation to tumor growth and metastasis, the role of LRP1 in activation and

inactivation of heparanase-1 and metalloproteases, all extracellular matrix modulating enzymes, is

presently investigated.


1. Pflanzner T., Janko M., André-Dohmen B., Reuss S., Weggen S., Roebroek A., Kuhlmann C.

and Pietrzik C. (2010) LRP1 mediates bidirectional transcytosis of amyloid-beta across the

blood-brain-barrier. Neurobiology of Aging in press.

2. Reekmans S., Pflanzner T., Gordts P.L., Isbert S., Zimmermann P., Annaert W., Weggen S.,

Roebroek A.J. and Pietrzik C.U. (2010) Inactivation of the proximal NPXY motif impairs early

steps in LRP1 biosynthesis. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 67(1): 135-145.

3. Christoffersen C., Pedersen T., Gordts P., Roebroek A., Dahlbäck B. and Nielsen L. (2010)

Opposing effects of apoM on catabolism of apoB-containing lipoproteins and atherosclerosis.

Circulation Research 106(10): 1624-1634.

4. Gordts P.L., Reekmans S., Lauwers A., Van Dongen A., Verbeek L. and Roebroek A.J. (2009)

Inactivation of the LRP1 intracellular NPxYxxL motif in LDLR-deficient mice enhances

postprandial dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular

Biology 29(9): 1258-1264.

5. Martin A., Kuhlmann C., Trossbach S., Jaeger S., Waldron E., Roebroek A., Luhmann H.,

Laatsch A., Weggen S., Lessmann V. and Pietrzik C. (2008) The Functional Role of the Second

NPXY Motif of the LRP1 {beta}-Chain in Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator-mediated

Activation of N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptors. Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(18):

12004-12013.

6. Roebroek A.J., Reekmans S., Lauwers A., Feyaerts N., Smeijers L. and Hartmann D. (2006)

Mutant Lrp1 knock-in mice generated by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange reveal

differential importance of the NPXY motifs in the intracellular domain of LRP1 for normal

fetal development. Molecular and Cellular Biology 26(2): 605-616.


76

BIRGITTE SCHOENMAKERS, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Academic Center for General Practice

Kapucijnenvoer 33 blok J Box 7001

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 27 32



1997 Medical Doctor, Catholic University Leuven

1999 General Practice, Catholic University Leuven

2009 PhD in Medicine

RESEARCH TOPICS

Dementia Caregivers

Primary Healthcare

Education in General Practice

RESEARCH AREAS

The focus of the research I perform is on dementia caregivers in primary care. Family caregivers are a

frail but indispensable link in home care giving of dementia patients. Obviously, family caregivers

succeed well in organizing and supporting home care witnessing the degree of met objective care

needs. Nevertheless, in their attempt to efficiently approach and support home care, professional

carers tend to inventory and rate care needs in an objective, rational way. Consequently, caregivers

very often reported a high satisfaction and gratefulness whilst the efficacy of home care is

disappointing since outcome measures appeared not to improve. Professional support should

therefore be more fine-tuned to the individual needs of the caregivers and their active participation

in the choice should be sought. In terms of policy, this has some important implications. Instead of

inventing new, sophisticated or complex support mechanisms, home care should become more

accessible. A care counselor, familiar with the local care systems, could guide carers through the

difficult pathway of home care. In our intervention study we demonstrated that with a minimum of

actual interventions our care counselor achieved a remarkable decrease in depression rates in the

dementia caregivers.


1. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2010) Factors determining the impact of

care-giving on caregivers of elderly patients with dementia. A systematic literature review.

Maturitas.

http://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/nieuw-zap/schoenmakers-brigitte.jpg


77

2. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and DeLepeleire J. (2010) Supporting the dementia family

caregiver: the effect of home care intervention on general well-being. Aging & mental health

14(1): 44-56.

3. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2010) Supporting family carers of

community-dwelling elder with cognitive decline: a randomized controlled trial. Family

Medicine 1-10.

4. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2009) Can pharmacological treatment of

behavioural disturbances in elderly patients with dementia lower the burden of their family

caregiver? Family practice 26(4): 279-86.

5. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2009) The relation between care giving and

the mental health of caregivers of demented relatives: A cross-sectional study. The European

Journal of General Practice 15(2): 99-106.

6. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F., Devroey D., Van Casteren V. and De Lepeleire J. (2009) The

process of definitive institutionalization of community dwelling demented vs non demented

elderly: data obtained from a network of sentinel general practitioners. International Journal

of Geriatric Psychiatry 24(5): 523-31.

7. Schoenmakers B., Buntinx F. and De Lepeleire J. (2009) What is the role of the general

practitioner towards the family caregiver of a community-dwelling demented relative? A

systematic literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 27(1): 31-40.


78

RAF SCIOT M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Department of Pathology

Minderbroedersstraat 12

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 65 93

Fax: +32 16 33 65 48



1985 M.D., Leuven University

1990 Ph.D., Leuven University

1992 Specialisation in Anatomic Pathology, Leuven University

2008-present Chair of the Department of Pathology, University Hospital, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Mesenchymal tumors

Brain Tumors

RESEARCH AREAS

Correlation between morphological, and genetic/molecular features in mesenchymal and brain

tumors, including therapeutic implications


1. Dewaele B., Floris G., Finalet-Ferreiro J., Fletcher C.D.M., Coindre J.M., Guillou L.,

Hogendoorn P., Wozniak A., Vanspauwen V., Vandenberghe P., Schöffski P., Marynen P.,

Sciot R. and Debiec-Rychter M. (2010) Co-activated PDGFRA and EGFR are potential

therapeutic targets in intimal sarcoma. Cancer Research 70: 7304-7314.

2. Hallor K.H., Sciot R., Staaf J., Heidenblad M., Rydholm A., Bauer H.C.F., Astrom K., Domanski

H.A., Meis J.M., Kindblom L.G., Panagopoulos I., Mandahl N. and Mertens F. (2009) Two

genetic pathways, t(1;10) and amplification of 3p11-12, in myxoinflammatory fibroblastic

sarcoma, hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor and morphologically similar lesions. Journal

of Pathology 217: 716-727.

3. Sciot R., Debiec-Rychter M., Daugaard S., Fisher C., Collin F., van Glabbeke M., Verweij J., Blay

J.Y. and Hogendoorn P.C.W. (2008) Distribution and prognostic value of histopathologic data

and immunohistochemical markers in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). An analysis of

the EORTC phase III trial of treatment of metastatic GISTs with imatinib mesylate. European

Journal of Cancer 44: 1855-1860.


79

NELE SPRUYTTE, PH.D.

Contact address:



Kapucijnenvoer 39

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 69 10

Fax: +32 16 33 69 22

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kuleuven.be/lucas


1992-1997 Masters in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, K.U.Leuven

1997-2003 Phd in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and LUCAS, K.U.Leuven

2003-2006 Director of nursing home

2006-2008 Senior researcher HIVA, K.U.Leuven

2008-present Senior researcher LUCAS, K.U.Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

Informal caregiving

Psychosocial care and guidance for persons with dementia

Collaboration between patients, family and professional caregivers

Integrated care for elderly

RESEARCH AREAS







diversity there is a specialization in a few lines of research. Nele Spruytte’s main research topics are

focused on elderly care (informal caregiving, integration, collaboration) and on psychosocial care and

guidance for persons with dementia (small-scale living, participation of carers, etc).






80


Antwerpen: Garant.

2. Spruytte N., Vermeulen B., De Groof M., Declercq A. and Van Audenhove C. (2009)

Thuisbegeleiding dementie Foton: een eerste evaluatie, 155 pp. Leuven: LUCAS.

3. Spruytte N., De Coster I., Declercq A., Vermeulen K. and Van Audenhove C. (2009)

Onderhandelde zorg. Ondersteunende methodieken voor participatie van bewoners en

familie in de residentiële ouderenzorg, Eindrapport. Leuven: LUCAS.


and Misotten P. (2009) De zorg voor personen met dementie: perspectieven en uitdagingen.



and Misotten P. (2009) Les soins aux personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer ou d’une

maladie apparentée: perspectives et enjeux. Brussel, Koning Boudewijnstichting.

6. Van Audenhove C., Declercq A., De Coster I., Spruytte N., Molenberghs C. and Van den

Heuvel B. (2003) Kleinschalig genormaliseerd wonen voor personen met dementie.

Antwerpen: Garant.

7. Spruytte N., Van Audenhove C., Lammertyn F. and Storms G. (2002) The quality of the

caregiving relationship in informal care for older adults with dementia and chronic

psychiatric patients. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 75(3):

295-311.

8. Van Audenhove C., Van Humbeeck G., Spruytte N., Storms G., De Hert M., Heyrman J.,

Peuskens J., Pieters G. and Vertommen H. (2001) The Care Perception Questionnaire - An

instrument for the assessment of the perspective of patients, family members, and

professionals on psychiatric rehabilitation. European journal of psychological assessment

17(2): 120-129.

9. Spruytte N., Van Audenhove C. and Lammertyn F. (2001) Predictors of institutionalization of

cognitively-impaired elderly cared for by their relatives. International Journal of Geriatric

Psychiatry 16(12): 1119-1128.


81

STEPHAN SWINNEN, PH.D.

Contact address:

Research Center for Motor Control and Neuroplasticity

Department of Biomedical Kinesiology K.U.Leuven

Tervuurse Vest 101

B-3001 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 32 90 71

Fax: +32 16 32 91 97


Website:

http://faber.kuleuven.be/english/research/dep2/mcn/control/index.php


1979 Lic. Ph. Ed./Kinesiology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1983-1985 Staff Research Associate in Motor Control, University of California at Los Angeles

1987 PhD Motor Control/Kinesiology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium & UCLA, Los Angeles, California

RESEARCH TOPICS

- Motor control and neuroplasticity

- Age-related alterations in brain function and structure

- Age-related deficits in movement control

- Brain mechanisms involved in interlimb coordination and cognitive control

RESEARCH AREAS

As director of the Motor Control Laboratory at K.U.Leuven, Stephan P. Swinnen has gradually

developed a multidisciplinary research program for the study of motor coordination and

neuroplasticity, including a combination of behavioural and neuroscientific techniques (functional

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). His

team is interested in normal and disordered control of movement, including traumatic brain injury

and neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s disease). Over the years, intensive research

collaborations have been developed with the Departments of Radiology, Cognitive Neurology, and

Rehabilitation Sciences and the Department of Psychology at KU Leuven. During the past 10 years,

our team has devoted an increasing attention to aging research. More specifically, we explore age-

related changes in brain function, brain structure and connectivity, and their consequences for motor

performance, such as postural control and interlimb coordination. Our research is targeted at a

better understanding of processes of compensatory neural recruitment to offset performance loss as

a result of normal aging. Furthermore, we study the penetration of cognition into action control

during complex tasks that require cognitive/executive control across the lifespan. Our latest research

is directed towards the study of plastic changes in the aging brain as a result of training interventions.

https://owa-ie.kuleuven.be/owa/redir.aspx?C=5c71b848d7a34723b30943bca9e97545&URL=http%3a%2f%2ffaber.kuleuven.be%2fenglish%2fresearch%2fdep2%2fmcn%2fcontrol%2findex.php


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- Astra Pharmaceuticals Award, 1992

- Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award (NASPSPA), 1993

- Belgian Chair at University College London (UCL) - Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience

and Movement Disorders - Institute of Neurology - Queen Square - London WC1N 3BG (UK),

2004

- Distinguished Visitor - Neuroscience Lecture Series - Purdue University, 2005

- Distinguished Visitor Award – University of Auckland, 2005

- Visiting Research Fellow – UMR 6152 "Mouvement et Perception" Université de la

Méditerranée, Marseille cedex, 2005


1. Coxon J., Goble D., Van Impe A., De Vos J., Wenderoth N. and Swinnen S. (2010) Reduced

basal ganglia function when elderly switch between coordinated movement patterns.

Cerebral Cortex 20(10): 2368-2379.

2. Heuninckx S., Wenderoth N. and Swinnen S. (2010) Age-related reduction in the differential

pathways involved in internal and external movement generation. Neurobiology of Aging

31(2): 301-314.

3. Goble D., Coxon J., Van Impe A., De Vos J., Wenderoth N. and Swinnen S. (2010) The neural

control of bimanual movements in the elderly: brain regions exhibiting age-related increases

in activity, frequency-induced neural modulation, and task-specific compensatory

recruitment. Human Brain Mapping 31(8): 1281-1295.

4. Goble D., Coxon J., Wenderoth N., Van Impe A. and Swinnen S. (2009) Proprioceptive

sensibility in the elderly: Degeneration, functional consequences and plastic-adaptive

processes. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 33(3): 271-278.

5. Heuninckx S., Wenderoth N. and Swinnen S. (2008) Systems neuroplasticity in the aging

brain: Recruiting additional neural resources for successful motor performance in elderly

persons. Journal of Neuroscience 28(1): 91-99.

6. Serrien D.J., Ivry R.B. and Swinnen S.P. (2006) Dynamics of hemispheric specialization and

integration in the context of motor control. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7: 160-166.

7. Swinnen S.P. (2002) Intermanual coordination: from behavioural principles to neural-

network interactions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 3: 350-361.


83

JOHAN THEVELEIN, PH.D.

Contact address:

Lab of Molecular Cell Biology/VIB Department Molecular

Microbiology

Associated research group

Kasteelpark Arenberg 31

B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee

Tel: +32 16 32 15 07

Fax: +32 16 32 19 79


Website: http://bio.kuleuven.be/mcb/


1981 PhD, Department of Biology, K.U.Leuven

1982-1983 Post-doc, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University

1986 Assistant professor, K.U.Leuven

1996-present Full professor, K.U.Leuven

2002-present Department director, VIB

RESEARCH TOPICS

Molecular mechanisms of nutrient sensing and signaling in yeast and other eukaryotic cells

Polygenic analysis of complex traits and genetic improvement of industrial yeast strains

Use of yeast as a model and tool for functional analysis of genes with biomedical interest

Isolation and functional characterization of mammalian genes suppressing alfa-synuclein

toxicity in yeast

RESEARCH AREAS

Relevant research area: isolation and functional characterization of mammalian genes suppressing

alfa-synuclein toxicity in yeast

We have identified a yeast mutant highly sensitive to alpha-synuclein expression and have

used this strain to isolate two mammalian suppressor genes and one enhancer gene from a

mammalian brain cDNA library. The action mechanism of these proteins is currently being analyzed

both in yeast and in mammalian cells.

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Peeters T., Louwet W., Geladé R., Nauwelaers D., Thevelein J.M. and Versele M. (2006)

Kelch-repeat proteins interacting with the G protein Gpa2 bypass adenylate cyclase for


84

direct regulation of protein kinase A in yeast. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences (USA) 103: 13034-13039.

2. Van Zeebroeck G., Monge Bonini B., Versele M. and Thevelein J.M. (2009) Transport and

signaling via the amino acid binding site of the yeast Gap1 amino acid transceptor. Nature

Chemical Biology 5: 45-52.

3. Popova Y., Thayumanavan P., Lonati E., Agrochão M. and Thevelein J.M. (2010) Transport and

signaling through the phosphate-binding site of the yeast Pho84 phosphate transceptor.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 107: 2890-2895.


85

VINCENT THIJS, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Department of Neurology

University Hospitals Leuven

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 42 80

Fax: +32 16 34 42 85



1995 Medical Doctor, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

2000 Neurologist, University Hospitals Leuven

1999-2001 Cerebrovascular disease research Fellowship, Stanford Medical Center, USA

2003 Adjunct clinic head, University Hospitals Leuven

2004 PhD in Medical Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

2007-present Deeltijds hoofddocent, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

RESEARCH TOPICS

stroke

cerebrovascular disorder

neuroimaging

recovery

axonal outgrowth

stroke genetics

RESEARCH AREAS

Stroke is the leading cause of adult onset disability and causes one out of 10 deaths worldwide. V

Thijs directs a project on the pathophysiology and genetics of stroke and studies the therapeutic

potential of thrombolysis after brain ischemia. The group studies genetic risk factors for stroke and

the potential differences with other vascular diseases like myocardial infarction and peripheral artery

disease. These genetic risk factors may provide insight into novel disease pathways leading to stroke.

As a second endeavour the group studies recovery mechanisms after stroke. Research has focused in

the past on the use of imaging to select patients who may recover after stroke treatment and on

testing new therapeutic agents like microplasmin for acute stroke treatment. Basic research is now

geared towards a more fundamental understanding of the stroke recovery process in animals who

suffer from experimental stroke.



86


International Rotary Foundation Scholarship, 1999-2000

H. Van Waeyenbergh of the Hoover Foundation Fellow of the Belgian American Educational

Foundation, 1999-2000

Klinische Doctoraatsbeurs Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen, 2002-2004

Beurs Klinisch Onderzoeksfonds UZ Leuven, 2006-2008

Fundamenteel klinisch onderzoeker FWO, 2007-2012


1. Lemmens R., Buysschaert I., Geelen V., Fernandez-Cadenas I., Montaner J., Schmidt H.,

Schmidt R., Attia J., Maguire J., Levi C., Jood K., Blomstrand C., Jern C., Wnuk M., Slowik A.,

Lambrechts D. and Thijs V. (2010) The association of the 4q25 susceptibility variant for atrial

fibrillation with stroke is limited to stroke of cardioembolic etiology. Stroke 41: 1850-1857.

2. Thijs V., Lemmens R., Schoofs C., Gorner A., Van Damme P., Schrooten M. and Demaerel P.

(2010) Microbleeds and the risk of recurrent stroke. Stroke 41: 2005-2009.

3. Brouns R., Thijs V., Eyskens F., Van den Broeck M., Belachew S., Van Broeckhoven C.,

Redondo P., Hemelsoet D., Fumal A., Jeangette S., Verslegers W., Baker R., Hughes D. and De

Deyn P.P. (2010) Belgian fabry study: Prevalence of fabry disease in a cohort of 1000 young

patients with cerebrovascular disease. Stroke 41: 863-868.

4. Lemmens R., Abboud S., Robberecht W., Vanhees L., Pandolfo M., Thijs V. and Goris A. (2009)

Variant on 9p21 strongly associates with coronary heart disease, but lacks association with

common stroke. European Journal of Human Genetics 17: 1287-1293.

5. Albers G.W., Thijs V.N., Wechsler L., Kemp S., Schlaug G., Skalabrin E., Bammer R., Kakuda W.,

Lansberg M.G., Shuaib A., Coplin W., Hamilton S., Moseley M. and Marks M.P. (2006)

Magnetic resonance imaging profiles predict clinical response to early reperfusion: The

diffusion and perfusion imaging evaluation for understanding stroke evolution (defuse)

study. Annals of Neurology 60: 508-517.


87

JOS TOURNOY, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Division of Geriatric Medicine/Division of Gerontology and

Geriatrics

Internal Medicine Department/Department of Experimental

Medicine

Memory Clinic


Herestraat 49 - bus 7003

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 26 40 or +32 16 34 17 47

Fax: +32 16 34 26 41


Website:

http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/geheugenkliniek


1998 Master of Medicine, Medical doctor

2006 PhD in Medical Sciences, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium: ‘Physiological study of

Presenilins and BACEs, two proteases involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s

disease’. Promotors: Prof. Dr. D. Hartmann and Prof. Dr. B. De Strooper

2005 Internal Medicine Certification KULeuven

2006 Geriatric Medicine Certification KULeuven

2006- 2008 Staff Physician at the Psychiatry Research and Gerontopsychiatric Department,

University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

RESEARCH TOPICS

Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease

Mechanisms of cognitive decline with ageing

Drug therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

RESEARCH AREAS

The research of Jos Tournoy covers both clinical and fundamental areas related to cognition and

Alzheimer’s disease. Through participation in several diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials at the

Memory Clinic of the University Hospitals Leuven

(http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/onderzoek), we aim to contribute to the development of

new and more efficacious therapies for AD. Jos Tournoy is also involved as co-investigator of the

European Male Ageing Study (http://www.emas.man.ac.uk/main.asp), where he specifically analyses

possible contributors to cognitive decline within male ageing and partner in the AMACS project

(http://www.mobilab-khk.be/Eng/index.html), in order to automatically monitor activities of elderly


http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/geheugenkliniek

http://www.uzleuven.be/geheugenkliniek/onderzoek

http://www.emas.man.ac.uk/main.asp

http://www.mobilab-khk.be/Eng/index.html


88

at home and correlate this with cognitive abilities.

His fundamental research aims at elucidating the molecular signature of AD through a

translational approach. In collaboration with the Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative

Diseases, the occurrence of specific miRNA networks in patients with AD will be investigated. Hereby,

we aim to identify miRNAs networks involved in AD, study their putative role in neurodegeneration

and explore their potential as biomarkers for AD. At the Memory Clinic of the Leuven University

Hospitals, we started to derive fibroblasts from AD patients aiming to obtain specific induced

pluripotent stem cell lines in collaboration with Prof. C. Verfaillie. Subsequent to the establishment of

reliable protocols for differentiation into cortical and hippocampal neurons and glia cells, these cells

will serve as a human model for drug screening, but also serve to elucidate the molecular, functional

and morphological phenotypes of the neurons and glia cells in relation to AD.


Horlait-Dapsens Foundation Price, 2006


1. Tournoy J., Bossuyt X., De Strooper B., Snellinx A., Regent M., Craessaerts K. and Hartmann D.

(2004) Partial loss of presenilins causes seborrheic keratosis and a severe autoimmune

phenotype in adult mice. Human Molecular Genetics 13(13): 1321-31.

2. Tournoy J., Dominguez D., Deforce S., Hartmann D., Reiss K., Saftig P. and De Strooper B.

(2005) Phenotypic and biochemical analyses of BACE1- and BACE2-deficient mice. Journal of

Biological Chemistry 280(35): 30797-806.

3. Vandenberghe R. and Tournoy J. (2005) Cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Postgraduate Medical Journal 81(956): 343-52.

4. Tournoy J., Lee D., Pendleton N., O’Neill T., O’Connor D., Bartfai G., Casanueva F., Finn J.,

Forti G., Giwercman A., Han T., Huhtaniemi I., Kula K., Lean M., Moseley C., Punab M., Silman

A., Vanderschueren D., Wu F. and Boonen S. (2010) Association of cognitive performance

with the metabolic syndrome and with glycaemia in middle-aged and older European men:

the European Male Ageing Study. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews 26(8): 668-76.


89

THOMAS TOUSSEYN, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Morphology and Molecular Pathology Section


Minderbroederstraat 12 Blok Q

B- 3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 336582

Fax: +32 16 336548



2001 Medical Doctor, summa cum laude, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2001-2002 Resident in Neurosurgery, University Hospitals K.U. Leuven

2004 Aggregation for Teaching in High School, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2004 Postgraduate Degree in Hospital Management, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2002- 2006 PhD student at Neuronal Cell Biology and Gene Transfer Laboratory, V.I.B.

2006-2007 Postdoctoral researcher at the Memory and Aging Clinic of the University of

California, San Francisco (U.C.S.F, USA)

2007-2010 Resident in Anatomic Pathology, University Hospitals K.U. Leuven

2009 Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), Dept for Human Genetics, V.I.B,

K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2010 Anatomic Pathologist, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2010 Fellowship in Hematopathology, British Columbia Research Center (BCCA), Vancouver

General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

2010-present Adjunct-Kliniekhoofd, Staff Pathologist with focus on Neuropathology and

Hematopathology at the Morphology and Molecular Pathology Section, University

Hospitals K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2010-present Senior Academic Staff, Professor at the Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Neuropathology

Hematopathology



90

RESEARCH AREAS

Neurodegenerative disorders:

Development of a brain biobank

o Histopathological evaluation of brain autopsy specimens of cognitively impaired

patients (Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeld-Jacob disease

(CJD), Lewy body and Parkinson's disease).

o Postmortem correlation study between the amyloid ligand 18F-flutemetamol, a

derivative of 11C-PIB, and beta-amyloid protein, using immunohistochemical

stainings.

o Study of the role of quinacrine and gamma-secretase inhibitor administration on

dendritic arborisation in a mouse model for CJD.

o Histopathological study of the presence of prion protein (PrP) and beta-amyloid

plaques in CJD patients.

Brain tumors: histopathological analysis of the stromal respons in glioblastoma.

Myopathies: histopathological and electron microscopical analysis of muscle biopsies.

Hematopathology: Histopathological analysis and molecular pathogenesis of lymphomas,

with a focus on Primary Central Nervous System lymphoma, post-transplant

lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) and the role of the host immune response on tumor

development


Aspirant Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (F.W.O.), 2003-2007

Young Investigator’s Award from the International Society of Neuropathology, 2006

D. Collen Award, Belgian American Educational Foundation (B.A.E.F), 2006-2007

UICC International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships (ICRETT), 2010


1. Clerinx K., Breban T., Schrooten M., Leite M.I., Vincent A., Verschakelen J., Tousseyn T. and

Vandenberghe W. (2010) Resolution of progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and

myoclonus after thymectomy. Neuron. In press

2. Sagaert X., Van Cutsem E., De Hertogh G., Geboes K. and Tousseyn T. (2010) Gastric MALT

lymphoma: a model of chronic inflammation-induced tumor development. Nature Reviews

Gastroenterology & Hepatology 7(6): 336-46.

3. Dierickx D., Tousseyn T. and Verhoef G. (2010) Primary central nervous system post-

transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder. Cancer 116(14): 3521.

4. Van Loo P., Tousseyn T., Vanhentenrijk V., Dierickx D., Malecka A., Vanden Bempt I., Verhoef

G., Delabie J., Marynen P., Matthys P. and De Wolf-Peeters C. (2010) T-cell/histiocyte-rich

large B-cell lymphoma shows transcriptional features suggestive of a tolerogenic host

immune response. Haematologica 95(3): 440-8.


91

5. Sagaert X., Tousseyn T., Vanhentenrijk V., Van Loo P., Baens M., Marynen P., De Hertogh G.,

Geboes K. and De Wolf-Peeters C. (2010) Comparative expressed sequence hybridization

studies of t(11;18)(q21;q21)-positive and -negative gastric MALT lymphomas reveal both

unique and overlapping gene programs. Modern Pathology 23(3): 458-69.

6. Tousseyn T., Simko J., Gaskin D. and DeArmond S. (2009) The molecular basis of

neurodegenerative diseases. in Modern Surgical Pathology, 2nd edition, vol. 2. Eds: Noel

Weidner, Richard J Cote, Saul Suster and Lawrence M Weiss pp. 2039-2069. ISBN:

141603966X

7. Tousseyn T. (2009) Analysis of the role of the Disintegrin Metalloprotease ADAM10 in

Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis. Acta Biomedica Lovaniensia 462.

8. Tousseyn T., Thathiah A., Jorissen E., Raemaekers T., Konietzko U., Reiss K., Maes E., Snellinx

A., Serneels L., Nyabi O., Annaert W., Saftig P., Hartmann D. and De Strooper B. (2009)

ADAM10, the rate-limiting protease of regulated intramembrane proteolysis of notch and

other proteins, is processed itself by ADAMS 9, -15, and gamma-secretase. Journal of

Biological Chemistry 284(17): 11738-47.

9. Spilman P., Bush C., Sattavat M., Tousseyn T., Lessard P., Huang E., Prusiner S. and DeArmond

S.J. (2008) A γ-secretase inhibitor and quinacrine reduce prions and prevent dendritic

degeneration in murine brains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA

105(30): 10595-10600.

10. Tousseyn T., Jorissen E., Reiss K. and Hartmann D. (2006) (Make) stick and cut loose-

disintegrin metalloproteases in development and disease. Birth Defects Research Part C:

Embryo Today 78(1): 24-46.

11. Reiss K., Maretzky T., Ludwig A., Tousseyn T., De Strooper B., Hartmann D. and Saftig P.

(2005) ADAM10 cleavage of N-cadherin and regulation of cell-cell adhesion and beta-catenin

nuclear signalling. EMBO Journal 24(4): 742-52.

12. Serneels L., Dejaegere T., Craessaerts K., Horre K., Jorissen E., Tousseyn T., Hebert S., Coolen

M., Martens G., Zwijsen A., Annaert W., Hartmann D. and De Strooper B. (2005) Differential

contribution of the three Aph1 genes to gamma-secretase activity in vivo. Proceedings of the


13. van Kuyck K., Demeulemeester H., Feys H., De Weerdt W., Dewil M., Tousseyn T., De Sutter

P., Gybels J., Bogaerts K., Dom R. and Nuttin B. (2003) Effects of electrical stimulation or

lesion in nucleus accumbens on the behaviour of rats in a T-maze after administration of 8-

OH-DPAT or vehicle. Behavioral Brain Research 140(1-2): 165-73.


92

CHANTAL VAN AUDENHOVE, PH.D.

Contact address:



Kapucijnenvoer 39

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 33 69 10

Fax: +32 16 33 69 22


Website: www.kuleuven.be/lucas; www.steunpuntwvg.be


1974-1979 Masters in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, K.U.Leuven

1980-1981 Aggregate for Higher Secundary Eduction, Department of Psychology, Katholieke

Universiteit Leuven

1986 Ph.D. thesis at Department of Psychology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

1992 Project leader at Lucas

1996 Director of LUCAS

1995 Assistant professor, medical School, K.U.Leuven

2004 Full professor, medical school, K.U.Leuven

2007-present Promotor-coordinator of the policy research center for health, social wellfare and

family a research network between the Catholic University of Leuven, the University

of Gent, the Free university of Brussels and Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Care for persons with dementia

Community mental health care

Prevention of suicide and depression

Communication in health care

RESEARCH AREAS







diversity there is a specialization in a few lines of research. Chantal Van Audenhove’s main research

topics are in the field of care for persons with dementia, community mental health care,

communication and decision making and prevention of suicide and depression.



http://www.steunpuntwvg.be/


93


1. Reynders A., Scheerder G. and Van Audenhove C. (2010) The reliability of suicide rates: An

analysis of railway suicides from two sources in fifteen European countries. Journal of

Affective Disorders art.nr. 10.1016/j.jad.2010.11.003.

2. Scheerder G., Reynders A., Andriessen K. and Van Audenhove C. (2010) Suicide intervention

skills and related factors in community and health professionals. Suicide & Life-threatening

Behavior 40(2): 115-124.

3. Scheerder G., Van Audenhove C., Arensman E., Bernik B., Giupponi G., Horel A., Maxwell M.,

Sisask M., Szekely A., Värnik A. and Hegerl U. (2010) Community and health professionals'

attitude toward depression: a pilot study in nine EAAD countries. International Journal of

Social Psychiatry (Epub ahead of print).

4. Scheerder G., De Coster I. and Van Audenhove C. (2009) Community pharmacists' attitude

toward depression: a pilot study. Research in social & administrative pharmacy: RSAP 5(3):

242-52.

5. Hegerl U., Wittenburg L., Arensman E., Van Audenhove C., Coyne J., McDaid D., van der Feltz-

Cornelis C., Gusmão R., Kopp M., Maxwell M., Meise U., Roskar S., Sarchiapone M.,

Schmidtke A., Värnik A. and Bramesfeld A. (2009) Optimizing suicide prevention programs

and their implementation in Europe (OSPI Europe): an evidence-based multi-level approach.

BMC public health 9: 428.

6. Arensman E., Coffey C., McDaid D., Van Audenhove C., Scheerder G., Schmidtke A., Gusmão

R. and Hegerl U. (2009) Intermediate outcome criteria and evaluation of suicide prevention

programmes: A review. European Journal of Public Health 19(Suppl. 1): 68-68.




Antwerpen: Garant.

8. Van Audenhove C., Spruytte N., Detroyer E., De Coster I., Declercq A., Ylieff M., Squelard G.,

Misotten P. (2009) De zorg voor personen met dementie: perspectieven en uitdagingen.


9. Scheerder G., De Coster I. and Van Audenhove C. (2008) Pharmacists' role in depression care:

A survey of attitudes, current practices, and barriers. Psychiatric services 59(10): 1155-1161.

10. Hegerl U., Wittmann M., Arensman E., Van Audenhove C., Bouleau J., Van Der Feltz-Cornelis

C., Gusmao R., Kopp M., Löhr C., Maxwell M., Meise U., Mirjanic M., Oskarsson H., Sola V.,

Pull C., Pycha R., Ricka R., Tuulari J., Värnik A. and Pfeiffer-Gerschel T. (2008) The 'European

Alliance Against Depression (EAAD)': a multifaceted, community-based action programme

against depression and suicidality. The World Journal of Bological Psychiatry 9(1): 51-8.

11. Liegeois A. and Van Audenhove C. (2005) Ethical dilemmas in community mental health care.

Journal of medical ethics 31(8): 452-6.

12. van Weeghel J., Van Audenhove C., Colucci M., Garanis-Papadatos T., Liegeois A., McCulloch

A., Muijen M., Norcio B., Ploumbidis D. and Bauduin D. (2005) The components of good

community care for people with severe mental illnesses: views of stakeholders in five

European countries. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal 28(3): 274-81.


94

13. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C. and Declercq A. (2004) Mental health, burnout and job

satisfaction among professionals in sheltered living in Flanders. A pilot study. Social

psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 39(7): 569-75.

14. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C., Storms G., De Hert M., Pieters G., Vertommen H.,

Peuskens J. and Heyrman J. (2004) Expressed emotion in the client-professional dyad - A

comparison of three expressed emotion instruments. European journal of psychological

assessment 20(4): 237-246.

15. Van Audenhove C., Declercq A., De Coster I., Spruytte N., Molenberghs C., Van den Heuvel B.

(2003) Kleinschalig genormaliseerd wonen voor personen met dementie. Antwerpen: Garant.

16. Van Audenhove C. and Van Humbeeck G. (2003) Expressed emotion in professional

relationships. Current opinion in psychiatry 16(4): 431-435.

17. Van Humbeeck G. and Van Audenhove C. (2003) Expressed emotion of professionals towards

mental health patients. Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale 12(4): 232-7.

18. Declercq A. and Van Audenhove C. (2003) Small is beautiful in Belgium. Occupational Therapy

News (10): 26.

19. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C., Vertommen H., Storms G., De Hert M., Peuskens J.,

Pieters G. and Heyrman J. (2003) Emotion expérimentée chez les soignants en relation avec

des résidents souffrant de troubles d'apprentissage. Vers une nouvelle définition du

surinvestissement émotionnel. Revue Européenne du Handicap Mental - European Journal on

Mental Disability (27): 16-27.

20. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C., Pieters G., De Hert M., Storms G., Vertommen H.,

Peuskens J. and Heyrman J. (2002) Expressed emotion in the client-professional caregiver

dyad: are symptoms, coping strategies and personality related? Social psychiatry and

psychiatric epidemiology 37(8): 364-71.

21. Van Humbeeck G., Van Audenhove C., De Hert M., Pieters G. and Storms G. (2002) Expressed

emotion: a review of assessment instruments. Clinical Psychology Review 22(3): 321-341.

22. Spruytte N., Van Audenhove C., Lammertyn F. and Storms G. (2002) The quality of the

caregiving relationship in informal care for older adults with dementia and chronic

psychiatric patients. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 75(3):

295-311.

23. Spruytte N., Van Audenhove C. and Lammertyn F. (2001) Predictors of institutionalization of

cognitively-impaired elderly cared for by their relatives. International Journal of Geriatric

Psychiatry 16(12): 1119-1128.


95

PHILIP VAN DAMME, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Neurology Department

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 16 34 42 80

Fax: +32 16 34 42 85


Website: www.vrc-lab.be


1992-1999 Medical School, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1999-2006 Neurology Training, Leuven University Hospitals, Belgium

2000-2004 Ph.D. in Neuroscience on the role of AMPA receptors in the pathogenesis of

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2008 Visiting fellowship in neuromuscular disorders/EMG and visiting research fellowship

at MGH, Harvard Medical School, Boston

RESEARCH TOPICS

The link between frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral

The role of progranulin and TDP-43 in neurodegeneration

Genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

RESEARCH AREAS

Next to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disorders in the

frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)/ amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) spectrum are amongst

the most common neurodegenerative disorders. The progressive behavioral and language

disturbances in FTLD and the progressive motor weakness in ALS have devastating effects on patients

and their families. Hereditary (30% of FTLD, 10% of ALS) and sporadic forms of both disorders exist.

Mutations in MAPT and GRN (encoding progranulin) cause FTLD, mutations in SOD1, TARDP

(endocing TDP-43) and FUS cause ALS. In more than 50% of patients with familial disease, the gene

remains to be elucidated.

There is extensive overlap between FTLD and ALS at the clinical, the pathological and genetic

level. Progranulin and TDP-43 are two important molecular players central to this overlap. Mutations

in GRN cause FTLD (sometimes with ALS) with TDP-43 pathology. Mutations in TARDP cause ALS

(sometimes FTLD) with TDP-43 pathology. In addition, TDP-43 pathology is encountered in the


http://www.vrc-lab.be/


96

majority of patients with sporadic FTLD or ALS. Using cellular and animal models we try to

understand how progranulin and TDP-43 lead to neurodegeneration. Better knowledge of the role of

progranulin and TDP-43 will hopefully contribute to novel therapeutic strategies.


‘Schamelhout-Koettlitz’ award of the Royal Academy of Medicine, 2009

‘Horlait-Dapsens’ foundation award, 2007

‘Willy et Marcy de Vooght’ foundation award, 2006


1. Laird A., Van Hoecke A., De Muynck L., Timmers M., Van Den Bosch L., Van Damme P. and

Robberecht W. (2010) Progranulin is neurotrophic in vivo and protects against a mutant TDP-

43 induced axonopathy. PLoS ONE 5(10): e13368.

2. Philips T., De Muynck L., Nguyen H.T., Weynants B., Vanacker P., Dhondt J., Sleegers K.,

Schelhaas H.J., Verbeek M., Vandenberghe R., Sciot R., Van Broeckhoven C., Lambrechts D.,

Van Leuven F., Van Den Bosch L., Robberecht W. and Van Damme P. (2010) Microglial

upregulation of progranulin as marker of motor neuron degeneration. Journal of

Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. In press.

3. Shatunov A., Mok K., Newhouse S., Weale M.E., Smith B., Vance C., Johnson L., Veldink J., van

Es M., van den Berg L., Robberecht W., Van Damme P., Hardiman O., Farmer A.E., Lewis C.M.,

Butler W.L., Abel O., Andersen P.M., Fogh I., Silani V., Chio A., Traynor B.J., Melki J.,

Meininger V., Landers J.E., McGuffin P., Glass J.D., Pall H., Leigh P.N., Hardy J., Brown R.H.,

Powell J.F., Orrell R.W., Morrison K.E., Shaw P.J., Shaw C.E. and Al-Chalabi A. (2010)

Chromosome 9p21 in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the UK and seven other

countries: a genome-wide association study. The Lancet Neurology 9(10): 986-994.

4. Bento-Abreu A., Van Damme P., Van Den Bosch L. and Robberecht W. (2010) The

neurobiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. European Journal of Neuroscience 31(12):

2247-2265.

5. Delforge M., Bladé J., Dimopoulos M.A., Facon T., Kropff M., Ludwig H., Palumbo A., Van

Damme P., San-Miguel J.F. and Sonneveld P. (2010) Treatment-related peripheral

neuropathy in multiple myeloma: the challenge continues. Lancet Oncology

doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70068-1.

6. Bogaert E., Goris A., Van Damme P., Geelen V., Lemmens R., van Es M., van den Bergh L.H.,

Sleegers K., Verpoorten N., Timmerman V., De Jonghe P., Van Broeckhoven C., Traynor B.,

Landers J.E., Brown Jr. R.H., Al-Chalabi A., Shaw C.E., Birve A., Andersen P.M., Slowik A.,

Tomik B., Melki J., Robberecht W. and Van Den Bosch L. (2010) Polymorphisms in the GluR2

gene are not associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiology of aging

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.03.007.

7. Taes I., Goris A., Lemmens R., van Es M., Van den Berg L., Chio A., Traynor B.J., Birve A.,

Andersen P., Slowik A., Tomik B., Brown Jr. R.H., Shaw C.E., Al-Chalabi A., Boonen S., Van Den

Bosch L., Dubois B., Van Damme P. and Robberecht W. (2010) Tau levels do not contribute to

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.03.007


97

human ALS or motor neuron degeneration in the SOD1G93A mouse model. Neurology 74(21):

1687-1693.

8. Wang J., Van Damme P., Cruchaga C., Gitcho M.A., Vidal J.M., Seijo-Martínez M., Wang L.,

Wu J.Y., Robberecht W. and Goate A. (2010) Pathogenic Cysteine Mutations Affect

Progranulin Function and Production of Mature Granulins. Journal of Neurochemistry 112:

1305-1315.

9. Van Damme P., Goris A., Race V., Hersmus N., Dubois B., Van Den Bosch L., Matthijs G. and

Robberecht W. (2010) The occurrence of mutations in FUS in a Belgian cohort of familial ALS

patients. European Journal of Neurology 17(5): 754-756.

10. Van Damme P. and Robberecht W. (2009) Recent advances in motor neuron disease. Current

opinion in neurology 22(5): 486-92.

11. Sleegers K., Brouwers N., Van Damme P., Engelborghs S., Gijselinck I., van der Zee J., Peeters

K., Mattheijssens M., Cruts M., Vandenberghe R., De Deyn P.P., Robberecht W. and Van

Broeckhoven C. (2009) A serum biomarker for progranulin-associated frontotemporal lobar

degeneration. Annals of Neurology 65(5): 603-9.



excitotoxicity by upregulation of GluR2. Neurobiology of Aging

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.12.007.

13. Lemmens R., Race V., Hersmus N., Matthijs G., Van Den Bosch L., Van Damme P., Dubois B.,

Boonen S., Goris A. and Robberecht W. (2009) TDP-43 M311V mutation in familial

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 80(3): 354-5.

14. Poesen K., Lambrechts D., Van Damme P., Dhondt J., Bender F., Frank N., Bogaert E., Claes B.,

Heylen L., Verheyen A., Raes K., Tjwa M., Eriksson U., Shibuya M., Nuydens R., Van Den Bosch

L., Meert T., D'Hooge R., Sendtner M., Robberecht W. and Carmeliet P. (2008) Novel Role for

VEGF-Receptor-1 and its Ligand VEGF-B in Motor Neuron Degeneration. Journal of

Neuroscience 28: 10451-10459.

15. Van Damme P., Van Hoecke A., Lambrechts D., Vanacker P., Bogaert E., van Swieten J.,

Carmeliet P., Van Den Bosch L. and Robberecht W. (2008) Progranulin functions as a

neurotrophic factor to regulate neurite outgrowth and enhance neuronal survival. The

Journal of Cell Biology 181(1): 37-41.

16. Sleegers K., Brouwers N., Maurer-Stroh S., van Es M.A., Van Damme P., van Vught P.W.J, van

der Zee J., Serneels S., De Pooter T., Van den Broeck M., Cruts M., Schymkowitz J., De Jonghe

P., Rousseau F., van den Berg L.H., Robberecht W. and Van Broeckhoven C. (2008)

Progranulin genetic variability contributes to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology 71(4):

253-259.

17. Van Damme P., Bogaert E., Dewil M., Hersmus N., Kiraly D., Scheveneels W., Bockx I.,

Braeken D., Verpoorten N., Verhoeven K., Timmerman V., Herijgers P., Callewaert G.,

Carmeliet P., Van Den Bosch L. and Robberecht W. (2007) Astrocytes regulate GluR2

expression in motor neurons and their vulnerability to excitotoxicity. Proceedings of the


18. Van Damme P., Braeken D., Callewaert G., Robberecht W. and Van Den Bosch L. (2005) GluR2

deficiency accelerates motor neuron degeneration in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral

sclerosis. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology 64(7): 605-612.


98

LUDO VAN DEN BOSCH, PH.D.

Contact address:

Neurobiology, Vesalius Research Center

Campus Gasthuisberg PB1022

Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven

Tel: 32 16 34 57 85

Fax: 32 16 33 07 70


Website: http://www.neurology-kuleuven.be/index.php?id=168


1984 Bachelor in Biology, University of Hasselt, Belgium

1986 Master in Biology, University of Leuven, Belgium

1990 PhD in Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium

RESEARCH TOPICS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and distal hereditary motor neuropathies (dHMN)

Excitotoxicity

RESEARCH AREAS

The main focus of our research is to get insights into the mechanism of selective motor neuron death

in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and distal hereditary

motor neuropathies (dHMN). All these disorders are characterized by a disturbance in the motor

function of the patients. In ALS, the selective death of the motor neurons leads to muscle atrophy,

paralysis and death of the patient, on average 2 to 5 years after the onset of the disease, while in

CMT and dHMN the progression of the degeneration is much slower. A common denominator of

these diseases is that the problems start at the neuromuscular junction, that subsequently the axons

of the motor neurons degenerate and that ultimately the cell bodies of the motor neurons disappear.

Using primary cell cultures and animal models, we investigate the parameters that influence the

different steps of this degeneration. We are currently focusing on the role of overstimulation of

glutamate receptors (=excitotoxicity), of axonal transport and of astrocytes. Ultimately, we hope to

develop therapeutic strategies that can stop and/or reverse the motor neuron degeneration.


Monique Brauns prize of the ‘Geneeskundige Stichting Koningin Elisabeth’, 2008


http://www.neurology-kuleuven.be/index.php?id=168


99

Schamelhout-Koettlitz prize, 2000-2005

Prize of the Belgian ‘Royal Academy of Medicine’, 1997




excitotoxicity by upregulation of GluR2. Neurobiology of Aging 31(12): 2185-2191.

2. Van Damme P., Bogaert E., Dewil M., Hersmus N., Kiraly D., Scheveneels W., Bockx I.,

Braeken D., Verpoorten N., Verhoeven K., Timmerman V., Herijgers P., Callewaert G.,

Carmeliet P., Van Den Bosch L. and Robberecht, W. (2007) Astrocytes regulate GluR2

expression in motor neurons and their vulnerability to excitotoxicity. Proceedings of the


3. Evgrafov O., Mersiyanova I., Irobi J., Van Den Bosch L., Dierick I., Leung C., Schagina O.,

Verpoorten N., Van Impe K., Fedotov V., Dadali E., Auer-Grumbach M., Windpassinger C.,

Wagner K., Mitrovic Z., Hilton-Jones D., Talbot K., Martin J., Vasserman N., Tverskaya S.,

Polyakov A., Liem R., Gettemans J., Robberecht W., De Jonghe P. and Timmerman V. (2004)

Mutant small heat-shock protein 27 causes axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and distal

hereditary motor neuropathy. Nature Genetics 36(6): 602-606.


100

PIETER VANDEN BERGHE, PH.D.

Contact address:

Lab. for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS)

TARGID, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal

Disorders

O&N1, mailstop 701, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven

Tel: + 32 16 33 01 53

Fax: +32 16 33 07 23


Website: www.targid.eu (> LENS)


1993 Masters degree in Bio-Engineering (KULeuven)

1994 Masters degree in Biomedical and Clinical engineering techniques (KULeuven).

2000 Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (KULeuven)

2000-2002 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Nevada, Reno, USA.

2002-2003 Max-Planck Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany.

2001-2008 FWO post-doctoral fellow (KULeuven)

2008-present Assistant Professor Fac. of Medicine, KULeuven.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Enteric nervous system

Mitochondrial transport in neurons

Glia neuronal interactions

Microscopy techniques

RESEARCH AREAS

Pieter Vanden Berghe’s Lab. for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) aims to gain in-depth understanding of

how the enteric nervous system functions in normal and pathophysiological conditions. Enteric

nerves are organized in a ganglionated network located in the gut wall and control secretion,

absorption and motor behavior of stomach and intestines. The coordination of various gut functions

requires accurate communication (synaptic and paracrine) between the different cell types involved.

Besides standard biochemical and molecular biology techniques we mainly use microscopic imaging

to monitor activity in the enteric nervous system and to understand different aspects of

communication among enteric nerves and between nerves and glial cells. Apart from being crucial in

the coordination of gut physiology, the enteric nervous system is, due to its architecture, also an

ideal model system to investigate general principles of nerve network activity, information

processing and neurodegeneration issues.

http://www.targid.eu/


101

Role of glial cells in neurotransmission in the ENS

We aim to elucidate the bidirectional communication between enteric neurons and glia and

investigate how glial cells influence synaptic transmission in the enteric nervous system.

Regulation of mitochondrial transport

Mitochondrial dysfunction or defects in the transport of mitochondria have been implicated in many

neurodegenerative diseases. The physiological events that drive mitochondrial transport are only

starting to be understood. Patients with neurodegenerative disorders often present with

gastrointestinal symptoms that are attributed to specific alterations in the ENS. An interesting

hypothesis, put forward by Braak et al. (2006) even suggests that environmental factors may be

involved in the onset of Parkinson’s disease, whereby enteric neurons are among the first affected to

progressively kill neurons along the gut-brain axis.


Prize M.T. van Genechten-Paternoster and Prof. G. Vantrappen. Academie voor

Geneeskunde, 2004

11th European Symposium on Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Tübingen Germany.

Young investigator award, 2002


1. Boesmans W., Owsianik G., Tack J., Voets T. and Vanden Berghe P. (2011) Transient receptor

potential cation channels in neurogastroenterology. British Journal of Pharmacology 162(1):

18-37.

2. Boesmans W., Ameloot K., Van den Abbeel V., Tack J. and Vanden Berghe P. (2009)

Cannabinoid receptor 1 signalling dampens activity and mitochondrial transport in networks

of enteric neurones. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 21(9): 958-e77.

3. Gomes P., Chevalier J., Boesmans W., Roosen L., Van den Abbeel V., Neunlist M., Tack J. and

Vanden Berghe P. (2009) ATP-dependent paracrine communication between enteric neurons

and glia in a primary cell culture derived from embryonic mice. Neurogastroenterology &

Motility 21(8): 870-e62.

4. Vanden Berghe P., Tack J. and Boesmans W. (2008) Highlighting synaptic communication in

the enteric nervous system. Gastroenterology 135(1): 20-3.

5. Chevalier J., Derkinderen P., Gomes P., Thinard R., Naveilhan P., Vanden Berghe P. and

Neunlist M. (2008) Activity-dependent regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the

enteric nervous system. The Journal of Physiology 586(7): 1963-75.

6. Boesmans W., Gomes P., Janssens J., Tack J. and Vanden Berghe P. (2008) Brain-Derived

Neurotrophic rain-derived neurotrophic factor amplifies neurotransmitter responses and

promotes synaptic communication in the enteric nervous system. Gut 57(3): 314-22.


102

7. Vanden Berghe P. and Klingauf J. (2007) Spatial organization and dynamic properties of

neurotransmitter release sites in the enteric nervous system. Neuroscience 145(1): 88-99.

8. Vanden Berghe P. and Klingauf J. (2006) Synaptic vesicles in hippocampal boutons recycle to

different pools in a use-dependent fashion. The Journal of Physiology 572.3 pp 707-720.

9. Reis H. J., Vanden Berghe P., Romano-Silva M.A. and Smith T.K. (2006) GABA-induced calcium

signaling in cultured enteric neurons is reinforced by activation of cholinergic pathways.

Neuroscience 139(2): 485-94.

10. Zandecki M., Raeymaekers P., Janssens J., Tack J. and Vanden Berghe P. (2006) The effect of

nitric oxide donors on nitric oxide synthase expressing myenteric neurons.

Neurogastroenterology & Motility 18(4): 307-15.

11. Vanden Berghe P., Hennig G.W. and Smith T.K. (2004) Characteristics of intermittent

mitochondrial transport in guinea-pig myenteric nerve fibers. American Journal of Physiology

286(4): G671-82.

12. Vanden Berghe P., Kenyon J.L. and Smith T.K. (2002) Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake regulates

excitability of myenteric neurons. The Journal of Neuroscience 22: 6962-6971.

13. Vanden Berghe P., Missiaen L., Janssens J. and Tack J.(2002) Calcium signalling and removal

mechanisms in myenteric neurons. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 14: 63-73.


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WIM VANDENBERGHE, M.D., PH.D.

Contact address:

Department of Neurology


Herestraat 49

3000 Leuven

Tel: 016 34280

Fax: 016 34285


Website: http://www.neurology-kuleuven.be/


1996 M.D., K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1996-1998 Research Fellow, University of Chicago, USA

2001 Ph.D., K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2002 Neurologist, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium

2002-2003 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at San Francisco, USA

RESEARCH TOPICS

Molecular and cellular biology of Parkinson’s disease

Clinical diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other

movement disorders.

Molecular imaging in patients with Parkinson’s and Huntington’ s disease


Druwé-Eerdekens Award for Parkinson’s Disease Research, 2009


1. Clerinx K., Breban T., Schrooten M., Leite I., Vincent A., Verschakelen J., Tousseyn T. and

Vandenberghe W. (2011) Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus:

resolution after thymectomy. Neurology, in press.

2. Janssens J. and Vandenberghe W. (2010) Dystonic drop foot gait in a patient with

manganism. Neurology 75(9): 835.

3. Van Laere K., Casteels C., Dhollander I., Goffin K., Grachev I., Bormans G. and Vandenberghe

W. (2010) Widespread reduction of CB1 receptor availability in Huntington’s disease in vivo.

Journal of Nuclear Medicine 51(9): 1413-1417.

4. Van Laere K., Clerinx K., D’Hondt E., de Groot T. and Vandenberghe W. (2010) Combined

striatal binding and cerebral influx analysis of dynamic 11C-raclopride PET improves early


104

differentiation between multiple system atrophy and Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Nuclear

Medicine 51(4): 588-595.

5. Kühn A.A., Kempf F., Brücke C., Gaynor Doyle L., Martinez-Torres I., Pogosyan A., Trottenberg

T., Kupsch A., Schneider G.H., Hariz M.I., Vandenberghe W., Nuttin B. and Brown P. (2008)

High-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus suppresses oscillatory beta activity in

patients with Parkinson's disease in parallel with improvement in motor performance.

Journal of Neuroscience 28(24): 6165-6173.

6. Van Humbeeck C., Waelkens E., Corti O., Brice A. and Vandenberghe W. (2008) Parkin occurs

in a stable, non-covalent, ~110-kDa complex in brain. European Journal of Neuroscience

27(2): 284-293.

7. Devos H., Vandenberghe W., Nieuwboer A., Tant M., Baten G. and De Weerdt W. (2007)

Predictors of fitness to drive in people with Parkinson’s disease. Neurology 69(14): 1434-

1441.

8. Kempf F., Brücke C., Kühn A.A., Schneider G., Kupsch A., Chen C.C., Androulidakis A.G., Wang

S., Vandenberghe W., Nuttin B., Aziz T. and Brown P. (2007). Modulation by dopamine of

human basal ganglia involvement in feedback control of movement. Current Biology 17(15):

R587-R589.

9. Vandenberghe W., Nicoll R.A. and Bredt D.S. (2005) Interaction with the unfolded protein

response reveals a role for stargazin in biosynthetic AMPA receptor transport. Journal of

Neuroscience 25(5): 1095-1102.

10. Vandenberghe W., Nicoll R.A. and Bredt D.S. (2005) Stargazin is an AMPA receptor auxiliary

subunit. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

102(2): 485-490.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Kempf%20F%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus

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105

JORIS WINDERICKX, PH.D

Contact address:

Functional Biology

Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Box 2433

B-3001 Heverlee

Tel: +32 16 32 15 16

Fax: +32 16 32 19 67


Website: http://www.kuleuven.be/bio/funbio


1984 Ma Biology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1990 Doctor in Science, Biology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1990 Postdoctoral fellow, Depts Genetics and Human Genetics, U. Washington, Seattle,

USA

1992 Senior postdoctoral fellow, Dept Biology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

1998 Associate professor, Dept Biology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2003 Full professor, Dept Biology, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2009 Chair LBioSCENTer, K.U.Leuven, Belgium (http://www.kuleuven.be/bio/funbio)

RESEARCH TOPICS

Molecular cell biology

Yeast genetics

Signal transduction

Stress resistance, metabolic control, ageing, growth and survival

Protein misfolding diseases and cell death

RESEARCH AREAS

Joris Winderickx is an expert cell biologist. The research in his team, the laboratory for Functional

Biology (http://www.kuleuven.be/bio/funbio), is focuses on the elucidation of signal transduction

mechanisms in yeast required to control cellular metabolism, growth, ageing and survival. The

elucidation of these mechanisms led to the finding that different yeast signaling cascades are at the

origin of the more sophisticated pathways found in higher eukaryotes, where hormonal control have

assumed increasingly greater importance. This validated yeast cells as model to demonstrate the

regulatory properties of plant and mammalian proteins. In consequence, the research team started

to develop so-called humanized yeast models allowing to study crucial aspects related to a variety of

human pathologies in a less complex but biologically relevant model system. These models proved to

be ideal tools for phenotypic compound screening, an expertise capitalized by the foundation of the


http://www.kuleuven.be/bio/funbio




106

K.U.Leuven spin-off reMYND (http://www.reMYND.com), which Joris co-founded together with Prof.

Fred Van Leuven, Dr. Stefaan Wera and Paul Van Dun.


1. Buettner S., Delay C., Franssens V., Bammens T., Ruli D., Zaunschirm S., de Oliveira R.,

Outeiro T., Madeo F., Buee L., Galas M. and Winderickx J. (2010) Synphilin-1 Enhances alpha-

Synuclein Aggregation in Yeast and Contributes to Cellular Stress and Cell Death in a Sir2-

Dependent Manner. PLoS One 5: e13700.

2. Vanhelmont T., Vandebroek T., De Vos A., Terwel D., Lemaire K., Anandhakumar J., Franssens

V., Swinnen E., Van Leuven F. and Winderickx, J. (2010) Serine-409 phosphorylation and

oxidative damage define aggregation of human protein tau in yeast. FEMS Yeast Research 10:

992-1005.

3. Dechant R., Binda M., Lee S.S., Pelet S., Winderickx J. and Peter M. (2010) Cytosolic pH is a

second messenger for glucose and regulates the PKA pathway through V-ATPase. EMBO

Journal 29: 2515-2526.

4. Zabrocki P., Bastiaens I., Delay C., Bammens T., Ghillebert R., Pellens K., De Virgilio C., Van

Leuven F. and Winderickx J. (2008) Phosphorylation, lipid raft interaction and traffic of alpha-

synuclein in a yeast model for Parkinson. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Cell

Research 1783: 1767-1780.

5. Mager W.H. and Winderickx J. (2005) Yeast as a model for medical and medicinal research.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 26: 265-273.

For a complete list see: http://www.kuleuven.be/bio/funbio or https://lirias.kuleuven.be/cv?u=U0009565

http://www.remynd.com/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&term=%22Mager+WH%22%5BAuthor%5D

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Search&term=%22Winderickx+J%22%5BAuthor%5D


https://lirias.kuleuven.be/cv?u=U0009565

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