VIB is an independent research institute that translates insights in biology into impactful innovations for society. Collaborating with the five Flemish universities, it conducts research in plant biology, cancer, neuroscience, microbiology, inflammatory diseases, artificial intelligence and more. VIB connects science with entrepreneurship and stimulates the growth of the Flemish biotech ecosystem. The institute contributes to solutions for societal challenges such as new methods for diagnostics and treatments, as well as innovations for agriculture. Learn more at www.vib.be.

VIB is an independent research institute that translates insights in biology into impactful innovations for society. Collaborating with the five...

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Joran Lauwers

VIB is een onafhankelijk onderzoeksinstituut dat inzichten in de biologie vertaalt naar impactvolle innovaties voor de samenleving. Het werkt samen met de vijf Vlaamse universiteiten en diverse partners in de biotechsector en doet onderzoek in plantenbiologie, kanker, neurowetenschap, microbiologie, ontstekingsziekten, artificiële intelligentie en meer. VIB verbindt wetenschap met ondernemerschap en stimuleert zo de groei van de Vlaamse biotech. Het instituut draagt bij aan oplossingen voor maatschappelijke uitdagingen, zoals nieuwe methoden voor diagnose en behandeling en landbouwinnovaties. Meer info op www.vib.be. 

VIB is een onafhankelijk onderzoeksinstituut dat inzichten in de biologie vertaalt naar impactvolle innovaties voor de samenleving. Het werkt...

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Human-specific genes regulate key gene mutated in autism spectrum disorders 

Scientists discover unexpected link between genes involved in human brain evolution and developmental disorders

Leuven, 14 October 2024 - The human brain’s remarkably prolonged development is unique among mammals and is thought to contribute to our advanced learning abilities. Disruptions in this process may explain certain neurodevelopmental diseases. Now, a team of researchers led by Prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen (VIB-KU Leuven), together with scientists of Columbia University and Ecole Normale Supérieure, has discovered a link between two genes present only in human DNA and a key gene called SYNGAP1, which is mutated in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Their study, published in Neuron, provides a surprisingly direct link between human brain evolution and neurodevelopmental disorders.

A brown ale or hoppy lager? Even fruit flies have a preference.

And that’s good news for farmers.

Leuven, 15/10/2024 – It’s no secret fruit flies are attracted to beer. Setting aside a glass of beer is a common practice to lure pesky insects away from a summer barbeque. Research by Belgian and German scientists now shows that not all fruit fly species like the same beers. This discovery could lead to the development of better strategies to control harmful insects in agriculture.

Ghent, 10 October 2024 – A group of researchers led by Xavier Saelens and Sven Eyckerman at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology discovered how a protein linked to the human immune system wards off HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus-1 by assembling structures in the cell that lure in these viruses and then trap them or even take them apart. The research was spearheaded by first author George Moschonas, published in Cell Host and Microbe, and could be used to devise new strategies to combat these viruses.

Scientists discover viral trapdoor blocking HIV and herpes

Ghent, 10 October 2024 – A group of researchers led by Xavier Saelens and Sven Eyckerman at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology...

A team of scientists led by Prof. Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven) has identified a new genetic mutation that may cause a form of early-onset Parkinsonism. The mutation, located in a gene called SGIP1, was discovered in an Arab family with a history of Parkinson's symptoms that began at a young age. The study reveals that this mutation affects how brain cells communicate, providing new insights into the disease's development and potential treatment strategies.

New mutation linked to early-onset Parkinsonism

A team of scientists led by Prof. Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven) has identified a new genetic mutation that may cause a form of early-onset...

A study by the team of Prof. Kodi Ravichandran (VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research) and colleagues found that pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death traditionally thought to be purely inflammatory, also plays a crucial role in promoting healing and tissue repair. This research, published in Nature, opens new avenues for understanding how our bodies respond to injury and could lead to innovative treatments for wounds and inflammatory diseases. 

Cells that die during inflammation send wound-healing messages 

About a billion cells die in our bodies every day. Most of these cells are killed by a process called apoptosis, which is a form of cellular maintenance that keeps us healthy. However, under the influence of pathogens or inflammatory triggers, cells can die in a process called pyroptosis. As the name suggests (pyro means fire), pyroptosis causes significant inflammation, which helps the body clear infections, but also causes severe tissue damage.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. The average life span after diagnosis is two to five years. A collaborative research effort led by the team of Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch (VIB-KU Leuven) now revealed a potential new therapeutic target for ALS. The study, published in Cell Reports, shows that downregulating a specific enzyme, EGLN2, protects motor neurons and mitigates ALS symptoms in different animal models.

Researchers identify new potential therapeutic target for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. The average life span after diagnosis...

Leuven/Amsterdam/Cambridge, 5 September– A team of researchers at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Oncode Institute and the University of Cambridge have discovered that a defensive mechanism connected to the menstrual cycle plays a role in spreading mutant cells within mammary tissue. A new study published in Nature describes how the growth and subsequent removal of extra milk ducts in breast tissue during the menstrual cycle can contribute to the spread of mutant cells leading to large mutant fields prone to develop tumors.

Menstrual cycle influences the spread of mutant cells in mammary tissue  

Leuven/Amsterdam/Cambridge, 5 September– A team of researchers at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute...

Leuven, 7 August 2024—The mechanisms underlying intellectual disabilities or autism remain largely unknown. Researchers in the labs of Prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen and Prof. Vincent Bonin at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and NERF have discovered that mutations in a gene called SYNGAP1 disrupt the prolonged development of human neurons, which is thought to be essential for normal cognitive function. Their work has interesting implications for our understanding and treatment development for intellectual disabilities or autism and appears in Neuron.

When faster is not better: New study links premature development of human neurons to brain developmental disorders 

Leuven, 7 August 2024—The mechanisms underlying intellectual disabilities or autism remain largely unknown. Researchers in the labs of Prof...

Leuven, 6 August 2024 - A team of researchers from the lab of Prof. Stein Aerts (VIB-KU Leuven) presents Nova-ST, a new spatial transcriptomics technique that promises to transform gene expression profiling in tissue samples. Nova-ST will make large-scale, high-resolution spatial tissue analysis more accessible and affordable, offering significant benefits for researchers. The research was published in Cell Reports Methods.

New open-source platform for high-resolution spatial transcriptomics 

Leuven, 6 August 2024 - A team of researchers from the lab of Prof. Stein Aerts (VIB-KU Leuven) presents Nova-ST, a new spatial transcriptomics...

Many infections affect the liver, yet little is known about the long-term impact of these infections on the liver’s immune cells. Now, a study by the teams of Prof. Jo Van Ginderachter (VIB-VUB) and Prof Kiavash Movahedi at VUB reveals long-lasting changes in the liver’s Kupffer cells following an infection. The work appears in the Journal of Hepatology. 

Past infections have long-term effects on liver immune cells 

Our immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that work together to protect our bodies from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Among the key players in this defense system are macrophages, specialized immune cells that act as the first line of defense against infections. In the liver, a vital organ responsible for filtering, a specific type of macrophage called Kupffer cells plays a crucial role in monitoring the blood for pathogens.