Researchers uncover why humans are more sensitive than other species to a brain developmental disease

Leuven, 4 November 2026 – Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven have uncovered how mutations in the ASPM gene disrupt the development of neural stem cells that help the human brain grow. This disruption explains how these mutations cause microcephaly, a condition characterized by an abnormally small brain and head, often accompanied by intellectual disability. The discovery, published in Developmental Cell, also sheds light on how differences in brain development can make humans more susceptible to certain genetic conditions than other mammals.

How blocking immune cell signals could make brain tumors easier to remove

Leuven, Belgium, 27 October 2026 – In a new study published in Cancer Cell, researchers at VIB-KU Leuven reduced the spread of glioblastoma by interrupting specific interactions between the brain’s immune cells and tumor cells. The discovery points to a possible new therapeutic strategy, in which blocking communication between immune and cancer cells makes tumors more contained and easier to remove.

Human stem-cell model reveals a shared origin for tissue-resident macrophages

VIB researchers have developed a new human stem-cell-based model that recreates an early stage of immune-cell development and shows how a single progenitor population can give rise to specialized macrophages across different organs. The model provides a platform to study how these processes change in disease, and how they might eventually be harnessed therapeutically.

SpectaCell launches with €6 million to transform drug development and bring better immune therapies to patients faster

New cell analysis platform helps developers understand how treatments perform, enabling earlier decisions and a more efficient path from research to manufacturing and patients.

Rainbow Crops and Vylor partner to accelerate development of novel gene-edited corn trait

Hidden protein recycling hubs discovered inside human sperm cells

New study reveals unexpected structures that may help shape fertility and early embryonic development

How plants evolved a molecular switch to cope with heat

Ghent, 26 August – As climate change drives more frequent and intense heat waves, plants face growing challenges to survive and remain productive. Researchers at VIB, Ghent University, KU Leuven, and their international collaborators have now uncovered an evolutionary innovation that helps plants cope with high temperatures. Published in Nature Plants, the study uncovers a molecular mechanism that helps plants stay cool under heat stress and could help researchers identify new ways to strengthen crop resilience.

Mapping plant-fungus symbiosis, cell by cell

Ghent, 18 August 2026 – Scientists at VIB and Ghent University have produced the first high-resolution, cell-by-cell map of how tomato roots respond to colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These ancient fungal partners help plants absorb nutrients from the soil. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals the precise molecular programs that unfold as the symbiosis progresses through different stages, and identifies promising new genetic regulators that could one day be used to engineer more efficient, sustainable crops.

Immune cells rely on a cholesterol sensor to maintain balance

VIB researchers uncover an unexpected mechanism that helps dendritic cells process dying cells and maintain immune tolerance

Cancer cells hijack a fatty acid to escape immune attack in liver metastases

Researchers uncover how metastatic tumors suppress neutrophils and identify a promising therapeutic target

3D genome mapping in rare immune cells reveals new Crohn’s disease genes

Antwerp, 4 August 2026 - A new study co-led by Prof. Valeriya Malysheva, group leader at the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, has been published in Nature Genetics. The work uncovers how the three-dimensional organization of DNA in rare immune cells can help explain genetic risk for Crohn’s disease and other autoimmune conditions.