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.
Latest stories
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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How our body's natural recycling system could help reduce inflammation
Leuven, Belgium, 28 July 2026 – Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, together with international collaborators, have discovered that blocking autophagy – the body's natural recycling system for worn-out cell components – in specialized blood vessels can reduce inflammation in mice with psoriasis. Unlike many current therapies, this strategy reduces inflammation without weakening the immune system. The findings, published in the journal Immunity, reveal a promising new approach for treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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