Investor News

VIB spin-off MRM Health reports positive preclinical results in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

MRM Health is a VIB spin-off founded in 2020 by Sam Possemiers in a joint venture with VIB. Using a 9-strain bacterial consortium, MRM Health’s laboratories led by Dr. Salvador Augustin and Dr. Maria Martell of the University Hospital of Vall d’Hebron were able to slow down disease progression in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Preclinical results show that a live bacterial consortium of 9 rationally selected gut commensal strains were able to improve portal hypertension, insulin signaling, and NAFLD activity score. Additionally, the consortium helped prevent fibrosis development in two different in vivo disease models of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), improving endothelial functions and rebalancing the gut microbiome.

Lies Vanneste

Lies Vanneste

Investor Relations Manager, VIB

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How plants keep their root hairs alive and why that matters for crop resilience
Ghent, Belgium – 12 May 2026. Plants rely on millions of tiny hairs on their roots to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Now, a research team at VIB and UGent led by Prof. Moritz Nowack, has discovered that the lifespan of these root hairs is governed by a surprisingly precise molecular balancing act between recycling and cell death. The findings, published in Nature Plants, open new avenues for engineering crops that are better at extracting resources from the soil.
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Plants survived the dinosaur-killing asteroid by duplicating genomes
Ghent, 8 May 2025 – When an asteroid as big as Mount Everest struck Earth 66 million years ago, it wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs and roughly a third of life on the planet. But many plants survived the devastation. In a new study in Cell, researchers from VIB and Ghent University reveal that the accidental duplications of genomes might have helped many flowering plants survive some of the most extreme environmental upheavals in Earth’s history. This strategy could help plants adapt to the rapid climate changes unfolding today.
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New research brings personalized treatment for Parkinson’s disease a step closer
Leuven, 5 May 2026 – A new study led by researchers from VIB and KU Leuven shows that Parkinson’s disease can be divided into distinct subtypes, helping explain why a single treatment does not work for all patients. Using an machine-learning-driven analysis, the team identified two main groups and five subgroups of the disease, marking an important step toward more personalized therapies. The findings were recently published in Nature Communications.
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About VIB Press

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. 

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