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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Molecular keyhole sheds light on pain and epilepsy
Leuven, 21 April 2026 – Researchers at VIB, VUB, and KU Leuven have identified a tiny binding site, a molecular ’keyhole’, in the TRPM3 ion channel, a crucial sensor in pain signaling. TRPM3 is also linked to rare neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, the researchers found that even the slightest change in this keyhole can radically switch the channel’s behavior, explaining how certain mutations can flip the effects of drugs.
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Designing better membrane proteins by embracing imperfection
Brussels, 14 April 2026 — Scientists at the VIB–VUB Center for Structural Biology have uncovered a counterintuitive principle that could reshape how membrane proteins are designed from scratch: sometimes, making a protein less stable helps it fold correctly. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers demonstrate that introducing carefully placed ‘imperfections’, a strategy known as negative design, enables synthetic membrane proteins to fold and assemble efficiently in artificial membranes.
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Could the future of brewing be found in a remote Scandinavian farmhouse?
A large-scale genetic study of traditional farmhouse breweries in Scandinavia and the Baltic region has uncovered a remarkable reservoir of beer yeast diversity that may resemble the rich microbial landscape of Europe’s pre-industrial breweries. The study, led by Prof. Kevin Verstrepen (VIB and KU Leuven) and published in Current Biology, suggest that this living archive of yeasts could inspire a new generation of brewing innovation.
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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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