UAntwerp – Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
Blog Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
I’m Dr. Ayşe Candayan-Niron, an MSCA-funded postdoctoral researcher in the Molecular Neurogenomics Group. I research Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a group of rare inherited disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system. More than 100 genes and thousands of mutations can cause this disease, however approximately 35% of patients still lack a genetic diagnosis. My goal is to bridge this diagnostic gap by finding new genes that can lead to this pathology.
In recognition of the need for gender equality and empowering women and girls in science, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 11th February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. On this special occasion, let us celebrate the achievements and contributions of some of the remarkable women scientists in our faculty!
As a newly appointed Tenure Track Research Professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences, my main objective is to establish a new research program focused on using stem cell technology to improve fertility preservation in humans and endangered species.
One key area of my research will be in vitro gametogenesis, which involves generating eggs outside of the body using stem cells as a starting point.
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, Dr. Elias Adriaenssens, Prof. Vincent Timmerman and colleagues have discovered a new function for a group of proteins called small heat shock proteins (HSPBs) in the human body. These proteins, which are found in the liquid (cytosolic) portion of cells, were found to play a critical role in the maintenance of the powerhouses of cells, the mitochondria.
My name is Dr. Leen Vendredy and I recently obtained my PhD in Biotechnology and Biochemistry. My research focused on neuromuscular diseases caused by mutations in the small heat shock protein HSPB8. My goal was to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these diseases and to identify potential therapeutic approaches. My PhD supervisor was Prof. Vincent Timmerman from the Peripheral Neuropathies group.
I’m Greta Klejborowska and I’m a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Medicinal Chemistry Research Group, led by Prof. Koen Augustyns. My research is focused on the development of novel ferroptosis inhibitors. But what exactly is ferroptosis and why is it important to block or inhibit it?
I am Auchi Inalegwu and during the past 5 years I have been working on obtaining my PhD in Biomedical Sciences. My research has focused on using different cellular and molecular techniques to study breast cancer cells, with the goal of identifying biomarkers for radiation resistance.
Two years after the first emergence of SARS-CoV-2, various new waves of COVID-19 have swept across Europe. Our researchers have been searching for ways to lower the COVID-19 burden on healthcare systems. Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe’s lab (PPES) has been testing whether the medicinal plant extract Echinacea purpurea can be used to treat Coronavirus infections.
I’m Lorenzo Cianni and my research focuses on targeting autophagy in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. I was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral grant for this specific project. I’ll be working with Prof. Pieter Van Der Veken and Prof. Wim Martinet to tackle tissue-specific induction of autophagy as an innovative therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
My name is Roxanne Mols. Last June, I graduated as a Master in Biomedical Sciences: Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the University of Antwerp. It was a wonderful journey where I got to broaden my interests and meet lots of new people. I learnt so much and grew tremendously as a person. I was given lots of opportunities, and one initiative that I found particularly helpful was Academics For Development (AFD).
Servaas Hiel and Silke Schuerewegen traveled to Poland to provide help for Ukrainian refugees. Servaas is doing a bridging programme in Biomedical Sciences at UAntwerp. Silke is an undergraduate at the Karel de Grote Hogeschool and is studying Medical Laboratory Techniques. For the past two weeks Servaas and Silke have been in Przemyśl, Poland to assist the local aid organizations.
In order to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015. We’d like to celebrate this special day by introducing you to some of our excellent women researchers!
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