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VIB Blog

On our blog, you can find content curated by the VIB community. Discover our research through the eyes of our scientists.Want to be kept...

Get to know the researchers driving cutting-edge research at VIB and delve into the latest advancements in life sciences.

VIB Blog: Insights and innovations in life sciences research

Op onze blog vindt u inhoud samengesteld door de VIB-gemeenschap. Ontdek ons onderzoek door de ogen van onze wetenschappers.

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Exploring metabolomics with Sandrien Desmet of the VIB Metabolomics Core Ghent 

Deciphering metabolism with Sandrien Desmet

Every second, countless chemical reactions power the processes that keep us alive. From breaking down food for energy to detoxifying harmful substances, our cells are constantly producing and using tiny molecules called metabolites. These metabolites are the byproducts of metabolism – the chemical engine that drives all living organisms.

Meet Jan Remsik, a new group leader at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology. As he embarks on this exciting chapter of his career, his PhD student Alia Fazal Salom took the opportunity to ask him a few questions.

Meet group leader Jan Remsik, who studies brain metastasis

Thank you. I come from Bratislava but spent quite some time in New York City, from where I moved to Belgium. And one of the things I am looking forward the most to enjoying here is, obviously, the Belgian chocolate!

On the 10th and 11th of December, the 5th edition of the Next-Generation Synthetic Biology Conference will take place in Ghent, Belgium. Earlier editions of this conference had a strong focus on Genome Engineering, while the upcoming conference will put the spotlight on Synthetic Biology. In this double interview with Prof. Tom Ellis (Imperial College London) and Prof. Sven Eyckerman (VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology), two members of the organizing committee, we deep dive into the world of Synthetic Biology, present research, and future perspectives.

Conversations with experts: engineering the future of Synthetic Biology

On the 10th and 11th of December, the 5th edition of the Next-Generation Synthetic Biology Conference will take place in Ghent, Belgium. Earlier...

Meet the editor behind The Optimist, a magazine featuring inspiring stories, helpful advice, and a touch of humor to navigate the challenges of academia.

The Optimist: a magazine for and by PhD Students

Meet the editor behind The Optimist, a magazine by and for PhD students

Thriving through the 'valley of shit'

Meet Silke Vanderhaeghe, Editor at The Optimist, a magazine written by and for PhD students. She's also wrapping up a PhD in Ludo Van Den Bosch's Laboratory of Neurobiology at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and reMYND. As she finishes both her studies and her tenure as Editor, we catch up with Silke about her experience.

Interview with Stein Aerts, Director of VIB.AI: the Center for AI and Computational Biology

Leading the charge of AI in life sciences

Little more than a year ago, VIB’s 10th research center, VIB.AI: Center for AI & Computational Biology was launched. Heading this new endeavor is Prof. Stein Aerts, Scientific Director of the new center focusing on applications of artificial intelligence and computational biology. We sat down with Stein to reflect on the past year and to discuss what the future holds for this exciting new field of research.

Learn about the research on the role of TRP channels in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and the promising insights it offers into this debilitating condition.

Translational research on TRP Channels in chemotherapy pain

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect experienced by many cancer patients undergoing treatment. Despite...

From bench to bedside: translational research on TRP channels in chemotherapy pain

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating side effect experienced by many cancer patients undergoing treatment. Despite its prevalence, effective treatments or preventive measures remain elusive. For Pain Awareness Month, we chat with Heleen Marynissen and Silvia Pinto who are researching the role of TRP channels in CIPN. By bridging the gap between rodent models and human studies, their research offers promising insights into this condition.

Discover insights in single-cell neuroscience from leading voices Prof. Bart De Strooper and Prof. Valeriya Malysheva as they share their perspectives on the field's evolution, next breakthroughs, and the potential impact of AI.

Two experts on the future of single-cell neuroscience

For the third edition of The Brain Mosaic, we sat down with two members of the organizing committee who are leading voices...

Conversations with experts: the next frontier of single-cell neuroscience

For the third edition of The Brain Mosaic, we sat down with two members of the organizing committee who are leading voices in the field of single-cell neuroscience. The first is Prof. Bart De Strooper, who leads the lab for the research of neurodegenerative disease at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. He goes into conversation with Prof. Valeriya Malysheva, who heads the Computational Neurobiology lab at the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology. Their work dives deep into the mysteries of the brain at the cellular level, and they are united by their shared enthusiasm for the future of the field—though they also offer a word of caution. Here’s what they had to say about their research, the evolution of the field, and the next big breakthroughs.

TReND (Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa) is a non-profit organization supporting scientific capacity-building across Africa. They run cutting-edge biomedical training courses and work with African researchers to advance their research goals by sharing tools, equipment, and expertise. We talk with Artemis Koumoundourou, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the laboratory of Joris de Wit at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and Executive Director at TReND, to find out more about how she got into it, what they've been working on, and how researchers can get involved.

Building Scientific Capacity in Africa: Artemis Koumoundourou's Story with TReND

TReND (Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa) is a non-profit organization supporting scientific capacity-building...

The VIB BioImaging Core is entering an exciting new phase to advance the bioimaging support within VIB. In March, Erin Tranfield started as Head of the VIB BioImaging Core Ghent, and Pablo Hernández Varas took the lead of the VIB BioImaging Core Leuven in May. Sounds like the perfect time for an interview in which we get to know them and their vision.

Meet the new Heads of the VIB BioImaging Core: Erin Tranfield and Pablo Hernández Varas

The VIB BioImaging Core is entering an exciting new phase to advance the bioimaging support within VIB. In March, Erin Tranfield started as Head...

An interview with VIB Bioinformatician – Dr.House - Zakaria Eddafir

Cracking the code of undiagnosed diseases

350 million people worldwide live with undiagnosed diseases. Genome sequencing can provide answers for 40% of children and adults with undiagnosed diseases, but around 60% still don't receive a diagnosis. The Wilhelm Foundation is dedicated to finding new ways and collaborations to address diseases that currently have no solutions. That’s led them to organizing a hackathon, an event where participants from diverse disciplines use computational tools and techniques to solve biological problems within a set timeframe. At this Undiagnosed Hackathon event, 126 clinicians, bioinformaticians, molecular biologists, scientists, developers, AI specialists, and individuals from 28 countries formed multidisciplinary teams to tackle the most challenging diseases.

"Bringing together researchers to exchange experiences and maximize resource utilization is crucial"

Conversations with Experts: the art of spatial omics 

In anticipation of the upcoming Spatial Omics conference, we had the pleasure of speaking with two experts and organizing committee members. The first is Johan Swinnen, head of the Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer at KU Leuven. The other expert is Evelien Van Hamme, who leads the Spatial Catalyst at VIB. Each, in their own way, is an expert in spatial omics, a technique that is transforming our understanding of biological tissues.

Curious to know what being a VIB tech transfer professional entails? We talked to Laura Lapienyte, the business development manager for VIB’s neuroscience centers from Lithuania. She has a PhD in pancreatic cancer and recently was awarded the AUTM Volunteer Service Award. Find out more about her exciting career, the challenges and fulfilling aspects of her job, and her advice for scientists who want to pursue a career in this field. Plus, what she would do if given a sabbatical year. Let’s dive in!

A Day in the Life of a VIB Tech Transfer Expert

Curious to know what being a VIB tech transfer professional entails? We talked to Laura Lapienyte, the business development manager for VIB’s...

Interview