About the research
Did you know alpacas are more than just cute and fluffy? 🦙 They create special antibodies that can help us fight cancer! 🎗️ These tiny but mighty "nanobodies" are 10x smaller than regular antibodies, meaning they can easily reach hidden cancer cells in the body. But there's a catch: nanobodies tend to stick around the kidneys for too long, potentially causing damage. Pharmaceutical scientist Dora Chigoho (VUB) tries to understand better why this happens. Her goal is to help develop nanobodies that track down cancer and don't stick in the kidneys at all. So next time you see an alpaca, know it’s not just adorable — it can help us save lives!
Health
Cancer
Contact Dora
Related videos
VUB
Cracking the code of kidney stones
As a child, Zhao Yuheng (VUB) often endured excruciating kidney stones, requiring frequent hospital visits. Now, she is a chemist dedicated to decoding these painful formations. Her goal is to help doctors diagnose kidney stones early and tailor treatments, sparing millions from unnecessary pain.
VUB
Superpowered brain surgery: seeing the invisible
On his very first night shift as a brain surgeon, Frederick Van Gestel faced a daunting task: placing a life-saving drain in the middle of a patient’s brain. It made him wonder, “What if I had futuristic X-ray vision to see exactly where to go?” Now, during his PhD, Frederick is developing just that. Using Augmented Reality and special glasses, his technology displays the patient’s internal anatomy to the surgeon, along with crucial surgical waypoints and landmarks— think of it like a GPS for navigating the human brain.
UAntwerpen
Tailor-made care for vulnerable young people
Many young people in community settings struggle with mental health problems, such as the need for therapy or medication. Elien Craenhals (UAntwerpen) investigates how these institutions can offer young people the right care. Her recommendations aim to help vulnerable young people regain the prospect of a better future.
