Videos

Katrien
Van Dyck
FWO
KU Leuven
VIB

A conspiracy between two microbes

Together you are always stronger. Unfortunately, this also applies to some microbes, which can conspire to make us seriously ill. Microbiologist Katrien Van Dyck is investigating such a conspiracy between a fungus and a microbe that work together to cause a serious infection. By studying the interaction between the two, she hopes to find out how we can break their alliance.
Anneleen
Remmerie
UGent
VIB

Fatty Liver Disease: the challenge for the Western world

One in six Belgians is obese and thus runs an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease can affect the entire liver, in which case a liver transplant is needed to save the patient. Anneleen Remmerie (Ghent University - VIB) is looking for a way to combat the disease without the need for a new liver.
Jana
Helsen
KU Leuven
VIB

Evolution after gene loss: how the tortoise wins over the hare

"Evolution is like a race: the individual who can reproduce the fastest wins the race. But we all know of one race that was not won by the fastest..." Jana Helsen (KU Leuven - VIB) explains how evolution is sometimes a bit like the fable about the tortoise and the hare.
Esther
Hoste
UGent
VIB

Wound healing by liquorice?

Lots of people dislike these black sweets. But did you know that liquorice candy might well contain an ingredient to help cure wounds? Esther Hoste investigates whether an active compound found in the root of the liquorice plant can heal diabetic wounds 👉 🎥
Mónica
Vara Perez
FWO
KU Leuven
VIB

Understanding the self-cannibalism instincts of melanoma

Melanoma is a very common and lethal type of skin cancer. Melanoma cells have a strange, yet effective defence mechanism called autophagy: they can manage to survive by eating parts of themselves. Monica Vara Perez tries to figure out this self-cannibalism mechanism in order to help defeat melanoma.
Charysse
Vandendriessche
UGent
VIB

Fewer calories as a weapon against Alzheimer's disease?

Mice that follow a low-calorie diet appear to be protected against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Charysse Vandendriessche is investigating why this is the case to gather more insight in the underlying disease mechanism. This information could into the future contribute to the development of a treatment against this devastating disease.

Astrid
Gadeyne
UGent
VIB

More corn with less fertilizer 🌽

Fertilization is crucial in agriculture, but over-fertilization causes environmental pollution and all-rich algae growth in our watercourses. Wouldn't it be great if plants and crops could grow well with less fertilizer? That's what Astrid Gadeyne wants to achieve in her PhD.
Rahel
Park
KU Leuven
VIB

Who is hitching a ride on a housefly?

Rahel Park has a dilemma for you: what to do if a bunch of flies land on the cake you were just about to eat? Should you eat it anyway or should you throw it away? Watch the video for the -scientifically substantiated- answer!
Arnout
Bruggeman
UGent
VIB

How do intestinal bacteria affect Parkinson's disease?

Imagine if you could influence Parkinson's disease by altering the intestinal bacteria of patients? That sounds strange at first glance, but Arnout Bruggeman explains why it might work.
Sebastian
Proost
KU Leuven
VIB

Bytes and bacteria: software to explore the intestinal flora

What happens when you as thousands of Flemish people to send samples of their stools for scientific research? Well, you get this huge pile of... right, data. Sebastian Proost makes this data readily available to doctors and scientists so that they can acquire new insights from this data in an efficient manner.
Joren
De Ryck
UGent
VIB

How do bacteria hack the immune system of plants?

Like humans, plants are constantly attacked by diseases. Joren De Ryck (VIB - UGent) does research on a bacterium called Ralstonia, which can infect and kill all these crops in a few weeks time.
Lieselotte
Vermeersch
KU Leuven
VIB

Brewing beer faster with the same taste

Did you know that insights from genetics can help to brew beer faster without losing taste? Lieselotte Vermeersch (VIB - KU Leuven) explains how this works. Cheers! 🍻