Videos

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.
Shorok
Abdelhameed
FWO
KU Leuven

Studying protein structure thanks to metal oxides

Did you know that our body contains more than 20.000 different types of proteins? These are crucial for vital functions such as wound healing. But when these proteins mutate, they can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's. To help fight such protein-based diseases, Shorok Abdelhameed investigates methods to study the very complex structures of proteins.
Joyce
Stroobant
UGent

How reliable is dr. Google?

We used to go to the doctor when feeling ill. Now we all first pay a visit to Doctor Google. But how reliable is online health information? Joyce Stroobant (University of Ghent) has three tips for you to assess the trustworthiness of online health info.
Hans
Gerstmans
FWO
KU Leuven
UGent

Enzybiotics in drops: a killer combination!

Almost 100 years ago Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic: penicillin. Even then, he warned that there would come a day when bacteria would be resistant to all antibiotics. That day is now very near. Will the 'killer combination' of enzybiotics and water droplets save us from super-bacteria?
Fien
Gysens
UGent

How do we give people with asthma their breath back?

Worldwide, some 235 million people suffer from asthma. Drugs such as a quick-relief inhaler can help to suppress their symptoms. But they can't cure asthma. Fien Gysens hopes that her research will contribute to finding a cure for asthma!
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.

Sara
Roose
UGent

A drop of blood to fight human worm infections

Do you know where these worms live? Well, they actually live in the intestines of humans. A quarter of the world population is infected with these soil-transmitted helminths. Sara Roose is developing a new diagnostic test to help fight human worm infections.
Frederik
Engelen
UGent

To beef or not to beef?

Frederik Engelen is working on vaccines for cattle. This way, he wants to ensure that beef does not become contaminated with a dangerous variant of the e-coli bacterium.
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!
Anke
Goormans
UGent

Healthy milk sugars for your baby

Not all mothers can breastfeed, which is a pity, because breastfeeding contains important molecules for the baby. But what if we add these molecules to powdered milk? That is what Anke Goormans is working on to help mothers and their babies.
Mihir
Gupta
imec
KU Leuven

Personalized medicine using computer chip technology

"Why is it that there are so many different sizes of clothes?  Simple, because one size cannot fit all. But how come our medical treatments  are not customized and tailored to each patients biological needs?" That's what Mihir Gupta is working on at imec and KU Leuven.
Guillermo
Solis Fernandez
KU Leuven

Finding the tools cancer uses to spread through the body

Many types of cancer are still being diagnosed too late. The disease has then often already spread, making it difficult to treat the patients. Can we improve early diagnostics in cancer? The answer is hidden in the proteins of the cell, as Guillermo Solis Fernandez explains.