Post-doctoral Fellowships
Name |
Year |
Research topic |
Frauke Coppieters |
2011-2014 |
Genetic and functional characterization of modifier alleles in retinal ciliopathies |
Frauke Coppieters |
2014-2017 |
Exploring the role of non-coding variation in inherited retinal dystrophies: NMNAT1 regulatory mutations as a proof of concept |
Hannah Verdin |
2014-2020 |
Integrated approach to decipher the cis-regulatory landscape of FOXL2, a key regulator in the ovary |
Kristof Van Schil |
2017-2019 |
Unraveling the role of retinal cis-regulatory elements of the USH2A gene, located in an ultraconserved genomic regulatory block |
Dorien Baetens |
2018-2020 |
“SeXXy genes”: unraveling the molecular pathways behind XX disorders of sex development |
Giulia Ascari |
2020-2021 |
Genetic study of ciliary genes implicated in inherited retinal diseases |
Marta del Pozo Valero |
2021-2023 |
Solving missing heritability in a mono-allelic inherited retinal disease cohort through whole-genome sequencing |
Sofia Papadimitriou |
2022-2023 |
F.R.S.-FNRS project on discovering modifiers for retinal diseases using machine learning, bioinformatics and network theory |
PhD Theses
Name |
Year |
Research topic |
Diane Beysen |
2007 |
New insights in the molecular pathogenesis of the blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES) |
Barbara D'haene |
2010 |
The study of long-range genetic defects in human transcription factor related disorders |
Frauke Coppieters |
2011 |
Identification and characterization of molecular defects underlying retinal dystrophies |
Hannah Verdin |
2014 |
Novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of three monogenic developmental conditions |
Caroline Van Cauwenbergh |
2017 |
Novel genes and mechanisms underlying autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and allied retinal dystrophies |
Basamat Almoallem |
2017 |
Unraveling the molecular basis of genetically heterogeneous developmental eye disorders |
Delfien Bogaert |
2017 |
Molecular diagnosis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency and related antibody disorders : an integrated immunological and genetic approach |
Kristof Van Schil |
2017 |
NXT-EYE: integrative strategy to elucidate hidden genetic variation in inherited retinal diseases |
Dorien Baetens |
2017 |
SeX(X)y genes: unraveling the molecular pathways behind XX disorders of sex development |
Miriam Bauwens |
2018 |
Missing heritability in inherited blindness: ABCA4-associated disease as a model |
Sarah Naessens |
2019 |
Recurrent coding and rare non-coding targets for treatment in inherited retinal diseases |
Marlies Saelaert |
2020 |
Disclosing incidental and secondary findings in clinical genomics: professional practice, patient experience and ethical reflection |
Giulia Ascari |
2020 |
CIL-EYE: functional characterization of potential ciliary genes involved in syndromic inherited retinal diseases |
Stijn Van de Sompele |
2022 |
Expanding the coding and non-coding genomic landscape of genetic eye diseases |
Julie De Zaeytijd |
2022 |
Long-term Deep Phenotyping in Inherited Ocular Disease Novel Genotype-Phenotype Correlations |
Victor López Soriano |
2023 |
Multi-omics in human retina to decode cis-regulatory landscapes of inherited retinal diseases |
Marjolein Carron |
2023 |
Modelling of rare diseases and developmental processes in Xenopus tropicalis: from retinal degradation to epidermal degeneration |
Alfredo Duenas Rey |
2024 |
Uncovering the role of non-coding regulatory variation in inherited retinal disease |
Münevver Burcu Cicekdal |
2024 |
Decoding the Non-Coding Regulatory Genome: Modelling Eye Enhanceropathies in Xenopus tropicalis |
Master Students
Name |
Year |
Study program |
Research topic |
Yana Novikova |
2011 |
Bioscience Engineering |
Characterization of regulatory and genic deletions of the FOXL2 locus in human developmental disorders |
Timothy Barclay |
2012 |
Medicine |
Unraveling the molecular pathogenesis of developmental glaucoma |
Elize Vantroys |
2013 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Transcriptome and identity-by-descent filtering of exome data for the identification of a novel disease gene in primary congenital glaucoma |
Liza Borms |
2013 |
Industrial Sciences: Biochemistry |
Study of the regulatory landscape of SHOX in a population of molecularly unsolved patients with LWD and ISS |
Erina De Thaye |
2014 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Non-coding variation in the molecular pathogenesis of recessive disorders: the ABCA4 gene and Stargardt disease as a model |
Ibran Mertens |
2014 |
Industrial Sciences: Biochemistry |
Mutation screening of FOG2 in a 46,XY DSD patientcohort and identification of new candidate genes through IBD-mapping |
Maxim Van Panteghem |
2015 |
Biomedical Sciences |
NXT-EYE: integrative exome sequencing for gene identification in recessive retinal dystrophies |
Malaïka Vander Linden |
2015 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing for the genetic characterization of 46,XY disorders of sex development |
Santusha Prija Bihari |
2016 |
Biomedical Sciences |
NXT-DSD: Next-generation sequencing technologies for the genetic characterization of disorders of sex development (DSD) and primary ovarian insufficiency |
Magalie De Meyer |
2016 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Functional characterization of RCBTB1 as a novel causal gene for syndromal retinal blindness |
Levi Hoste |
2016 |
Medicine |
Unravelling the genetic and molecular basis of primary immune deficiencies associated with T helper 17 defects |
Gamze Kanatlar |
2016 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Identification and functional characterization of non-coding variants in Stargardt disease |
Niels De Vriese |
2017 |
Bioscience engineering |
NXT-DSD: Next-generation sequencing technologies for the genetic characterization of disorders of sex development (DSD) |
Laurien Ruysschaert |
2017 |
Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Antisense oligonucleotide therapy in hereditary blindness |
Tasmien Couchement |
2017 |
Bioscience Engineering |
Functional characterization of non-coding variations in Stargardt disease, the most prevalent hereditary retinal disorder |
Julie Van De Velde |
2018 |
Industrial Sciences: Biochemistry |
Identification and functional characterization of non-coding variations of the FOXL2 locus in BPES |
Laurens Lambrechts |
2018 |
Bioscience Engineering |
Identification of a novel disease gene for autosomal recessive retinal disease using an integrated approach of homozygosity mapping and next generation sequencing in consanguineous families |
Marieke Vromman |
2018 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for inherited retinal disease |
Julien Derolez |
2018 |
Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Exploring the genetic heterogeneity of inherited retinal disease using next-generation sequencing strategies |
Nina Lambrechts |
2018 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Functional characterization of a novel missense mutation in the ciliopathy-associated gene CEP78 |
Sara Cottyn |
2019 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Antisense oligonucleotide therapy in hereditary blindness |
Sofie Hoogstoel |
2019 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Functional characterization of RCBTB1, a novel disease gene for inherited blindness |
Rani Six |
2019 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Identification and functional characterization of non-coding regulatory mutations in hereditary blindness |
Manon Bouckaert |
2020 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Evaluation of novel antisense oligonucleotides to treat inherited blindness |
Thijs Van der Snickt |
2020 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Exploring the Mutational Spectrum of North Carolina Macular Dystrophy by Next-Generation Sequencing and Chromosome Conformation Capture |
Arend Vancraeynest |
2020 |
Biomedical Sciences |
In vivo assessment of known and novel disease genes implicated in inherited blindness using a genetic Xenopus tropicalis model |
Charlotte Matton |
2021 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Dissection of the cis-regulatory landscape of the FOXL2 gene: deciphering the 'dark matter' of the humaan genome in a rare developmental disorder associated with female infertility |
Axelle Cools |
2021 |
Medicine |
Genetic defects and state-of-the-art strategies for the genetic testing of congenital cataract |
Laura De Backer |
2021 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Development of a novel ASO-based gene therapy to treat inherited blindness |
Madeleine Hellemans |
2021 |
Medicine |
RNA therapy for precision medicine of rare disorders |
Muhammad Rishfi |
2021 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Gene and protein-based therapy of a dominant target in inherited retinal blindness |
Stéphanie Dulst |
2022 |
Biomedical Sciences |
An integrated approach to uncover missing heritability in inherited forms of blindness |
Lieselot Vincke |
2022 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Characterization of the genetic architecture of inherited retinal disease in a consanguineous Iranian cohort |
Simon De Vriese |
2022 |
Medicine |
The role of non-coding mutations in inherited blindness |
Ebrahim Saleh Al-Hajj |
2022 |
Molecular Biology |
Characterization of the genetic architecture of inherited retinal disease in Iranian and Belgian consanguineous cohorts |
Laura Wanneyn |
2022 |
Biomedical Sciences |
CRISPR/Cas9-based in vivo assessment in Xenopus tropicalis of the pathogenicity of human missense variants implicated in inherited retinal disease causing blindness |
Jente Debouvere |
2023 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Deciphering the pathogenic effect of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in RPE65, a target for gene therapy |
Kyana Van Acker |
2023 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Development of a novel ASO-based gene therapy to treat inherited blindness |
Eline Geens |
2024 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Deciphering the pathogenic effect of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in RPE65, a target for gene therapy |
Louise Labiau |
2024 |
Biomedical Sciences |
An integrated multi-omics approach to uncover missing heritability in inherited forms of blindness |
Margot De Moor |
2024 |
Biomedical Sciences |
Development of a novel ASO-based gene therapy to treat inherited blindness |
Bachelor Students
Name |
Year |
Study program |
Research topic |
Núria Gruartmoner Roura |
2016 |
Biotechnology |
Identification of a novel disease gene for autosomal recessive retinal blindness by combining homozygosity mapping and next-generation sequencing in consanguineous families |
Hannes Van Landeghem |
2019 |
Biomedical Laboratory Technology |
Modelling hereditary blindness in Xenopus tropicalis via CRISPR/Cas9 |
Celia Van Duyse |
2019 |
Pharmaceutical and Biological Laboratory Technology |
Identification and functional characterization of non-coding variants of the FOXL2 region in BPES |
Jani Stevens |
2020 |
Pharmaceutical and Biological Laboratory Technology |
Molecular genetic screening in patients with anterior segment dysgenesis or primary congenital glaucoma |
Joséphine Van Praet |
2022 |
Biomedical Laboratory Technology |
Introduction of RPE65 variants of unknown significance (VUS) in CRALBP-RPE65-pVitro2 constructs using site-directed mutagenesis |
Elien Wallican |
2024 |
Biomedical Laboratory Technology |
Validation of human ovarian granulosa cell models to study FOXL2-associated primary ovarian insufficiency |