New Immunosuppressives - Identification and development of new classes of immunosuppressive compounds and discovery of new key proteins involved in the T and B-cell activation
From 01-10-2012 to 30-09-2016
Description
Identification and development of new classes of immunosuppressive compounds and discovery of new key proteins involved in the T and B-cell activation
Immunosuppressive drugs are used for both solid organ transplantation and the treatment of immune disorders such as autoimmune diseases (arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis…) or allergies. Despite their success, however, currently used immunosuppressives exhibit important toxic side effects due to their necessary chronic use.
The majority of the marketed immunosuppressive drugs control the activity of the T-cells but more and more pieces of evidence describe the B-cells as another key-player in the pathogenesis of various immune disorders. Therefore B-cells are interesting targets to develop new drugs. Currently, only a few molecules against B-cells, and mainly biologics, are under development. Moreover in the specific field of transplantation, no new medication has been approved in the first decade of the new millennium (Vincenti F, 2008).
The aim of the IVAP-IS knowledge platform is to build a pipeline of new immunosuppressive drugs targeting T-cells and/or B-cells with a better efficacy and less toxic effects. The pipeline will contain several candidates at different stage of early development. We aim to bring at least one class of compound to the stage of preclinical proof of concept with elucidated mechanism of action.
Team
- Yves Moreau, Co-promoter
- Thierry Louat, Co-promoter (External)
- Jean Herman, Co-promoter (External)
- Lieven Thorrez, Co-promoter
- Piet Herdewijn, Promoter (External)
- Inge Thijs, Team member
Financing
Funding: KU Leuven - Internal Funding KU Leuven
Program/Grant Type: IOF - IOF-mandaten: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Events
2/09/2024:
PhD defense - Martijn Oldenhof
Machine Learning for Advanced Chemical Analysis and Structure Recognition in Drug Discovery
3/09/2024:
Meet the Jury Igor Tetko on Advanced Machine Learning in Drug Discovery
12/09/2024:
Multimodal analysis of cell-free DNA for sensitive cancer detection in low-coverage and low-sample settings
Seminar by Antoine Passemiers
News
STADIUS Alumni Herman Verrelst – new CEO of Biocartis
08 June 2017
Herman Verrelst, the founder of KU Leuven spin-off Cartagenia, who has been working in Silicon Valley, US for the last few years will be returning to Belgium to follow the steps of Rudi Pauwels as CEO of the Belgian diagnostic company, Biocartis.
Supporting healthcare policymaking via machine learning – batteries included!
29 May 2017
STADIUS takes the lead in the data analytics efforts in an ambitious European Project MIDAS.
Marc Claesen gives an interview about his PhD for the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences "Geniaal"
10 February 2017
Did you know that in Belgium approximately one third of type 2 diabetes patients are unaware of their condition?
Joos Vandewalle is nieuwe voorzitter KVAB
09 October 2016
Op 5 oktober 2016 heeft de Algemene Vergadering van de Academie KVAB Joos Vandewalle verkozen tot voorzitter van de KVAB.