Units

ULB Center for Diabetes Research

The Laboratory of Experimental Medicine investigates the molecular pathways involved in beta-cell impairment and apoptosis in diabetes. For this purpose, members of the laboratory use state of the art methodologies, such as functional genomics, exon arrays and RNA sequencing coupled to a systems biology approach, to unveil gene networks regulated by cytokines and free fatty acids.

ULB Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Sports

U-IRIS is intended to bring together research skills existing at ULB in the fields of sports and physical activity in order to stimulate collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The research carried out within U-IRIS could be the basis of evidence-based advice in various fields of sport and physical activity. ULB and each of U-IRIS partner groups, as well as their existing activities, platforms, infrastructures and collaborations, will gain in visibility, both internally and externally in a promising and rapidly evolving field.

The research carried out by U-IRIS is designed to be both fundamental and applied. It is developed around five major axes:
- clinics / sports medicine
- high level sports / performance
- rehabilitation / handicap and sports
- sports and society (including education through sports)
- prevention / public health / nutrition.

The groups participating in U-IRIS represent the Faculties of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Medicine, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Motor Sciences, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the School of Public Health, the Research Department, ULB-Sports and the Erasme Academic Hospital.

Signal Transduction and Metabolism Laboratory

Metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and liver cancer are major health problems with pandemic proportions. Approximately 650 million adults are obese worldwide, accounting for ~16% of the Belgian adult population. Obesity is a key risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

One of the main problems in developing valued research that impacts patient care is the absence of interaction between different scientific fields, foundations, and, importantly, external collaborators and industrial partners. The Signal Transduction and Metabolism Laboratory aims to fill this gap in our institution and will be instrumental in establishing the ULB as a top metabolic unit that provides extensive services to companies and external users. In addition, it will help better prepare students for the current and future challenges in metabolic diseases.

Projetcs

Mechanisms of pancreatic beta-cell damage and repair in type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus

We are utilizing modern molecular biological tools, such as microarray analysis and detailed studies of promoter regulation, to unveil the genes and transcription factors regulating the decision of the beta cells to undergo apoptosis in early diabetes mellitus and following islet transplantation.  Based on this information, we search for novel therapies for the disease.