GIGA - ULiège - FNRS
" Covid-19 is associated with a high risk of thrombotic disease, both in the venous and arterial circulations. As President of the Belgian Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (BSTH), I am coordinating the creation of national algorithms for thromboprophylaxis and anticoagulation of Covid-19 patients by a group of experts. These algorithms will be included in the Sciensano Covid-19 guidelines. "
Publication References: In preparation
Contact: Cécile Oury, PhD President of the Belgian Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Director F.R.S.-FNRS Head of the Laboratory of Cardiology GIGA-Cardiovascular Sciences University of Liège (B34) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital 4000 Liège (Sart-Tilman) Belgium Tel: +32 (0)4 366 24 87 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

USL-B et ULB - FNRS
" My research focuses on the protection of the rule of law in the EU. I am notably analysing the tools at the disposal of the EU to fight against the rule of law backsliding currently at work in several Member States. The Coronavirus crisis has amplified the challenges in that regard : several states have been using the fight against the epidemic as an excuse to restrain the guarantees flowing from the rule of law. I will tackle this issue in my research. "
Funding: F.R.S.-FNRS
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Delphi Genetics SA
" The aim of the project is to develop an antiviral gene therapy specifically targeting Covid-19. The benefits should be (i) targeting precisely the virus directly in lung cells allowing limitation of virus development from the starting point, (ii) restoring essential functions of the patient's cells and (iii) antibodies production by the patient due to reduction of viral load but not immediate clearance. In addition, the therapy could also be used preventively for people who come into regular contact with affected patients. The therapy is a gene therapy using AAV for patient administration. Delphi Genetics is developing and producing the plasmids required for targeting the virus and production of AAV. "
Contact: Cedric Szpirer Delphi Genetics SA 071 25 10 00

UClouvain
" Development and validation of questionnaires assessing mental health problems (e.g. social anxiety) as well as transdiagnostic processes involved in psychopathology (e.g., repetitive thinking, perfectionism). Conducting online cross-sectional and longitudinal survey exploring mental health and its psychological determinants. Conducting experimental studies exploring the role of emotion regulation in several psychological problems (e., anxiety, depression, eating disorder, alcohol use disorder). "
Publication References: Douilliez, C., Baeyens, C., & Philippot, P. (2008). Validation d'une version francophone de l'Echelle de Peur de l'Evaluation Négative (FNE) et de l'Echelle d'Evitement et de Détresse Sociale (SAD). Revue Francophone de Clinique Comportementale et Cognitive, 13, 1-11.
Heeren, A., Douilliez, C., Peschard, V., Debrauwere, L., & Philippot, P. (2011). Cross-cultural consistency of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire: Adaptation and validation in...

Read more: Céline Douilliez, Professor

UNamur
" In vitro studies will investigate the abilities of SARS-Cov-2 to enter various types of human neurons (cell lines and iPS-derived) and possible axoplasmic transport. In the meantime, analysis of post-mortem CNS and PNS samples from COVID patients would strengthen the hypothesis of SARS-Cov-2 neuro-tropism. "
Funding: CUR-FNRS (pending)
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain, St-Luc
" We aim to characterize the reprogramming of structural cells of the lungs that are direct targets of the SARS-CoV-2, namely type 2 alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells, as well as their potential role in the induction of the (hyper)inflammatory phase of the disease leading to acute lung injury. The skills of our laboratory in lung and mucosal immunology research that are relevant to this field are (1) access to precious human lung tissue (e.g. from SARS-CoV-2 patients), (2) multiplex immunofluorescence staining and isolation of structural cells (e.g. alveolar epithelial cells, endothelial cells) from the human lung, as well as (3) their characterization using cell culture-based readouts and (in collab. with the UCL-CTMA) genetic sequencing. "
Funding: FNRS CUR, application submitted on 01-05-20.
Publication References: 1. Gohy ST, Hupin C, Fregimilicka C, Detry BR, Bouzin C, Gaide Chevronay H, Lecocq M, Weynand B, Ladjemi MZ, Pierreux CE, Birembaut P...

Read more: Charles Pilette, Professor

ULiège CEIB
" Expert services for Federal Agency of Drug and Medical products "
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège
" "La situation de confinement que nous traversons en raison de la crise sanitaire actuelle est une situation inédite, pouvant avoir un impact sur la charge mentale, la fatigue ressentie au quotidien ainsi que la qualité de notre sommeil. Le confinement modifie aussi plusieures dimensions susceptibles d'impacter la qualité des souvenirs autobiographiques. Le nombre et la variété des loisirs diminuent, le contexte des journées change peu et nous avons moins de contacts avec des personnes variées. Par ailleurs, la menace du virus peut modifier notre vision de l'avenir, avec l'impression qu'on pourrait avoir moins de temps à vivre qu'on le pensait (Cartensen, 2006). Nos souvenirs autobiographiques de la période avant le confinement et d'événements vécus pendant le confinement pourraient être modifiés en termes de degré d'épisodicité et de valence émotionnelle. Le projet est réalisé sous forme d'un questionnaire en ligne et vise généralement à explorer une association entre la...

Read more: Christina Schmidt, Chercheuse qualifiée FNRS - Christine Bastin, Chercheuse qualifiée FNRS -...

UMONS - FNRS
" I bring my expertise to help a company, Magnetrap SA, in developing a portable diagnostic tool to detect the ARN of the virus in a small blood sample "
Contact: Christophe Caucheteur

Keyrus Life Science
" In the context of the exit of the Covid-19 crisis, we have been thoughtfully working for the last two months on a unique solution that leverages the complementary forces of a set of companies and individuals, from the corporate, academic and scientific communities. Our consortium is the fruit of a national alliance of companies that are joining forces to offer the citizens, the government, the health authorities and the scientific communities the means to make informed decisions in managing the exit phase of the Covid-19 crisis. Our solution addresses, in a fully anonymized fashion, the full scope of stakeholders active on the front of fighting against the Covid-19 epidemic by means of an applicative ecosystem relying on Artificial Intelligence and a mobile application to track the virus and prevent new outbreaks. "
Publication References: N/A
Contact: Keyrus Life Science Drève Richelle 161, Bât L, 1410, Waterloo Phone: +32 2 627 51 30

Institut Jules Bordet, ULB - FNRS
" Cancer patients under active treatment are thought to be highly vulnerable with regards to the current pandemic of COVID-19 disease. Their management has drastically changed over the past weeks, as clinics have been forced to adapt their care strategies according to national guidelines, postponing all non-essential consultations and having patients avoid the clinic altogether as much as possible. However, it is currently unclear if cancer patients are indeed at a higher risk of developing COVID-19 disease, and if systemic oncological treatment contributes to more severe disease because of suppression of the immune system, or rather protects against fatal cytokine release storms and acute respiratory distress syndromes. This information is absolutely crucial for the safety assessment of using cancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the monitoring of cancer patients during this period. Therefore, this project is a non-interventional...

Read more: Christos Sotiriou, FNRS Research Director

SalamanderU
" SalamanderU and Solidfog Technologies are two companies with expertise in innovative customised containment solutions and industrial biotechnology operations, and the second specialises in airborne surface decontamination systems (hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 nebulisation). They have collaborated to provide a simple and robust operational solution for the decontamination of FFP2 masks in large quantities and to be installed directly within the hospital environment. The solution consists of a "CleanBubble®" containment chamber, which can be assembled in less than half an hour, consisting of a flexible envelope attached to an aluminium structure, a vacuum unit equipped with a HEPA filter and a "DosyMist®" decontamination unit that generates an H2O2 mist. This containment chamber is also equipped with the digital "SmartReg®" solution which vocally controls the operators during disinfection and automatically generates a decontamination report. The solution allows to disinfect...

Read more: Claude Dedry, CEO

ULB - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" Our study aims to investigate the impact on mental health and well-being of the people during the containment due to COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically some factors are analyzed such as animal ownership and the practice of artistic activities. An online survey was developped including validated psychological scales. "
Funding: Fondation Prince Laurent
Publication References: The results are currently under statistical analysis
Contact : Claude TOMBERG: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sophie PELLON : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Claire Drogoz-Villegas : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://cognit.ulb.be/wordpress/ 
Comment: This research has been accepted by the Ethics committee Erasme Hospital (April 17, 2020)

UCLouvain/USL-B
" Central banking, macroeconomic answer to the crisis, Financial ethics, Green Deal "
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULB
" Project: Development of a saliva detection test for SARS-Cov-2 Promoters: Dr. Cyril Gueydan Dr. Anne Botteaux, Dr. Anne Op de Beeck Partners: ULB Diagno Team: Dr. Géraldine De Myulder, : Dr. Cyril Gueydan Dr. Anne Botteaux, Dr. Anne Op de Beeck St. Pierre Hospital Brussels: Dr. Nicolas Dauby; Dr. Charlotte Martin Life Science Institute, Xiamen University (China): Prof. Jiahuai Han The project aims to develop a test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for Covid 19 in the saliva of patients. The objective is to significantly increase the number of diagnostic tests that can be performed, to make them less invasive (compared to the nasopharyngeal swab currently performed routinely) and safer by reducing the proximity between patients and healthcare personnel during the test. Saliva samples will be collected using a new device developed by our collaborators at the University of Xiamen (China). This device allows rapid inactivation of the virus and better conservation of its...

Read more: Cyril Gueydan, Chargé de cours