ULB, Department of Pathology, Erasme hospital and DIAPath-CMMI - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" A first objective of this project is to establish an accurate topography of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the organs and various cells of patients who died in COVID-19 units, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19. A second objective is to provide a routine diagnostic test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in routine samples in pathological anatomy. "
Funding: Fonds Y Boël (Brussels, Belgium), Fonds Erasme pour la Recherche Médicale (Brussels, Belgium), and "Appel à projet Spécial COVID-19 - ULB" (Brussels, Belgium). The CMMI is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Walloon Region of Belgium (Wallonia-biomed; grant no. 411132-957270; project "CMMI-ULB").
Contact: Prof. I. Salmon, Department of Pathology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.

UCLouvain
" Thanks to high-throughput sequencing of the strains collected for the diagnosis, we document the viral spread within health care facilities. A better understanding of the virus transmission chains are key to evaluate the efficacy of hygiene measures that were implemented to avoid cross-contamination between patients and health care workers. A secondary objective is the analysis of clinical data related to the patients, in order to search genotypic differences that may possibly explain divergent pathogenic courses. "
Funding: Own funding, submitted calls.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., PhD Chercheur qualifié at UCLouvain/IREC/MBLG This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Clinical biologist at Cliniques universitaires St-Luc This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Professor UCLouvain/Cliniques universitaires St-Luc

ULiège
" I am leading the Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry laboratory. This research group is specialized in developing integrated solution for biological samples characterization, especially non-targeted screening. We also develop method for target studies in different sample types. "
Publication References: F. Schleich, D. Zanella, P.-H. Stefanuto, K. Bessonov, A. Smolinska, J.W. Dallinga, M. Henket, V. Paulus, F. Guissard, S. Graff, C. Moermans, E.F.M. Wouters, K. Van Steen, F.-J. van Schooten, J.-F. Focant, R. Louis, Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds Are Able to Discriminate between Neutrophilic and Eosinophilic Asthma. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2019, 200, 444-453. (10.1164/rccm.201811-2210OC) R. Pesesse, P.-H. Stefanuto, F. Schleich, R. Louis, J.-F. Focant, Multimodal Chemometric Approach for the Analysis of Human Exhaled Breath in Lung Cancer Patients by TD-GC×GC-TOFMS. J. Chromatogr. B 2019, 1114, 146-153. (10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.01.029) D. Zanella, P.-H...

Read more: Jean-François Focant, Professor

ULB - FNRS - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" The "Data against Corona task force" aim is to analyze data on the spread of the virus, making use of telecom- and epidemiological data. Based on this information the task force's goal is to: Take action in containing the rising number of infections, leveling the peak amount, and thus limiting the number of patients in hospital at the same time; Take measures to lower the infection curve; Provide a detailed assessment of the measures taken to contain the contagion. The role of the Ethics committee is to review the output of the "Data Against Corona" taskforce and to provide an ethical advice to the Steering Committee. The committee will highlight potential ethical conflicts arising from decisions taken based on the collection and analysis of the telecom and health data, such as : - Is the collection of information aligned with the concept of data protection ? - Are there potential & actual biases in the...

Read more: Jean-Noël Missa, Professor, FNRS Research Director

ULB - FNRS
" Computational analysis of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the renin-angiotensin system. "
Funding: FNRS
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège + Mesylab SRL
" How to securely return to normalcy at work? All countries consider to lift the lockdown, but few have executed it. There are no "best practices". Questions abound: What are the risks? What are the most effective measures? Will communities follow? What are the consequences for our individual lives? Who decides how to proceed? AIMS OF THE PROJECT GIGA aims at defining the best possible approach to opening up again by involving its members. Your opinion matters. GIGA has sought assistance in conducting this real time experiment from political scientists, philosophers, lawyers and medical doctors. "
Contact: This project is supported by the GIGA office and is coordinated by the ad hoc Advisory Committee made up of expert political scientists in participation (Dr. F. Thoreau, Dr. C. Parotte, Dr. P. Delvenne, Dr. C. Fallon), a political and ethicist philosopher (Dr. F. Caeymaex) and doctors (Dr. Y. Beguin, Dr. G. Darcis).

UNamur
" Mathematical modelling of the covid-19 epidemic in Belgium (SIR-type models, age-structured, care centres consideration,...): monitoring, detection of new peak and scenario-based forecasting "
Publication References: Technical reports can be delivered on demand
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: Collaboration with GEES members on the mathematical modelling of the covid-19 epidemic in Belgium

ULiège
" The group in ULiege is developing models for capturing the growth / dynamics of the covid19 epidemic. The specificity of this work concerns the situations in hospitals. Indeed, the models include data like patients in hospitals, in ICU (Intensive Care Units) or deceased. Forecasting trends or testing strategies is possible with this kind of models. Every day, analysis and plots are published on the Twitter account of Prof. Vandewalle @vdwnico "
Contact: Nicolas Vandewalle - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Twitter : @vdwnico

LHUB-ULB - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" "The purpose of this study is to map the healthcare workers exposure risk in Saint-Pierre University Hospital by combining molecular methods with serological assays. In summary, the short-term objective is threefold: (1) Provide an estimate of the sero-prevalence at baseline among high-risk health care workers (2) Determine prospectively the incidence of new SARS-CoV-2 infections among high-risk health care workers (3) Estimate the healthcare worker exposure to the virus by serological data to help our five partner hospitals in their day-to-day management of the ongoing pandemic The mid-term objectives are: (1) Establish an accurate mapping of the spread of the virus among our population allowing to identify the chain of transmission, (2) Identify predictive immunological markers of susceptibility to infection and disease severity to inform vaccine strategies and, (3) Establish solid diagnosis algorithm that will help adequate lockdown...

Read more: O. Vandenberg, Pr. - N. Clumeck, Pr. - C. Montesinos, Pr. - N. Dauby, MD, PhD - C. Gilles, MD - C....

UMONS 
" On the basis of the official figures published by the national crisis committee, Olivier Debauche ("Computing, Software and Artificial Intelligence" department, Faculty Poytechnique, UMONS) has published a graph every day (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) which shows the evolution of the pandemic situation in Belgium by means of GeoAI. The goal is to show graphs and especially to explain why and how the curves evolve. "
Publication References: https://covid.engineering
Contact: Olivier DEBAUCHE UMons / Faculty of Engineering Infortech / ILIA Unit rue de Houdain 9 B-7000 Mons Belgium Phone: +32 65 37 40 59
Comment: Member of the consortium "covid-19 Mathematical Modelisation"

ULB
" We are developing a prototype, upon the request of Médecins Sans Frontières | MSF Belgique, with aim to monitor key parameters of a patient's health - levels of oxygen saturation in the blood, heart rate and temperature - in order to detect a potential covid19 infection, and to adapt the patient care accordingly. The prototype is wearable, battery powered, and send its data wirelessly. In this regard, the patient can be remotely monitored. "
Funding: Own funds
Publication References: None.
Contact: Primary contact: Antoine Nonclercq - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ULB BEAMS (Oriane Bastin - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & Ken Hasselmann - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & Antoine Nonclercq - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & Michel Osée - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & François Quitin - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) ULB LISA (Olivier Debeir - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & Rudy Ercek - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) ULB Smart Campus (Jean Landercy - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

ULiège, CHU - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" Nous faisons face à une pandémie d'infection COVID-19. Ce virus pathogène est source de complications pulmonaires aggravant fortement le pronostic de nos patients. De nos jours, tant les mécanismes physiopathologiques en cause que les marqueurs de sévérité de l'atteinte restent indéterminés. Il apparaît donc comme urgent de pouvoir identifier des marqueurs diagnostiques, pronostiques et prédictifs pour nos patients. Dans ce contexte, plusieurs voies rapidement explorables nous apparaissent comme critiques. Le but final de cette étude est de contribuer à une prise en charge plus ciblée des patients porteurs d'une infection au SRAS-Cov-2. "
Funding: Fonds Léon Frederic
Publication References: Dix publications représentatives : 1) Prevention of murine radiogenic thymic lymphomas by tumor necrosis factor or by marrow grafting. HUMBLET C, GREIMERS R, DELVENNE P, DEMAN J, BONIVER J, DEFRESNE MP. J Natl Cancer Inst 88 (1996), 824-831. IF...

Read more: Ph. DELVENNE, FNRS Research Director / Chef de service Anatomie pathologique - J. GUIOT, Chef de...

ULB
" We developed a sensor network system that estimates and forecasts crowd counts in outdoor and indoor areas. The counts and forecasts are available in real-time through a web service. The system allows authorities and owners to manage and control social distancing measures. The system is ready for installation and use. "
Publication References: J-F Determe, U. Singh, F.Horlin, Ph De Doncker, « Forecasting Crowd Counts With Wi-Fi Systems: Univariate, Non-Seasonal Models », IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2020
Contact: Prof. François Horlin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Prof. Philippe De Doncker (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

UCLouvain
" www.covidata.be We gather data about the Coronavirus in Belgium, and attempt to extract meaningful information from it. We use open and/or public data to enable these analyses. "
Funding: No funding
Publication References: Work in progress
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège 
" My main research interest is the development of complete analytical solutions for biomedical applications. I mostly focus on breath and other volatile matrices characterization. "
Publication References: Zanella, D., HENKET, M., SCHLEICH, F., Louis, R., Focant, J.-F., & Stefanuto, P.-H. (2019). Multi-matrices screening for untargeted volatilomics by GC×GC-TOFMS. European Respiratory Journal. Supplement, 54, 4272. Purcaro, G.* , Stefanuto, P.-H.* , Flavio, F., Marco, B., Wieland-Alter, W., Wright, P., & Hill, J. (2018, March). SPME-GC×GC-TOF MS fingerprint of virally-infected cell culture: Sample preparation optimization and data processing evaluation. Analytica Chimica Acta. SCHLEICH, F., Zanella, D., Stefanuto, P.-H., Dallinga, J., HENKET, M., Wouters, E. F. M., Van Steen, K., Van Schooten, F., Focant, J.-F., & Louis, R. (2019). Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds Are Able to Discriminate Between Neutrophilic and Eosinophilic Asthma. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF...

Read more: Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto, PhD