ULB - FNRS
" Germanium is widely used for attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier infrared transform spectroscopy (FTIR). We developed a simple way using calixarenes to functionalize these Ge surfaces and transform them in high quality and sensitive biosensors. The detection being done by ATR-FTIR allows the high sensitivity but also can quantify different molecular species in a mixture as well as their different secondary structures, both being extremely important for epidemiology study (it has been demonstrated that FTIR can discriminate different Ig proteins in a mixture). The recording of the spectra takes only few seconds and their analysis can be easily automatized. Furthermore, our laboratory is equipped for rapid and high-throughput analysis (fabrication of protein micro-arrays, infrared microscope able to record hundreds of spectra simultaneously, …). This new generation of biosensor has also the great advantage of being extremely stable and recyclable . All these...

Read more: Vincent Raussens, FNRS Senior Research Associate - Ivan Jabin, Doctor - Gilles Bruylants, Doctor -...

ULB and Sciensano - FNRS
" La spectroscopie IR fournit des signatures spectroscopiques spécifiques permettant une détection rapide de biomolécules dans un échantillon complexe, tout en ne requérant que très peu de matériel. La création d'un biosenseur basé sur cette méthode et appliqué aux anticorps contre le SARS-COV-2, permettrait d'étudier de manière beaucoup plus sensible, spécifique et quantitative les réponses immunologiques de la population contre le SARS-COV-2 que les tests sérologiques actuels. C'est un enjeu majeur pour gérer la période de déconfinement. "
Funding: Demande en attente auprès de l'AUF
Contact: Vincent Raussens Senior Research Associate (FRS-FNRS Belgium) Université libre de Bruxelles Structure and Function of Biological Membranes bd. du Triomphe, Access 2 - 1050 Brussels, Belgium T : +32 (0)2 650 53 86 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain
" The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental representation of social groups : The role of threat on the stereotypes of Chinese in the US and in France "
Funding: UCLouvain and FNRS
Contact: Vincent Yzerbyt, UCLouvain (PSP/IPSY), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: This project comprises two subprojects, one devoted to the change in stereotypes of Chinese in France and one on the facial representation of Chinese in the United States

UCLouvain
" The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the image about and behaviors towards fragile populations in general and migrants in particular "
Funding: An application for funding has been sent in. UCLouvain
Publication References: Vincent Yzerbyt & Stéphanie Demoulin (2019). Les relations intergroupes. Presses Universitaires de Grenoble: Grenoble
Contact: Vincent Yzerbyt, UCLouvain (PSP/IPSY), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain
" To confirm endothelial dysfunction in severe covid-19 patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit "
Funding: actually private; but waiting answer for credit urgent de recherche by FNRS
Publication References: 1) Manoury B, Montiel V, Balligand JL (2012). Nitric oxide synthase in post-ischaemic remodelling: New pathways and mechanisms. Cardiovascular Research, 94(2), 304-315. 2) Montiel V, Leon Gomez E, Bouzin C, Esfahani H, Romero Perez M, Lobysheva I, Balligand JL (2014). Genetic deletion of aquaporin-1 results in microcardia and low blood pressure in mouse with intact nitric oxide-dependent relaxation, but enhanced prostanoids-dependent relaxation. Pflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 466(2), 237-251. 3) Montiel V, Robinson E, Bella R, Michel L, Esfahani H, De Mulder D, Deglasse JP, Jonas JC, Steinhorn B, Michel T, Beauloye C, Bertrand L, Farah C, Dei Zotti F, Bouzin C, Brusa D, Bergmann O, Gilis D, Rooman M, Roderick L, Devuyst O, Balligand JL. Cardiac...

Read more: Virginie Montiel, Professor

USL-B 
" The pharmaceutical industry is confronted with many different issues at the levels of logistics and supply chain management. Traceability is a paramount in the pharmaceutical sector. It is not only essential to ensure the quality of the product, but also, it is required to trace possible adverse reactions back to a given lot of drug product, its manufacturing and control. Traceability needs to be addressed at three stages. First, the source (supplier) and origin (e.g. chemical, microbiological, animal, human…) of raw and starting materials must be identified. These materials must be tested and found compliant with compendial requirements. Second, traceability must be ensured in-house, throughout the all manufacturing process, from starting materials to the drug product, through the drug substance and all intermediates. Third, traceability should be ensured downstream, from lot release by the company to patient's administration. Traceability within the industry (stage 2) is...

Read more: Wim Laurier, Chargé de cours

ULB - FNRS
" On the relationship between isolation, re-opening and mental health, with a special focus on consumerist behaviors. "
Funding: none
Contact: Xavier Noël, Research Associate, FNRS Faculty of Medicine ULB

ULiège - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this project involves collecting samples of human bodily material (HBM) for research projects aimed at better understanding and fighting this disease. 1 / Collection of blood and respiratory HBM from 500 patients with COVID-19 virus infection, as well as of post-mortem kidney and lung biopsies. 2 / Collection of blood HBM from 4000 healthy hospital and university staff members, currently not infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus, but possibly previously infected. SARS-CoV2 serology will be measured at 3 time points during the pandemia. "
Funding: Fondation Léon Frédéricq Wallonia Region ULiège CHU Liège
Contact: Pascale Huynen, Dpt of Microbiology, CHU of Liège. Stéphanie Gofflot, BHUL (CHU of Liège biobank).

Uliège & CHU of Liège - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" This is a phase 1-2 clinical trial entitled "Mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for severe COVID-19 infection" exploring the safety and preliminary efficacy of treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. "
Funding: CHU of Liège
Contact: Céline Grégoire, Dpt of Hematology M Moutschen, Dpt of Microbiology B Misset, Dpt of Intensive Care C Lechanteur, Lab of Cell Therapy CHU of Liège

ULiège and Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Citadelle (service de biologie clinique)
" Data have been collected by the clinical laboratory of the regional hospital on Covid-19 infected patients who needed hospitalisation in March-April 2020. Using these data collected on the day of admission, data mining techniques have been applied in order to determine whether it is possible to classify the patients into one out of two groups corresponding to a favorable or an unfavorable evolution. "
Contact: M. Schyns (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) G. Haesbroeck (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)