UCLouvain and Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc - FNRS
" Anosmia has been reported to be a major symptom of COVID-19. Since high viral loads are found in the nasal cavity of patients and since single-cell analyses found that olfactory sustentacular and stem cells highly express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, it is suspected that cells of the olfactory neuroepithelium are a preferred target of the virus. Some COVID-19 patients present with neurological symptoms. Interestingly, it has been reported that the former SARS-CoV, can ascend intracranially, possibly via the olfactory nerves. Since olfactory receptor neurons form a direct connection between the nasal cavity and the brain, we hypothesize that these cells act as a gateway towards the brain in some patients. The main aims of the projects are (1) to investigate the pathophysiology of COVID-related olfactory dysfunction and (2) to investigate whether olfactory receptor neurons could be the entry site of SARS-CoV2 to the brain. "
Funding...

Read more: Caroline Huart, MD, PhD - Bernard Hanseeuw, MD, PhD - Valérie Hox, MD, PhD - Pascal...

ULB
" Lockdowns around the world have resulted in factories shutting, less commercial activity and fewer cars on the road and planes in the sky - reducing emissions to unprecedented low levels. Satellite data for monitoring atmospheric changes can track the drop in pollutants and make a first guess on that of climate gases. It is the largest ever 'global air pollution experiment'. "
Funding: ERC-advanced IASI-FT project
Publication References: https://iasi-ft.eu/covid-19/ https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/magazine/erc-researchers-explore-lockdown-life
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain
" Confinement constitutes a particular life event involving multiple adaptations in daily life. The purposes of this study are (1) to analyze how adults manage these modifications concerning the possible practice of physical activities, (2) to better understand the changes in the practice of physical activities as a lifelong health behavior in adults. The principal models used are the Health action process approach model (Schwarzer, 2008), health literacy and the social support theory. 272 adults completed a questionnaire about their PA before and during confinement. Respondents who agreed to be contacted will complete a post-containment survey to evaluate the persistence of the modifications in term of adoption of APS as a health behavior "
Funding: In process
Contact: IACCHOS (Girsef) - FSM Cécile Delens Place Pierre de Coubertin, 1 bte L8.10.01 - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

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 "
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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

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

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 "
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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