Cellular and Molecular Immunology

Immunobiology of Infectious Diseases and Cancer / Camel Antibody Technology

Research in the unit of Cellular and Molecular Immunology is focused on a number of mutually interacting themes:

• The “Myeloid Cell Immunobiology” group, led by Prof. Dr. ir. Jo Van Ginderachter and Prof. Dr. Ir. Damya Laoui and with Prof. Dr. Ir. Benoit Stijlemans and Prof. Dr. ir. Geert Raes as 10% Research Professors, investigates the diversity of populations of myeloid cells (including macrophages, dendritic cells and monocytes) in organs such as the liver and tumors, and the use of these cell populations and their molecular markers as target for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions during inflammatory diseases and cancer.
• The "Immunoparasitology" group, led by Prof. Dr. ir. Stefan Magez and with Prof. Dr. ir. Carl De Trez as 10% Research Professor, studies the immunopathology of parasitic infectious diseases (such as trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and malaria) and the mechanisms involved in parasite control, aiming ultimately at the development of new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. In addition, structural biology investigations into the molecular interactions involved in cell invasion by parasites are performed.
• In many research activities of both the Myeloid Cell Immunology group and the Immunoparasitology group "camelid-derived antibody fragments" , (also called Nanobodies) are used and further developed as tools for in vitro and in vivo applications.