New Methods in Parkinson Disease Research
New Methods in Parkinson Disease Research
General context
The Parkinson’s Interest Group (PIG) integrates research groups belonging to the KU Leuven, University Hospital Leuven (UZ Leuven) and the VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research (VIB-CBD). These institutes house a vibrant community of world-leading Parkinson’s disease (PD) researchers including clinical investigators, geneticists, and experimental biologists.
The PIG organized 5 bimonthly seminars featuring presentations from 3 research labs per event. Though this seminar series was not initially planned, PIG observed how the work of the different labs naturally converged into 4 main themes representing the current hot topics in the PD field:
- post-GWAS studies
- molecular mechanisms of disease
- gut-brain axis and immune system-brain interactions
- and advanced therapies
Thanks to these seminars, and despite the lack of physical interaction, several fruitful collaboration initiatives have been set in motion. Now, we will bring the members of the PIG together in a live symposium.
The objective of our event is three-fold:
1) enhance networking and scientific interaction within the PIG;
2) extend this interaction to other actors of the Belgian/Flemish Parkinson’s disease research scene such as the pharma industry and patient associations;
3) establish new bonds with PD researchers from neighbouring European regions.
The event will have a duration of 1.5 days and it will be structured around the following elements:
- 4 sessions corresponding to the 4 main research themes that are covered by the PIG labs.
- Early career researchers from the PIG labs will present their work during the poster session. Note that the number of posters is limited and the possibility to present a poster will be granted on a first come-first serve basis. They will also participate in a round table in which they will discuss collaboration possibilities.
- 1 keynote speaker per session who is a leading expert in the respective topics.
The event will be open to all PIG members, but also to other PD researchers from other Belgian institutions such as the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology or the Neuroscience Institute from the Free University of Brussels.
Ana Catarina Carapinha Cascalho (KU Leuven)
Carles Calatayud Aristoy (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research)
Charysse Vandendriessche (VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research)
Eliana Nachman (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research)
Joyce Foroozandeh (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research)
- Participation is free for academics and researchers from research institutes.
- Note that upon no-show without valid justification you will be blacklisted for the VIB training program for 1 year and for VIB participants the reimbursement of the catering costs (€ 50) will be charged to the research group. Click here for more information.
Trainers
Peter Heutink
Wilma Van de Berg
Marina Romero-Ramos
Pedro Goncalo Reis Rifes
Ahmed Mahfouz
Thierry Voet
Wim Versées
Joyce Foroozandeh
Carles Calatayud Aristoy
Stephanie Vrijsen
Wouter Peelaerts
Program
Welcome
Post-GWAS studies
Identification and understanding of new genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease
Guest speaker: Peter Heutink, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, DE
Identifying transcriptomic signatures of brain abnormalities in Parkinson's disease
Guest speaker: Ahmed Mahfouz, Human Genetics Dept. Leiden University Medical Center, NL
Coffee
Thierry Voet, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, BE
Stem cell technologies
Studying early human neural development using human pluripotent stem cells and microfluidics
Guest speaker: Pedro Goncalo Reis Rifes, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, DK
Probing Parkinson’s Disease with Induced Human Microcircuits on CMOS Chips
Carles Calatayud Aristoy, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE
Lunch
Meet the speaker
Meet the speaker session
Poster session
Poster session
Networking drink
Molecular mechanisms of disease
Biological insights into Parkinson Disease heterogeneity
Guest speaker: Wilma Van de Berg, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, NL
From fundamental mechanistic insights toward therapeutic targeting of LRRK2 in Parkinson’s disease
Wim Versées, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, BE
Exploring the mitochondrial-lysosomal interplay in Parkinson’s disease models via sequential organelle immunoprecipitation and multi-omics analysis
Stephanie Vrijsen, Department of Cellular and Cellular Medicine, KU Leuven, BE
Coffee break
Gut-brain axis and immune system-brain interactions
Studying the role of the immune system in Parkinson’s disease
Guest speaker: Marina Romero-Ramos, DANDRITE, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience & Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, DK
Modelling the model: in vivo use of alpha-synuclein pre-formed fibrils
Joyce Foroozandeh, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
Urinary tract infections as a trigger of multiple system atrophy
Wouter Peelaerts, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, BE
Closing remarks
Lunch
Practical info
30 March 2022 - 31 March 2022
Leuven - Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant
Provincieplein 1
3010 Leuven
Belgium
30 March 2022 - 31 March 2022
Leuven - Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant
Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant is located within walking distance of the Leuven railway and bus station. When exiting the station, go left across the Roger Van Overstraetenplein.
30 March 2022 - 31 March 2022
Leuven - Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant
There is a dedicated cycling path next to the Leuven ring road where you can ride in both directions. You can park your bike right next to or underneath the building. Using your bike for longer distances? Check out Cycle Highways?
30 March 2022 - 31 March 2022
Leuven - Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant
From the E40, take the E314 and immediately exit at junction 15 towards Leuven city center. Follow the road to the Leuven ring road, turn right towards Tienen and Diest, and continue past the Tiense Poort. As you approach the Provinciehuis, stay in the right lane and continue towards the station until the end. Then, carefully turn right and drive slowly, respecting pedestrians and cyclists, under the pedestrian bridge (Roger Van Overstraetenplein) until you reach the railway. Turn right and follow the tracks towards Provinciehuis.
Park on Bezoekersparking floor -2.
Using GPS? Older GPS software may not recognize 'Provincieplein' as an address. In that case, enter 'Tiensevest - intersection with Justus Lipsiusstraat' instead.
30 March 2022 - 31 March 2022
Leuven - Provinciehuis Vlaams-Brabant
+32 16 26 70 15
provinciehuis@vlaamsbrabant.be