Towards Cell Therapy for MS

The Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH), under the leadership of Prof. Nathalie Cools, is a pioneer in the development of innovative treatments for people with MS. Our focus lies in pioneering cell therapies, where we modify specific body cells to restore the dysregulated immune system of MS patients. By 'training' these cells not to attack the body's own tissues, we can tailor the treatment precisely to each individual patient. This opens up possibilities for a breakthrough in current therapeutic options, moving away from traditional non-specific treatments often associated with various side effects.

Thanks to our research, LEH has gained international recognition in the field of immune cell therapy. Our close collaboration with neurologists from the Neurology Department at UZA and various patient advocacy organizations enables us to work according to an efficient 'bench-to-bedside' principle. This allows us to bring research directly from the laboratory to the patient and accelerate the development of new treatments, as recently illustrated by the completion of a first safety study with such cell therapy in MS patients, and the initiation of a second clinical study in Antwerp and Barcelona.

Our goal is not only to understand the disease but also to accelerate the development of new treatments. By intervening in a patient-specific manner, we hope to target MS effectively. All of this is done in a constantly evolving landscape of MS treatments, with the ultimate goal of improving the daily lives of those who endure this struggle.