Head: prof dr Stijn Verhulst
The department of pediatrics performs both clinical and fundamental research in several domains, namely pediatric pulmonology, nephrology, metabolic diseases and gastroenterology. Our main goal is to perform high quality research in well-defined pediatric populations.
Pediatric pulmonology
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common pediatric disorder. The pediatric pulmonology department has extensive experience in research on the complications and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children with or without an overweight problem.
Lung disease is an important hallmark in cystic fibrosis, which is extensively studied at the pediatric department. Next to several clinical studies, the role of the lung microbiome in the lower airways of cystic fibrosis patients is studied.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is common pulmonary complication of preterm birth. It is known that BPD negatively affect respiratory health in childhood. Current diagnostics involve an assessment of the need for oxygen therapy and/or passing. Even though respiratory support reflects clinical disease severity, it lacks indicators that reflect pathophysiological processes in the lungs. In this translational research line (animal models and clinical studies) the pathophysiological mechanisms of BPD and the role of breathomics in the diagnosis and disease severity of BPD are further explored.
Lung sounds are an important diagnostic tool in pulmonology. Although lung sounds contain valuable information about respiratory health, it remains a subjective measure. By means of digital auscultation we try to standardize the acquisition of lung sounds to help indicate severity of the disease and quantify treatment effects.
Next to the above mentioned topics, the pediatric pulmonology department also performs research in respiratory syncytial virus infections and lung pathology in Down syndrome.
Pediatric metabolic disorders
Childhood obesity is currently one of the most serious public health challenges. Obesity tends to persist from childhood into adulthood, making it is crucial to treat excess weight at a young age to tackle the growing obesity burden. This multidisciplinary research line within the pediatric department mainly focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity in these patients, as well as the additional effects of obstructive sleep apnea. As the treatment of obesity remains challenging over all age groups, an important topic to study is the development of new treatment strategies for obesity, that minimize dropout and weight regain. Also, the pathophysiological processes that lead to obesity-related comorbidities (such as hypoxia) and the role of the adipose tissue herein are important factors studied in this research line. For this topic we have a very valuable collaboration for the clinical lines with ‘het Zeepreventorium’, a residential treatment center for obese children with a controlled and standardized protocol.
Different metabolic and rare disorders are also investigated including mucopolysaccharidosis, phenylketonuria, Fabry disease, urea cycle disorders, Crigler-Najjar syndrome and intoxication type metabolic disease. In a current project, an improved diagnostic pathway for Gaucher disease is explored to help early detection of this disorder.
Pediatric nephrology
The early diagnosis of glomerular damage in children and adolescents with various underlying diseases such as diabetes, obesity or sickle cell anemia remains challenging. Proteinuria (micro-albuminuria and macro-albuminuria) is currently the most sensitive early marker of glomerular damages and widely used as a predictor for nephropathy, however, there is evidence that it might not be the optimal marker for early detection of kidney disease. In this research line we look for new biomarkers that are more sensitive and specific than microalbuminuria to detect early kidney disease
Pediatric gastroenterology
Intestinal mucosal healing is nowadays preferred as therapeutic endpoint in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). As intestinal expression of several mucins is disturbed in pediatric IBD, their potential as molecular markers to aid in disease diagnosis and management is currently being investigated. In addition, the use of volatomics as non-invasive diagnostic tool is being explored.
PhDs & Projects
PhD Inès Ghijs
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Other Projects:
Clinical relevance and social importance of epilepsy attacks in children in their domestic environment
Identification of genetic factors leading to neurological complications of chickenpox.
Adolescent obesity; what determines endothelial dysfunction and is the process reversible?
Economic evaluation of rotavirus immunisation of infants in Belgium.
Staff
Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel
Gastprofessoren
An Bael
Bezoldigde postdoc onderzoekers
Onbezoldigde postdoc onderzoekers
PhD studenten
Luna Antonino
Inès Ghijs
Amber Van Baelen
Hanne Hendrickx
Marieke Robbrecht
Kim Stobbelaer