Research Pieter Moons

Abstract

To tackle the current stagnation in improving survival for the rare disease that is childhood cancer, fundamental research into disease biology is required. Treatment teams are struggling to feed this research with the high-quality patient samples it requires. We propose to build a national bioportal, an infrastructure encompassing samples of all children with cancer treated in Belgium and detailed clinical/molecular annotation. This infrastructure, managed by the Belgian Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (coordinating participation to international clinical trials in Belgium) will bridge the gap in between clinical and fundamental research. It will provide uniform procedures for high quality sample collection implemented in routine clinical care across all Belgian treatment sites resulting in more complete sample collections, fit for use in the next generation of fundamental research efforts. The infrastructure will allow researchers to have easy access to samples appropriate for (1) next gen, single cell and spatial omics; (2) xenografting and direct drug profiling of viable tumor samples and (3) complete follow up sample sets for disease monitoring. This will give our ever-better-informed patients the opportunity to partake in (inter)national research efforts in which Belgian research groups can be stronger partners. The structure will be built in collaboration with and on top of the existing Belgian Virtual Tumor Bank of the Belgian Cancer registry.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Moons Pieter

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The unquestionably needed reform of health and care systems in Europe requires the adoption of innovation and integrated solutions. One way forward is to rethink procurement policies. A positive transformation in this area would be to elevate procurement practices towards an approach that awards the value offered by innovation or integrated solution. The value will be awarded by multi-disciplinary teams responding to specific patients, health care actors and system needs, while taking societal and economic perspectives into account. The EU Coordination and Support Action (CSA) under Horizon 2020 'Innovation in Healthcare' is a highly welcomed initiative. This EU initiative aims at the adoption of innovation in health and care systems and advancing procurement of innovation practices.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Goossens Herman
• Co-promoter: Moons Pieter

Research team(s)

• Laboratory of Medical Microbiology (LMM)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a major burden to public health and the global economy, not in the least due to antimicrobial resistance. Rapid point of care (POC) in vitro diagnostics (IVD) are key tools in the effective clinical management of patients with infectious diseases. Yet there is still a large unmet clinical need for more rapid POC IVDs generating more clinically relevant, actionable information. Effectively addressing this need requires a change in the current approach in training researchers on IVDs, generating a new 'breed' of IVD researchers capable of closing the gap between the clinical and technological perspective. ND4ID takes up this challenge by offering 15 ESRs a world-class first of its kind training programme where they will be exposed to the full breadth of disciplines spanning clinical, technological and market-oriented viewpoints, from both the academic and non-academic sector. Through a set of synergistic research projects on novel POC assays, targeting the most important and urgent clinical needs at world leading academic or private sector research groups, the ESRs are offered a holistic training program, preparing them to be lead players in the future IVD field. This training through research is augmented by a unique comprehensive network-wide training programme covering clinical, technical and translational knowledge and skills of relevance to IVD research, development and exploitation. As such, ND4ID will deliver ESRs that will be in high demand serving as an example for other academic and non-academic actors active in training IVD researchers and further strengthening Europe's position in the internally competitive arena of IVD technology.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Goossens Herman
• Co-promoter: Moons Pieter

Research team(s)

• Laboratory of Medical Microbiology (LMM)

Project type(s)

• Research Project