VIB - Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie

The mechanisms of life

At VIB, a life sciences research institute based in Flanders, Belgium, we explore the basic molecular mechanisms of life. From micro-organisms over plants to human beings, we investigate the intricate biology underlying both health and disease. Our cutting-edge basic research is complemented by a strong focus on translating scientific results into pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications. We believe that breakthrough research on the molecular foundations of life will lead to a better quality of life, economic growth, and sustainable societal well-being.

More about VIB

Science meets science

Join us as we explore life's molecular foundations

Science meets business

Learn more about VIB's entrepreneurial spirit

Science meets technology

The latest technologies allow us to perform world-leading research

Science meets people

Research is nothing without people. Discover more.

Sarah-Maria Fendt receives the Fonds Baillet Latour 2020 Medical Research Grant

21/08/2020

Each year, the Fonds Baillet Latour awards a young group leader a research grant to support research on a specific theme. Sarah-Maria Fendt (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology) received the grant this year for her work on cancer metastases.

Tracking different leukemia cells during chemotherapy treatment

19/08/2020

A new technology that can detect genetic defects simultaneously in thousands of individual cells shines new light on leukemia development and how cells respond to chemotherapy. Researchers from VIB, KU Leuven and UZ Leuven, led by Prof. Jan Cools (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology), used a new technology to investigate the genetic defects in individual leukemia cells from patients with T-cell leukemia (T-ALL). Their results show that blood and bone marrow samples from each patient contain a variety of leukemia cells, much more than previously detected. The detection of this variety of leukemia cells gives us new information on the development of leukemia and on the response of patients to chemotherapy.

Becoming a nerve cell: timing is of the essence

14/08/2020

New VIB spinoff is working on a drug against COVID-19, first patient tests in November

12/08/2020

VIB technology in Oxford Nanopore devices used for rapid COVID-19 detection

10/08/2020

Recent Publications

2020

Genomic adaptations to aquatic and aerial life in mayflies and the origin of insect wings.

Almudi I, Vizueta J, Wyatt C, De M, Marletaz F, Firbas P, Feuda R, Masiero G, Medina P, Alcaina-caro A, Cruz F, Gomez-garrido J, Gut M, Alioto T, Vargas-chavez C, Davie K, Misof B, Gonzalez J, Aerts S, Lister R, Paps J, Rozas J, Sanchez-gracia A, Irimia M, Maeso I, Casares F

10.1038/s41467-020-16284-8

2020

Adapting to survive: How Candida overcomes host-imposed constraints during human colonization.

Alves R, Barata-antunes C, Casal M, Brown A, Van Dijck P, Paiva S

10.1371/journal.ppat.1008478

2020

Optimum Blood Pressure in Patients With Shock After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest.

Ameloot K, Jakkula P, Hastbacka J, Reinikainen M, Pettila V, Loisa P, Tiainen M, Bendel S, Birkelund T, Belmans A, Palmers P, Bogaerts E, Lemmens R, De D, Ferdinande B, Dupont M, Janssens S, Dens J, Skrifvars M

10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.043

2020

Picalm reduction exacerbates tau pathology in a murine tauopathy model.

Ando K, De D, Vergara C, Yilmaz Z, Mansour S, Suain V, Sleegers K, De F, Houben S, Potier M, Duyckaerts C, Watanabe T, Buee L, Leroy K, Brion J

ACTA NEUROPATHOL

2020

DOI

10.1007/s00401-020-02125-x

2020

Mechanisms of stretch-mediated skin expansion at single-cell resolution.

Aragona M, Sifrim A, Malfait M, Song Y, Van H, Dekoninck S, Gargouri S, Lapouge G, Swedlund B, Dubois C, Baatsen P, Vints K, Han S, Tissir F, Voet T, Simons B, Blanpain C

Nature

2020

DOI

10.1038/s41586-020-2555-7

VIBtimes newsletter

VIB researchers are making new discoveries all the time.

Find out what goes on behind the scenes of our institute. The quarterly VIBtimes newsletter gives you an inside look at the science at the institute and also shows you the people behind the successes.

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VIB Facts series

Do you want to know more about important topics in the life sciences? Do you want up-to-date information about the scientific findings that will shape society?

The VIB Facts series is a set of in-depth, science-based informational brochures on topics as diverse as animal testing, crop production, and genome engineering. Every brochure has been curated by experts in the field to provide you with the most up-to-date information.

Check out the entire series

VIB Grand Challenges Program

The VIB Grand Challenges Program (GCP) is a translational research program that aims to increase the societal impact of VIB. By teaming up with experts outside VIB who have complementary expertise, our researchers can generate new, otherwise untapped avenues to create added value for society.