VIB Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, K.U.Leuven
Department Director: Bart De Strooper

ADDRESS

Science
At large, the consequences of inborn and acquired human genetic disease are not less than devastating. Sooner or later, genetic disease affects nearly all of us, imposing enormous physical, mental and economic burden on individuals, families and society. The department's mission is to support and extend the worldwide endeavour, of both scientists and clinicians, to fight genetic disease. Several genome-projects have provided us with a wealth of linear sequence information. This information has now to be used to understand genetic programs, mechanisms of development and mechanisms of disease. The Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics has the ambition to assume a frontline position in this challenging and enormous task. It has choosen to concentrate on genetic diseases that manifest themselves as neuronal disease and cancer. Given the economical and social impact of neurological and malignant disease, such research is strongly relevant for the community at large. It is also at the frontiers of science. The development and biology of the neural system offer some of the finest experimental paradigms for developmental biologists and cell biologists, but also some of the greatest challenges. Tumour development, on the other hand, represents a paradigm for “development-gone-astray”, challenging the conceptual frameworks and strategies put forward by experimentalists and physicians. In these post-genomic times, and more than ever before, cell biology, experimental genetics and bio-informatics will have to go hand-in-hand. Calling upon extensive human resources and highly specialized intellectual and technical skills. The department has therefore also the mission to develop a centre of knowledge, expertise and training that both the medical industry and students will call upon for developing their health care, business and career plans.
The overall mission of the department is to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of chromosome-, gene-, and gene product-function that will provide us clues to understanding, preventing and treating human genetic disease, and disease in general.

Structure
The Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics is structured around the following group and project leaders and research themes:

• Guido David : glycobiology and developmental genetics
• Jan Cools: molecular pathogenesis of leukemia
• Anna Sablina: lab for mechanism of cell transformation
• Bart De Strooper: laboratory for the research of neurodegenerative diseases
• Wim Annaert: membrane trafficking
• Bassem Hassan: neurogenetics
• Carlos Dotti: neuronal differentiation
• Claudia Bagni: molecular neurobiology
• Patrik Verstreken: neuronal communication
• Danny Huylebroeck: molecular biology
• An Zwijsen: Developmental Signaling
  

An introduction to their work can be found on the individual pages.

Go to the  Department's own website for more details.

Departmental support
The members listed below are working on a departmental level providing general support . The team members within the individual Research Groups are listed on their specific pages.

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