Annual Report 2025
At VIB, scientific discovery remains the cornerstone of everything we do. Every day, our researchers and support teams work to deepen our understanding of life’s molecular foundations - knowledge that ultimately drives new solutions for human and planetary health. Looking back on 2025, we are proud of the progress made across our research centers, and grateful for the community that makes this work possible.
This year, our researchers delivered breakthroughs that push science - and its impact - forward. Researchers uncovered why the lung is such a frequent site of cancer metastasis, revealing an aspartate driven signaling pathway that helps cancer cells adapt and thrive. In Alzheimer’s research, VIB scientists showed how specific genetic mutations can precisely predict the age of disease onset, offering a powerful framework for earlier and more personalized intervention.
And in inflammation research, new insights into liver biology demonstrated how macrophages dynamically shift their identity to repair damaged tissue, pointing toward promising therapeutic avenues for
a range of liver diseases.
These discoveries represent only a small selection of the scientific advances made in 2025, several more are highlighted throughout this annual report and on our website.
2025 was also marked by a profound loss. We were saddened by the passing of Johan Cardoen, VIB’s former Managing Director. Johan helped shape VIB with vision, warmth, and unwavering belief in the power of science to serve society. His legacy lives on in the people he inspired, the culture he strengthened, and the ambitious path he helped set.
Looking ahead, 2025 and 2026 form a pivotal chapter for VIB. In 2025 and early 2026, all VIB research centers -along with VIB as an institute - were evaluated as part of the management agreement with the Flemish government. The results of this process will guide public funding for the
next five-year period.
We see this as a moment of reflection and focus: an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our science, refine our strategic priorities, and reaffirm our commitment to delivering lasting value for Flanders
and beyond.
Across our scientific portfolio, VIB invests in cutting-edge technologies and a strong research environment - enabling our research teams to ask bigger questions and tackle urgent challenges. Our Grand Challenges program is a key driver of collaboration, outreach and impact.
VIB’s Innovation & Business activities allow us to bring discoveries beyond the lab. Through new ventures, business development partnerships, and the growth of biotopeby VIB, we translate scientific breakthroughs into real-world applications, despite a challenging investment environment.
These achievements reflect the dedication, creativity, and resilience of our scientific community. They remind us why we invest in curiosity-driven research, and in the people who make it possible. Together with our partners and supporters, we remain committed to advancing science that improves lives, inspires future generations, and strengthens the role of Flanders on the global scientific stage.
Ajit Shetty,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Christine Durinx & Jérôme Van Biervliet,
Managing Directors