The Cardiology and Organ Systems (COST) research group focuses on in vitro and in vivo cellular and animal models in different fields such as cardiovascular disease, oncology and neurological disorders. These include the use of different stem cell types (embryonal, iPSC, DPSC, CASCs) and animal models of diastolic and systolic heart failure, cancer, peripheral neuropathies and ischemic stroke. These models are used to design and develop therapeutic applications in e.g. cancer and myocardial infarction or to unravel underlying disease mechanisms e.g. the role of AGEs and extracellular vesicles in cardio- and cerebrovascular disease. In addition to (stem) cell-based therapies, the effect of exercise as a medicine to improve the cardiometabolic status in various neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as in diabetes is studied. In general, the underlying biomedical/biomolecular mechanisms are investigated in animal models and human subjects using proteomic, genomic and bionanotechnology approaches. This enables us to identify biomarker signatures (e.g. extracellular vesicles containing biomarkers) associated with the disease status or to monitor successful therapies. Thanks to the close collaboration with Reval, the Jessa Hospital and ZOL, we have the unique opportunity to combine basic research and clinical research and to translate acquired knowledge into clinical practice
Advanced glycation end products, Angiogenesis, Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Exercise intervention, Extracellular vesicles, Heart Ischemia, Ischemic stroke, Stem cells
Annelies BRONCKAERS