Belgium: A Paradise for Science Rudolf Lucas, PhD Vascular Biology Center Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 706-721-9470 Belgium*: a Gateway to the World *Belgium: 1:300 of the US ¼ of the state of GA Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594): Atlas sive Cosmographicae Belgium: An open and multicultural society  Location at the crossroads of the Roman, Germanic and Anglo-Saxon cultures  Amazing multilingualism (3 official languages) - widespread use of English  Many Belgian scientists are currently at leading foreign universities  High scientific standard of universities and quality of life attract many foreign students and researchers to Belgian scientific institutions A long tradition of inviting international scientists first Solvay conference in 1911 at the Hotel Metropole. Seated (L-R): W. Nernst, M. Brillouin, E. Solvay, H. Lorentz, E. Warburg, J. Perrin, W. Wien, M. Skłodowska-Curie, and H. Poincaré. Standing (L-R): R. Goldschmidt, M. Planck, H. Rubens, A. Sommerfeld, F. Lindemann, M. de Broglie, M. Knudsen, F. Hasenöhrl, G. Hostelet, E. Herzen, J.H. Jeans, E. Rutherford, H. Kamerlingh Onnes, A. Einstein and P. Langevin. Washington: Collaboration Agreement (OAS) - VUB  VUB will offer doctoral education of 4 years to 60 American students every year  Exempt from the payment of tuition fees  Will have general health insurance  Very strong academic track record and demonstrate scientific excellence  First doctoral students in domains of Public Health, Educational Sciences and Engineering Strong tradition in Physics and Chemistry Francois Englert (ULB) Nobel Prize Physics 2013 Discovery of Higgs-Bosson particle ILYA PRIGOGINE (ULB), Nobel prize Physics 1977 Georges Lemaître (KUL/UCL 1894 -1966) father of the Big Bang theory Breaking with traditions in medicine Andreas Vesalius (Brussels, 1514-1564) “few disciplines are more surely based on the work of one man than is Anatomy on Vesalius” Christian De Duve (UCL) – Nobel Prize 1974 “We are sick because our cells are sick” Albert Claude (Liege) - Nobel Prize 1974 The father of Cell Biology Continuing a tradition of excellence Peter Carmeliet (KUL):Expert in cardiovascular disease research. Recipient of the Ernst Jung award Walter Fiers (Univ. Gent): First to sequence Désiré Collen (KUL): Discoverer of tissue a gene and determine a genome in the 1970s: Plasminogen Activator (Genentech) father of genomics. Robert Koch award Marc Van Montagu (Univ. Gent, VUB): discovered delivery system for genetic engineering of plants: 2013 recipient of World Food Award Jan Steyaert (VUB): Expert in Protein structure analysis Peter Vandenabeele (Univ. Gent) Expert in cell death Kobilka-Steyaert collaboration: Nanobodies are single domain antibodies derived from camelids Nanobody-enabled X-ray crystallography of G-Protein Coupled Receptors CH2 CH3 Conventional antibody CH2 CH3 Heavy chain only antibody Nanobody Rasmussen et al., Nature 2011; Muyldermans, Ann Rev Biochem 2013 Brussels (VUB) USA, Medical College of Georgia 2007present Vrije Universiteit Brussel: 1982-1993 Engineer Biotechnology PhD Cellular and genetic Biotechnology Germany, Univ. of Konstanz 20002004 Geneva, CMU, 19941999 Austria, Univ. of Krems 2004-2007 European Respiratory Society - Elected Secretary scienctific group “functional genomics and molecular pathology” 2004-2007 - Elected Chair. 2007-2009 Israel, Weizmann Institute 1999-2000 TNF-DERIVED TIP PEPTIDE TNF, 4h LT-a Control, 4h TNF TIP domain Lucas et al., Science 1994 TIP peptide TIP PEPTIDE DIRECTLY ACTIVATES ENaC Czikora et al., AJRCCM 2014, Dr David Kaftan, Univ. of South Bohemia, CZ Alveolar Edema H 2O Cl- Na+ b CFTR g a ENaC Na+ Cl- g a b Alveolus O2 CO2 H 2O Na+/K+-Pump Na+ Type II alveolar Epithelial Cell H 2O 0.2-0.6 mm Capillaries ALVEOLAR FLUID CLEARANCE PHASE 2a CLINICAL TRIAL IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LUNG INJURY – VIENNA UNIV. HOSPITAL, AUSTRIA (Apeptico GmbH, Vienna, AT) - Significantly improved lung liquid clearance as compared to placebo group, especially in very sick patients - Significantly improved oxygenation - Less days on ventilator support Expression of GHRH Receptors In lung capillaries! Andrew Schally, Univ. Miami, Nobel laureate Medicine 1977, Discovery of Hypothalamic Hormones, including Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Protective effect towards bacterial toxins in human capillary endothelial cells by GHRH agonists Pneumolysin Lucas et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 2012 CONCLUSION Though perhaps best known today for beer, chocolate, waffles and the headquarters of the EU, Belgium has long been a big player in science, and discoveries by Belgian researchers have had a huge role in shaping the modern world, so… welcome to Belgium!