Rega Institute for Medical Research

Welcome to the Website of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology of the Faculty of Medicine. This Department is located in the Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven. The Rega Institute was founded in 1954 by Professor Piet De Somer and named after the 18th century filantropist and professor Josephus Rega of Leuven. It hosts the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Since its inception, the Rega Institute homes also the Section of Medicinal Chemistry of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is thus a true interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research institute. The Rega Institute has always been a jewel in the crown of research and innovation at the Catholic University of Leuven on the basis of publications, citations and prestigious scientific prizes of its members.
For a brief history and research accomplishments at the Rega Institute and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the reader is referred to the portfolio, edited at the occasion of the 50th anniversary in 2004, and to the Rega Institute Bibliography with more than 4700 research publications.
The rich history of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology has evolved by interdisciplinary research. Professor P. De Somer (1917-1985), who was re-elected rector of the University three times, always kept a heart for breakthrough research and combined the visions of an entrepreneur and academician. Thanks to his efforts as a virologist, Belgium became the first country in the world where polio was eradicated. Trained as a medical doctor, he had the insights to bring medicinal chemistry (Prof. J. Vanderhaeghe, 1921-1992) and later molecular biology to the Institute and the University.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology was sequentially headed by Prof. H. Eyssen (1985-1994), Prof. J. Desmyter (1994-1999) and Prof. E. De Clercq (1999-2006), Prof. G. Opdenakker (2006-2011) and presently by Prof. M. Van Ranst, who together developed close links with the University Hospital and with the pharmaceutical industry. Millions of patients infected with pathogens have been treated with antibiotics and antivirals that were discovered at the Rega Institute.
The first generation of professors, now all eminent Emeriti, e.g. Prof. A. Billiau, Prof. E. De Clercq, Prof. J. Desmyter, Prof. H. Eyssen and Prof. M. Vandeputte, have further developed the Rega Institute and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to its present research status, while fulfilling in exemplary way teaching and public service duties. The present second generation of Rega professors are inspired by the positive support of these eminent Emeriti. Together with their research teams, they are presently working on new breakthroughs, discoveries and inventions in microbiology and immunology for the generations to come. This inspiration is enhanced by many collaborations with top universities and research laboratories worldwide. We trust that you will find valuable information, when reading more about the themes and research activities of our 150 Rega scientists. You will be able to discover preferred research contacts by scrolling through the web pages of our laboratories. We hope to welcome you in the Rega Institute on your next visit to Leuven.

Ghislain Opdenakker, M.D., Ph.D.
Head of the Laboratory of Immunobiology
Rega Institute for Medical Research