SCIL > Research program section > Non Invasive Imaging Program
Non Invasive Imaging Program
This program is coordinated by several research groups with specific expertise in non-invasive imaging, which are here applied towards studying the fate of grafted and endogenous stem cells. The different imaging modalities are part of the Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC, http://www.saic.be at K.U.Leuven)
The following goals are being pursued:
- The group of Dr. V. BAEKELANDT generates polycistronic reporter gene containing vectors that can label grafted or endogenous stem cells for imaging by bioluminescence imaging (BLI), PET or other imaging modalities
- The group of Dr. K. VAN LAERE develops reporter vectors for positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), as well methods for direct radio-labeling of stem cells
- The group of Dr. U. HIMMELREICH develops new labeling strategies for in vivo cell tracking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as MRI tools to evaluate for instance cardiac or CNS disorders in animal models and recovery after cell engraftment.
Lab members
V. Baekelandt lab and viral vector core
Doctoral Students
- Anke Van der Perren, MS
- Greetje Vande Velde, Ir.
Postdoctoral Fellows
- Abdelilah Ibrahimi, PhD
- Chris Van den Haute, PhD
Technicians
- Irina Thiry
- Marly Balcer
- Frea Coun
K Van Laere Lab
U Himmelreich Lab
Biomedical NMR Unit
Postdoctoral Fellows
- Tom Dresselaers, PhD
- Flemming Nielsen, PhD
Doctoral Students
- Ashwini Atre
- Cindy Leten
- Debby Thomas
- Jesse Trekker
Publications
V Baekelandt lab
- Baekelandt V., Claeys A., Eggermont K., Lauwers E., De Strooper B., Nuttin B. and Debyser Z. (2002) Characterization of lentiviral vector mediated gene transfer in adult mouse brain. Human Gene Therapy, 13 (7), 841-853
- Baekelandt, V., Eggermont, K., Michiels, M., Nuttin, B. and Debyser, Z. (2003) Optimized lentiviral vector production and purification procedure prevents immune response after transduction of mouse brain. Gene Therapy, 10, 1933-1940.
- Van den Haute, C., Eggermont, K., Nuttin, B., Debyser, Z. and Baekelandt, V. (2003) Lentiviral vectormediated delivery of short hairpin RNA results in persistent knock-down of gene expression in mouse brain. Human Gene Therapy, 14, 1799-1807.
- Deroose C.M., Reumers V., Gijsbers R., Bormans G., Debyser Z., Mortelmans L. and Baekelandt V. (2006) Noninvasive monitoring of long-term lentiviral vector-mediated gene expression in rodent brain with bioluminescence imaging. Molecular Therapy, 14, 423-431.
- Lauwers E., Bequé D., Van Laere K., Nuyts J., Bormans G., Mortelmans L., , q , , y , , , Vercammen L., Bockstael O., Nuttin B., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2007) Non-invasive imaging of neuropathology in a rat model of alpha-synuclein overexpression. Neurobiology of Aging, 28, 248-257.
- Taymans J.-M., Vandenberghe L., Van den Haute C., Thiry I., Deroose C., Mortelmans L., Wilson J.M., Debyser Z., and Baekelandt V. (2007) Comparative Analysis of Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8 in Mouse Brain. Human Gene Therapy, 18, 195-206.
- Deroose C.M., Reumers V., Debyser Z. and Baekelandt V. (2009) Seeing genes at work in the living brain with non-invasive molecular imaging. Current Gene Therapy, in press
K Val Laere lab
U Himmelreich lab
- Himmelreich U, Aime S, HieronymusT et al. A responsive MRI contrast agent to monitor functional cell status. Neuroimage 32: 1142-49, 2006.
- Miletic H, Fischer Y, Litwak S et al. Bystander Killing of Malignant: Glioma by Bone Marrow-derived Tumor-Infiltrating Progenitor Cells Expressing a Suicide. Mol. Ther. 15: 1373-81, 2007.
- Miletic H, Fischer YH, Giroglou T et al. Normal brain cells contribute to the bystander effect in a suicide gene therapy - approach for malignant glioma using lentiviral pseudotyped vectors. Clin. Cancer Res. 13: 6761-68, 2007.
