15.11.2010

Improving the Fruit Fly as a Model

VIB researchers attached to the K.U.Leuven have improved the fruit fly as a model for studying the connections between brain cells. The researchers developed a specific marker for a part of the fly's nerve cell which had previously been difficult to distinguish. Their discovery will not only contribute to gaining a better insight into brain development but also makes the fruit fly into a better model system for studying brain development and brain disorders.​ more08.11.2010

Neurodegenerative Disorders

VIB entered into an open-innovation collaboration to develop novel therapeutics for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This collaboration between the laboratory of Bart De Strooper (VIB/K.U.Leuven) and the Janssen R&D Neuroscience team led by Eric Karran fits in a new model of research and development for novel therapeutics. VIB believes the collaboration has the potential to develop novel approaches to find medicines for diseases that cause, and will increasingly do so, huge unmet medical needs in our society. more01.11.2010

IMAGO: It’s a Knock-out!

Modern genetics can be defined as the study of gene function in development, homeostasis and disease. Today, genetic approaches to biology and biomedicine rely on the analysis of model organisms such as the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and the mouse. Conceptually, a genetic approach is based on the simple premise that the function of a given gene is best understood by eliminating this gene or its function from the genome, and analyzing the phenotypic consequences to the organism. This approach has been the staple of genetic research for over a century. more02.09.2010

Key Mechanisms of Cell Division in Plants

Scientists from VIB and Ghent University have developed a technology that may contribute to the increase of crop yields in agriculture. The technology platform based on ‘Tandem Affinity Purification (TAP)' was developed to map the basic machinery of cell division in plants much faster than possible with existing techniques. The results of the research, which are published in the prestigious scientific journal Molecular Systems Biology, were obtained through close collaboration with researchers from the University of Antwerp. more12.08.2010

Key Mechanisms of Cell Division in Plants Identified

Scientists from VIB and Ghent University, together with researchers from the University of Antwerp, have developed a technology that may contribute to the increase of crop yields in agriculture. The technology platform based on ‘Tandem Affinity Purification (TAP)' was developed to map the basic machinery of cell division in plants much faster than possible with existing techniques. In the future, this new platform might prove to be an important tool in plant research. more