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FIELD OF EXPERTISE
- Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDs)
- Cancer Predisposition
- DNA Damage Response genes
- Radiosensitivty
- DNA Sequencing (Massive Parallel Sequencing, Sanger Sequencing)
- MPS library preparations (Targeted/Whole Exome/Transcriptome Sequencing)
PROJECTS
Background
Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetically determined defects of the immune system, predisposing to life-threatening complications such as severe and recurrent infections, auto-immunity and malignancies. A subset of PIDs are associated with genomic instability and high cancer risk due to defects in DNA repair. We hypothesize that other PIDs, not yet linked to DNA repair defects, but also prone to develop cancer, likewise harbor defects in DNA damage response genes.
Aim
I aim to search for new candidate disease genes to explain the increased cancer risk and/or increased radiosensitivity in PID patients.
Strategy
In this project I will apply a combination of techniques (whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), RNAseq) in PID patients with features linked to malignancy or with hints of defective DNA repair.
Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetically determined defects of the immune system, predisposing to life-threatening complications such as severe and recurrent infections, auto-immunity and malignancies. A subset of PIDs are associated with genomic instability and high cancer risk due to defects in DNA repair. We hypothesize that other PIDs, not yet linked to DNA repair defects, but also prone to develop cancer, likewise harbor defects in DNA damage response genes.
Aim
I aim to search for new candidate disease genes to explain the increased cancer risk and/or increased radiosensitivity in PID patients.
Strategy
In this project I will apply a combination of techniques (whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), RNAseq) in PID patients with features linked to malignancy or with hints of defective DNA repair.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
- Selected Abstract Presentor Award (OncoDot2 2021, Ghent)
DEGREES
- BeSHG Postgraduate course: Permanent Education Course in Human Genetics (Ghent University, 2020)
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (Ghent University, 2018)
- Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (Ghent University, 2016)