NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences
Latest news
The success of NISM and NARILIS multidisciplinary research showcased to the Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet
On March 24, Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Minister of Economy, Industry, Research, Innovation, New technologies, Employment and Training of the Walloon Government, honored us with a visit to the UNamur.
Three NARILIS researchers nominated to represent the UNamur at the Belgian interuniversity final of "Ma thèse en 180 secondes"
On March 24 was held the first selection round of the laureates of the competition "My thèse en 180 secondes". This year, the event was co-organized by the UNamur and the ULiège. Eight PhD students from the ULiège and 5 PhD students from the UNamur took on the challenge to present their research in just 180 seconds!
Originality in the spotlight of NARILIS Research Day 2018!
The 2018 edition of the NARILIS Research Day was held on March 23 and gathered more than 100 NARILIS researchers at the Citadelle of Namur. During this unique day, the originality of NARILIS research projects was put in the spotlight!
NARILIS researchers report nanoparticles in spray paintings to be non-toxic
The application of nanotechnology to common everyday products is rising at an exponential rate. Nanomaterials are indeed increasingly incorporated into many commercial products, such as cosmetics, foods, textiles, electronics, paints.... The addition of nanoparticles to these products is intended to provide enhanced mechanical, physicochemical or antimicrobial properties. For example, paintings made up of nanoparticles confer surfaces "self-cleaning" abilities.
The NARILIS Infectiology Research Pole joins the fight against antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii represents a deadly threat to human health. This bacterium preferentially infects immunocompromised individuals and is therefore often associated with hospital-acquired infections, in particular in patients admitted to intensive care units and requiring invasive medical devices such as ventilators and blood catheters.
Three new projects driven by NARILIS researchers and supported by the EU's research and innovation programme H2020
Several NARILIS researchers have been successful in obtaining H2020 funding to support their upcoming research projects.
QUALIblood S.A., the new UNamur spin-off company fighting thrombosis, founded by NARILIS members
Thrombosis kills three people a minute in Europe. In Belgium, this represents 25.000 deaths per year. Helping pharmaceutical companies and laboratories to better treat and diagnose this cardiovascular disease, such is the ambition of the new UNamur spin-off called "QUALIblood S.A."
Great success for the first Annual meeting of NARILIS Infectiology Research Pole
The first Annual meeting of NARILIS Infectiology Research Pole was organized at the UNamur on November 24, 2017. This first edition was a major event for all NARILIS members involved in infectiology research.
Congratulations to Dr. Jean-François Daisne, winner of the Pfizer Oncology Award 2017
Dr. Jean-François Daisne is head of the department of Oncological Radiotherapy of the CHU UCL Namur - site Sainte-Elisabeth. As a NARILIS member, he is actively involved since several years in radiobiology research projets developed in close collaboration with the UNamur (Prof. Stéphane Lucas - Radiation physics & nanotechnology, and Prof. Carine Michiels - Cellular biology).
NARILIS researchers joined forces at the Relais pour la vie
On September 23-24, NARILIS participated to the Relay for Life with a dynamic and highly motivated team of researchers.
UNamur – SCK●CEN PhD student Naomi Daems wins a Young Investigator Award and a Poster Award at the ERRS-GBS Conference 2017
Naomi Daems' research aims to develop a cancer theranostics platform based on the use of gold nanoparticles able to act both as radiosensitizers for cancer radiation therapy and as contrast agents for diagnostic imaging.
A successful General Assembly 2017
On September 19, NARILIS held its annual General Assembly at the UNamur.
Congratulations to Marie Haufroid and Elise Pierson who presented the “Best Communication” at the Journées Franco-Belges de Pharmacochimie 2017
The “Journées Franco-Belges de Pharmacochimie” is a recognized annual meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, gathering medicinal chemists mainly from France and Belgium. The 31st edition was held on 14-15 September 2017 in Spa.
World's leading experts of Brucella biology at the UNamur
On September 6-8, NARILIS organized a unique symposium on Brucella biology in the honor of Prof. Jean-Jacques Letesson.
Twenty NARILIS scientists and clinicians attended the "Publication workshop" led by John Carpenter
On September 4-6, NARILIS had the great pleasure to welcome John Carpenter at the UNamur. He is a highly experienced consultant in communications, medical writer and trainer (John Carpenter Medical Communications, UK).
NARILIS radiobiology research on the front cover of Medical Physics
The THERAPLUS project aims at taking advantage of novel nanoscale materials to enhance the performance of current cancer radiation therapies. This project is supported by the Walloon Region and joins the expertise from both the Laboratory of Analysis by Nuclear Reaction (Prof. Stéphane Lucas and Prof. Anne-Catherine Heuskin) and the Laboratory of Cellular Biology (Prof. Carine Michiels) of the UNamur.
Research for a better understanding of atherosclerosis, "first killer" in Belgium
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in Belgium! This pathology, linked to the progressive narrowing of the arteries with age, is responsible for thrombosis, embolism, myocardial infarction and stroke. These cardiovascular diseases due to atherosclerosis account for up to 45% of all deaths.
Best poster price for NARILIS PhD student Mélanie Planque at the symposium "Trends in Food Analysis VIII"
The chemist Mélanie Planque works as a PhD student at the Health Department of the CER Groupe in Marloie. Her doctoral research focuses on the detection of food allergens by mass spectrometry in processed foodstuffs, with the aim to improve food labelling. This work is running in partnership with Prof. Thierry Arnould (UNamur, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology) and Prof. Patsy Renard (UNamur Mass Spectrometry platform). The project is supported by the Walloon region (ALLERMASS project – FIRST DoCA program).
NARILIS PhD student Félicien Hespeels wins the Audience Award at the interuniversity final of "My thesis in 180 seconds"
Félicien Hespeels is a 3rd year PhD student at the Laboratory of Analysis by Nuclear Reaction of the UNamur (Prof. Stéphane Lucas). On the 23rd of May, he won the Audience Award at the interuniversity final of "My thesis in 180 seconds", with his brilliant talk « De l’or contre le cancer ». Thomas Abbate (UMons) et Alexis Darras (ULg) were awarded the price of the jury.
NARILIS - SCK●CEN radiobiology poster in the spotlight of the 6th symposium on Medical Radioisotopes
Naomi Daems is a PhD student working in the field of radiobiology and nanomedicine. The aim of her PhD thesis is to develop a cancer theranostics platform based on the use of gold nanoparticles as radiosensitizers in therapeutic as well as diagnostic cancer applications. Naomi’s work focuses on the evaluation of the in vitro cytotoxicity of these gold nanoparticles on healthy cell types, which is crucial prior to move to clinical testing.
NARILIS researchers at the closing evening of the Télévie on Saturday 22 April 2017!
Like every year, the UNamur supported the Télévie campaign! A check of 20.100 EUR was handed over on Saturday 22 April 2017, during the Télévie closing evening on RTL. Prof. Martine Raes, UNamur Vice-Rector for Research, and Prof. Carine Michiels, promoter of 4 Télévie projects at the Department of Biology, along with 8 PhD students supported by the Télévie, took part in this charity event!
Best scientific communication prize awarded to NARILIS PhD student Emilie Faway at the SFMM 2017 conference!
Emilie Faway is PhD student at the Cell and Tissue Laboratory of Prof. Catherine Lambert de Rouvroit and Prof. Yves Poumay (URPhyM, UNamur). She is in the final phase of her doctoral thesis, which aims at understanding the mechanisms used by dermatophytes to infect human epidermis.
NARILIS launches a Cancer Research Pole and presents its new X-ray irradiator
Since several years, multidisciplinary research projects have emerged from collaborations between the UNamur and the CHU UCL Namur in the field of cancer research. These joint efforts are now being reinforced with the launch of a Cancer Research Pole within NARILIS.
NARILIS PhD student Hélène Haguet wins the LEO Pharma Award "Cancer & Thrombosis"
Hélène Haguet's research focuses on the cardiovascular safety profile of new generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) administered to patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. This research project of the Namur Thrombosis & Hemostasis Center (NTHC) was initiated by Dr. Jonathan Douxfils. It involves both the Department of Pharmacy of the UNamur (Prof. Jean-Michel Dogné) and the Hematology Laboratory of the CHU UCL Namur (Prof. François Mullier).
Best Poster prize for NARILIS research student, Julie Botman, at the AFSTAL 2016 conference!
Julie Botman is one of the students in Veterinary Medicine who spent time during her bachelor’s degree to perform a mini-research project. Under the supervision of Prof. Jean-Michel Vandweerd, she studied the effects of gaz anesthesia in pigeons.
NARILIS PhD student Mélanie Planque wins a Best Poster prize at the AOAC 2016 meeting!
Mélanie Planque, holder of a master's degree in chemistry, works as a PhD student within the Health Department of the CER Groupe in Marloie. Her doctoral research focuses on the detection of food allergens by mass spectrometry in processed foodstuffs, with the aim to improve food labelling. This project is running in partnership with Prof. Thierry Arnould from the Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry and Biology (URBC) of the UNamur and is financed by the Walloon region (ALLERMASS project – FIRST DoCA program).
NARILIS PhD student Sébastien Penninckx wins prize for “Best Oral Presentation” at the 3rd BHTC workshop!
Sébastien Penninckx is holder of a master’s degree in chemistry. One year ago, he started a PhD thesis with the aim to elucidate the mechanisms underlying gold nanoparticles radiosensitization in protontherapy.
NARILIS post-doc researcher Anne-Catherine Wéra wins a poster award at the European Radiation Research 2016 conference!
The physicist Dr. Anne-Catherine Wéra joined in October 2015 the team of Prof. Carine Michiels at the Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry and Biology (URBC) of UNamur thanks to a “MOVE-IN Louvain” Post-Doctoral Fellowship. The aim of Anne-Catherine’s post-doctoral research is to enhance radiosensitization of lung cancer cells to proton irradiation.
Twenty NARILIS scientists and clinicians attending the "Publication Workshop" led by Dr. Liz Wager
Early June, NARILIS had the great pleasure to welcome Dr. Elisabeth Wager, a brilliant medical writer, editor and trainer. She ran a 3-day workshop on writing, publication strategy & publication ethics, for 20 researchers from the UNamur and the CHU UCL Namur (Godinne & Sainte-Elisabeth).
Best poster prize for NARILIS PhD student Marie-Ange Angladon at the Doctoral Interdisciplinary Training School 2016
Marie-Ange Angladon is a PhD student at the Department of Chemistry of UNamur, within the Laboratory of Physico-Chemical Informatics of Prof. Daniel Vercauteren. Her thesis research is directed towards the study of protein-lipids interactions using theoretical methods, and in particular aims at understanding the effect of membrane lipids on the structural and functional properties of the µ opioid receptor.
