Congratulations to Carine Michiels, laureate of the 2025 SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen”

Created at the initiative of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, the “Roger Van Geen” Chair is awarded every two years by the FNRS and the FWO to recognize a leading researcher in the field of nuclear sciences and their applications. In 2025, the Chair honours the brilliant career of Carine Michiels, Professor in cell biology at the UNamur and group leader at NARILIS, for her outstanding contributions to radiation biology and cancer research.

Over the past two decades, Carine Michiels has significantly deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between radiation and cancer cells. Her research relies on a strong integration of cell biology and radiation physics, supported by a longstanding collaboration with NARILIS physicists Prof. Stéphane Lucas and Prof. Anne-Catherine Heuskin. By bridging biology and physics, her team has conducted cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, with the aim to improve the efficacy of cancer radiation therapy. One of their major achievements is the development of innovative therapeutic approaches that combine advanced irradiation techniques, such as proton therapy, with unique nanohybrid compounds. These compounds, composed of gold nanoparticles coupled to targeting antibodies, act as radiosensitizers, increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

By paving the way towards more precise and personalized cancer treatments, Carine Michiels’ research fully aligns with the objectives of the SCK CEN Chair. Her accomplishments illustrate how fundamental research in radiation sciences can translate into meaningful progress in medicine and public health.