NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences
Jean-Michel Vandeweerd
Osteo-articular pathologies studied in sheep
Using the ovine model for research on musculoskeletal diseases
Prof. Jean-Michel Vandeweerd DVM, PhD
UNamur, Department of veterinary medicine, Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (URVI)
Research portal UNamur | ORCID | ResearchGate
Expertise and research interests
Prof. Jean-Michel Vandeweerd created the research group Omnibus Animalibus Studia Sanitatis (OASIS) in the form of a collaboration between the Department of veterinary medicine of the UNamur and the Department of diagnostic imaging of the CHU UCL Namur. Their research is dedicated to the study of musculoskeletal diseases, mostly those occurring in man and horses. Important diseases such as osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration and tendonitis are studied by using an ovine model. OASIS has also a special interest for musculoskeletal diseases in sport horses and for the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in this species.
OASIS researchers have access to the Ovine Research Center of the UNamur, located at Faulx-les-Tombes, which offers a pedigree flock of sheep. It comprises a fully equipped large animal surgical theatre, a laboratory and a space dedicated to assessment of locomotion. The CHU UCL Namur (site Godinne) offers the facilities for conventional (radiography, ultrasonography) and advanced imaging (computed tomography, 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, interventional angiography).
Group members
Postdoctoral researcher: Dr. Fanny Hontoir
PhD student: Benoît Maquet
Research projects
- ONGOING OASIS: Using the ovine model for research on musculoskeletal diseases. Research collaboration between Prof. Françoise Kayser, CHU UCL Namur and Prof. Jean-Michel Vandeweerd, UNamur.
- ONGOING Investigation of small nucleolar RNA in ageing and osteoarthritis, in an ovine model: bringing fundamentals to a large animal model. Postdoctoral research by Dr. Fanny Hontoir.
- . PhD thesis defended by Dr. Françoise Kayser, CHU UCL Namur, on 28/03/2022.
- Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance imaging of the ovine lumbar intervertebral discs. In collaboration with Prof. Jean-François Nisolle, CHU UCL Namur, Diagnostic imaging.
- Dental Stem Cells and Leukocyte- and Platelet -Rich Fibrin as Candidate Therapies for Joint Repair. PhD thesis defended by Melissa Lo Monaco on 28/10/2020. Joint PhD programme at UHasselt (Prof. Ivo Lambricht) and UNamur (Prof. Jean-Michel Vandeweerd).
- Do specific magnetic resonance imaging and contrast enhanced computed tomography imaging provide early detection of cartilage changes after subchondral bone mechanical or chemical stimulation in an ovine model? PhD thesis defended by Fanny Hontoir on 23/08/2018.
Selected publications
Ems G, Severino L, Nisolle JF, Nicaise C, Lambrichts I, LoMonaco M, Bronckaers A, Hontoir F, Vandeweerd JM. Volumetry of ovine incisors dental pulp for further regenerative therapy. Anat Histol Embryol. 2023 Jun 5.
Jarry J, De Raeve Y, Dugdale A, Simon V, Vandeweerd JM. An ex vivo pilot study to assess the feasibility of 3D printing of orbital implants in horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2023 May 25:104826.
Hontoir F, Paques F, Simon V, Balau B, Nicaise C, Clegg P, Dugdale A, Vandeweerd JM. Is the T-ligament a ligament? A histological study in equine cadaver forelimbs. Res Vet Sci. 2020 May 23;132:10-16.
Lo Monaco M, Gervois P, Beaumont J, Clegg P, Bronckaers A, Vandeweerd JM, Lambrichts I. Therapeutic Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells and Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin for Osteoarthritis. Cells. 2020 Apr 15;9(4).
Hontoir F, Pirson R, Simon V, Clegg P, Nisolle JF, Kirschvink N, Vandeweerd JE. Age-related morphometric changes of the tidemark in the ovine stifle. Anat Histol Embryol. 2019 May 20.
Kayser F, Hontoir F, Clegg P, Kirschvink N, Dugdale A, Vandeweerd JM. Ultrasound anatomy of the normal stifle in the sheep. Anat Histol Embryol. 2019 Jan;48(1):87-96.
Hontoir F, Clegg P, Simon V, Kirschvink N, Nisolle JF, Vandeweerd JM. Accuracy of computed tomographic arthrography for assessment of articular cartilage defects in the ovine stifle. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2017 Sep;58(5):512-523.
Nisolle JF, Bihin B, Kirschvink N, Neveu F, Clegg P, Dugdale A, Wang X, Vandeweerd JM. Prevalence of Age-Related Changes in Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Discs during Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Comp Med. 2016;66(4):300-7.
Nisolle JF, Wang XQ, Squelart M, Hontoir F, Kirschvink N, Clegg P, Vandeweerd JM Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomy of the ovine lumbar spine. Anatomia, histologia, embryologia 2014, 43:203-209.
Hontoir F, Nisolle JF, Meurisse H, Simon V, Tallier M, Vanderstricht R, Antoine N, Piret J, Clegg P, Vandeweerd JM A comparison of 3-T magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography arthography to identify structural cartilage defects of the fetlock joint in the horse. Vet J 2014, 199:115-122.
Nisolle JF, Neveu F, Hontoir F, Clegg P, Kirschvink N, Vandeweerd JM. CT-guided injection technique into intervertebral discs in the ovine lumbar spine. Eur Spine J. 2013 Dec;22(12):2760-5.
Vandeweerd JM, Kirschvink N, Muylkens B, Depiereux E, Clegg P, Herteman N, Lamberts M, Bonnet P, Nisolle JF A study of the anatomy and injection techniques of the ovine stifle by positive contrast arthrography, computed tomography arthrography and gross anatomical dissection. Vet J 2012, 193:426-432
