Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: Insights from Real-World Data on Drug Interactions and Medication Adherence

Promotor: Prof. Séverine Henrard
Co-promotor: Prof. Anne Spinewine

Related publication:
•    Fuchs, V.A., Spinewine, A., Zerah, L. et al. Non-adherence and non-persistence of Direct Oral Anticoagulants among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a French retrospective cohort study. Sci Rep 15, 10791 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96030-6 
•    Fuchs, V.A., Zerah, L., Spinewine, A. et al. Drug-drug interactions with direct oral anticoagulants in Belgian primary care patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Sci Rep 16, 23253 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-53817-5

This thesis defense took place on October 15, 2026.

Identification and evaluation of microbiome-based therapies to tackle cachexia in acute myeloid leukemia

Promotor: Prof. Laure Bindels

Related publication:
•    Pötgens SA, *Lecop S, Havelange V, Li F, Neyrinck AM, Neveux N, Maertens J, Walter J, Schoemans H, Delzenne NM, Bindels LB. Gut microbiota alterations induced by intensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukaemia patients are associated with gut barrier dysfunction and body weight loss. Clin Nutr. 2023 Nov;42(11):2214-2228. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.09.021. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37806074.
•    Lecop S, Piron E, Neyrinck AM, Loriot A, Pötgens SA, Helaers R, Jacquet A, Morigny P, Scorletti E, Bilson J, Byrne CD, Cani PD, Rohm M, Vereecke L, Hitch TCA, Clavel T, Delzenne NM, Bindels LB. Mixed acid fermentation products from Lachnospira eligens counteract myotube atrophy. bioRxiv. 2026 Jun; doi: 10.64898/2026.06.10.729780.

This thesis defence took place on September 16, 2026

Deciphering and Targeting Arginase-1 Oligomerization: A New Strategy for Enzyme Inhibition

Promotor: Raphaël Frédérick

Related publication :
Dechenne, J.; Wierzbicka, M.; Krimou, R.; El Aakchioui, A.; Malo Pueyo, J.; Messens, J.; Fillet, M.; Spillier, Q.; Frédérick, R. Examining Arginase-1 Trimerization Uncovers a Promising Allosteric Site for Inhibition. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2025, 68 (2), 1433-1445.
Dechenne, J.; Cobraiville, G.; Briois, V.; Fillet, M.; Spillier, Q.; Frédérick, R. Allosteric inhibition of Arginase-1 via acetylation-driven trimer disruption. Submitted in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

This thesis defence took place on September 8, 2026

Investigating Bioactive Lipid- and MicroRNA-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles to Target Neuroinflammation

Promotor: Prof. Anne des Rieux and Co-promotor: Prof. Giulio Muccioli

Related publication:
•    Swain J., Dezanet C., Chalhoub H., Auquière M., Kempf J., Décout J-L., Mingeot-Leclercq M-P. Interest of Homodialkyl Neamine Derivatives against Resistant P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and β-Lactamases-Producing Bacteria—Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on the Interaction with LPS. Int J Mol Sci 22(16). 2021. 
•    Auquière M., Muccioli GG., des Rieux A. Methods and Challenges in Purifying Drug-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles. J Extracell Vesicles 14(6): e70097. 2025.
•    Auquière M., Terrasi R., Gratpain V., Vanderstraeten J., Cronemberger-Andrade A., Mozaheb N.,  Mingeot-Leclercq M-P., des Rieux A., Muccioli GG.  Critical Evaluation of Saponin as a Permeabilizer for Anandamide Encapsulation in Extracellular Vesicles. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2025. 
•    Auquière M., Santos-Coquillata A., Poupardin R., Cronemberger-Andrade A., Silva Brun A., Muccioli GG., des Rieux A. Microglial Activation State Shapes the Proteomic Content and Functional Properties of Extracellular Vesicles. Submited in GLIA.
•    Ma Z.#, Auquière M.#, Deltombe M., Dang HA., Yang J., Mwema A., Rodella G., De Geest BG., van Pesch V., Muccioli GG., des Rieux A. miR-181c delivery in neuroinflammation: LNP succeed where EV failed.  In preparation. #Co-first author.

This thesis defence took place on August 27, 2026.

Exploring barriers, strategies, and evaluation approaches for implementing benzodiazepine deprescribing in European older adults

Promotor: Prof. Anne Spinewine and co-promotor: Prof. Séverine Henrard

Related publication:
•    López-Toribio M et al. (submitted in June 2026).  Process evaluation of the BE-SAFE cluster randomised controlled trial: a research protocol. BMJ Open. Under review
•    Shapoval V et al. (2025). Barriers to discontinuing benzodiazepine receptor agonists in older adults: a survey of older adults across Europe. Age and Ageing.
•    Shapoval V et al. (2025). Barriers to and enablers of supporting deprescribing benzodiazepines in older adults: a survey of European nonphysician healthcare professionals. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology.
•    Shapoval V et al. (2025). Barriers to deprescribing benzodiazepines in older adults in a survey of European physicians. JAMA Network Open. 
 

This thesis defence took place on August 27, 2026.