J-L Balligand and his team developed the core of their research projects in the biochemistry and cellular biology of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) including their regulation in cardiovascular tissues. His group initiated the research on the role of NOS in cardiac myocyte contractility which is being extended in the context of myocardial remodelling and regeneration, e.g. in response to neurohormones and adrenoceptors. His lab has recognized expertise in cell signalling and cardiovascular pharmacology using in vitro and in vivo models. JL Balligand is Head of the FATH Pole within IREC and also practicing Physician at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCL and teaches cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology at UCL Medical School.
More recently, JL Balligand has developed these research directions as associated partner of a Leducq Foundation-funded transatlantic network of excellence in cardiovascular sciences (https://www.fondationleducq.org/) and of the FP6-EUGeneHeart consortium that laid the ground for innovative research in therapeutics for heart failure. He also coordinates several collaborative programmes (Concerted Actions, Interuniversity Attraction Pole) funded by the Politique Scientifique Fédérale. He is the coordinator of the Clinical Trial “Beta3_LVH” (www.beta3lvh.eu) that is currently testing the effect of the beta3 adrenergic agonist, mirabegron for the prevention of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. (funded by a European Commission Horizon2020 grant).
J-L Balligand is a Board member of the ESC Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science and has been co-director of the Summer School in Basic Cardiovascular Research sponsored by the Council since 2009. Since September 2009, Prof Balligand is also Board member of BioWin ( http://www.biowin.org ), the Health Sciences cluster of Wallonia that promotes translational innovative research in partnership with biomedical industries (cfr. Insight in Nature, Sept 6, 2012).