Our research groups

Pr. Ph. Lysy's team comprises a postdoctoral fellow, a clinical research coordinator, two Ph.D. students, biomedical sciences, medicine or physiotherapy and rehabilitation master students and nurses. The aim of all studies lead by the team members is to improve the understanding of diabetes in order to provide the best personalized treatment for patients with diabetes. (For more information, click here).

Philippe Lysy, PI

After early commitment to basic science during MD studies, Ph. Lysy undertook a PhD on the regenerative potential of stem cells for liver-based inborn errors of metabolism, under the supervision of Pr Etienne Sokal (UCL).

While finishing his formation in Pediatrics, he had the opportunity to spend two years as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr Susan Bonner-Weir at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, to study the role of human pancreatic ductal cells as progenitors in the setting of beta-cell replacement strategies.

He learned his skills in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at UCL and with Pr Lori Laffel and Pr Lynne Levitsky in Boston. Back in Brussels in 2011, Ph. Lysy joined the pediatric endocrinology unit of Cliniques Universitaires St. LUC (UCL) where he is currently involved in both clinical and basic research activities, these latter being focused on the finding of new technologies to maintain or restore the deficient beta-cell mass in type 1 diabetes.

Besides activities in international societies for pediatric endocrinology and diabetes (including ISPAD and ESPE), Ph. Lysy is co-chairing the research commission of the Belgian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (BESPEED) and Association Belge des Pédiatres Diabétologues de langue Française (ABEPEDIAF), and is vice-president of a transversal research group inside UCL which focuses on obesity, metabolism and diabetes (OMEDIAB). Since 2018, he joigned the Administration Council of the Belgian Pediatrics Society (SBP/BVK).

Caroline Daems, Postdoctoral Fellow

1. Background

• Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CA.
• M.Sc. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
• B.Sc. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetic. Université de Limoges des sciences et techniques, Limoges, France

2. Professional experiences

Post-doctoral fellow. PEDI-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels. My research focuses on the protection of β-cell mass against inflammation and glucotoxicity in T1D. In addition, I am working to better understand the problems of managing blood glucose in patients with T1D after the period of partial remission.

Ph.D. at Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CA. My research was focused on the transcriptional regulation of testosterone synthesis, produced by testicular Leydig cells [1]. These researches led to the identification of MEF2 as a new transcription factor present in Leydig cells and to the determination of its target genes and mechanisms of action involving the two steroidogenic genes Nur77 and Star [2, 3].

3. Clinical trials

DIABHONEY, GENEPEDIAB, GLUCOTOXICITY, INFLAMMATION 

Paola Gallo, CRC

1. Background

• M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences, Human Nutrition. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.Sc. in Science of Nutrition. Università Degli Studi Della Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.

2. Professional experiences

• Clinical research coordinator. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Brussels.
• Master 2 training. Galactic SA, R&D department, Brussels.
• Master 2 training. EDIN-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.

3. Clinical trials

GENEPEDIAB, DIATAG, EPHICA, FREDER1K

Olivier Polle, Ph.D. Student

1. Background

• Ph.D. student (FRIA grant) in PEDI-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• Paediatric Fellowship. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels.
• MD. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels. Summa Cum Laude with honours of the jury.
• B.Sc in Medicine. Université de Namur, Namur. Magna Cum Laude.

2. Professional experiences

• Paediatric Fellowship. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels.
• Paediatric Fellowship. Grand Hôpital, Charleroi.
• Paediatric Fellowship. Clinique Notre-Dame, Gosselies.

3. Clinical trials

DIATAG, FREDER1K

Sophie Welsch, Ph.D. Student

1. Background

• Ph.D. student (ARC grant) in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. PEDI-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences, Human Nutrition. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• Preparatory year in Biomedical Sciences. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.Sc. in Dietetic. Haute école Lucia de Brouckère (HELDB), Brussels.

2. Professional experiences

• Master 2 training. Center for Diabetes Research, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels.
• Master 1 & 2 training. PEDI-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.

3. Clinical trials

DIABGRAFT, DIABONCO, GENEPEDIAB, GLUCOTOXICITY

Julie Lemmer, Master Student

1. Background

• M.Sc. student in Biomedical Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology. Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.SC. in Cell Biology and Physiology of Organisms. Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.

2. Professional experiences

• Master 1 & 2 training. PEDI-IREC, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.

3. Clinical trials

DIATAG, FREDER1K

Sandra Koumi, Medicine Student

1. Background

• M.Sc. student in Medicine. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.Sc. in Medicine. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.

2. Clinical trials

DIABONCO

Sarah Montenez, Medicine Student

1. Background

• M.Sc. student in Medicine. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.Sc. in Medicine. Université de Namur, Namur (With honor).

2. Professional experiences

• Intern in General Medicine. Centre médical « cap sante du ponant », Gembloux.
• Caregiver. Maison de repos « résidence du Nil », Walhain.
• Intern in Pneumology. Hôpital Saint-Luc de bouges, Namur.
• Intern in General Medicine. Office of Dr. Philippe Fremy, Walhain.

3. Clinical trials

THYRAMIO

Hélène Absil, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Student

1. Background

• M.Sc. student Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.
• B.Sc. in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels (With honor).

2. Professional experiences

• Master training. Traumatology neurology, oncology, orthopedics. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

3. Clinical trials

Sports and diabetes: "Our memory analyzed the physical activity effects on glycemic control, and more generally on the children and adolescents health with type 1 diabetes. We performed a systematic review including randomized controlled trials that we analyzed. These data will be submitted for publication shortly. "

Lia Baudet, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Student

Augustin Renard, Medicine Student

Clinical trials  

EPHICA
 

Emy Gasser, Medicine Student

 

Pathologies of exocrine pancreas are rare in children, but are associated with considerable morbidity. There are few studies on the etiology of these disorders, and therapeutic options are limited.

The research projects carried out by the PEDI laboratory's Pancreas Axis focus on :

1/ the study of the etiologies of pancreatitis in children, in particular genetic, toxic-metabolic, obstructive and autoimmune factors.

2/ study the impact of drug and/or interventional treatments (ERCP, EUS) on the prevention of pancreatitis recurrence.

These research projects are fundamental, clinical or translational.

Isabelle Scheers, PI

Brief Biography

Pr Isabelle Scheers completed her MD and pediatric specialty training at the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain).

She started her translationnal science research activities as a medical student. Her work addressed the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in children with mitochondrial cytopathies. It was the first description of cancer developing in this disease entity as a potential consequence of oxidative stress. At the end of her pediatric specialty training, she went on to complete a PhD in hepatic and umbilical cord derived stem cell oncogenetics under the supervision of Pr Etienne Sokal (UCLouvain). This research was awarded several distinctions in international meetings.

She completed additional training in neonatology (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/UCLouvain), pediatric gastroenterology-hepatology (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) and did a subspecialty fellowship in pancreas diseases (Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada). During this period in Canada, she performed multiple research projects in pancreatology funded through a post-doctoral research grant (Restracomp, Canada).

Research Interests

Pr. Scheers’s clinical and basic research has focused on two main areas of interest:

1/ liver oncogenetics

and

2/ etiologic mechanisms of pancreatitis in children.

Hepatocellular adenoma in children

Specifically, her interest has been around the mechanisms underlying the development of hepatocellular adenomas and their subsequent malignant transformation in specific patients.

Hepatocellular adenomas are benign tumors arising in children with underlying conditions such as metabolic diseases (glycogen storage disease, MODY3, etc.), vascular malformations leading to portal deprivation and exposure to sexual hormones. Some of those adenomas are, for poorly known reasons, at risk of malignant transformation.

Pr. Scheers’s collaborative research aims at understanding the pathophysiology of adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma development to be able to improve current treatment guidelines and thereby child survival.

Pancreas diseases

Pancreatitis is a rare condition that is increasingly recognized in children. Several risk factors are identified: genetic predisposition, obstruction of the pancreatic duct, autoimmunity, exposure to toxics and metabolic diseases. Pancreatitis is associated with high morbidity. Although, progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms involved, there is still a lack of insight into the pathways involved in the progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore, treatment options are limited.

Pr. Scheers’s research aims at improving our understanding about the development of pancreatitis in children, it’s evolution and treatment options. Approaches range from in vivo animal models to human studies.

Besides activities in international societies for pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, I. Scheers is the foundator and director of the Center for Rare Diseases of the Exocrine Pancreas newly created at the Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels. She is also a board member of the Belgian Pancreatic Club and a member of the ESPGHAN (European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition) pancreas working group.

Team

Alexandre Claisse, Master Student

Giulia Sonnino, Master Student