David Alsteens

Personal website

Narrative summary

David Alsteens is a biophysicist investigating how molecular interactions at biological interfaces shape cellular function. His research focuses on the physical principles underlying molecular recognition, adhesion and communication at the nanoscale, with particular interest in how the organization and mechanics of cell surfaces influence biological processes.

His research combines quantitative biophysics, nanotechnology, and molecular and cellular biology. A central part of his work is the development of advanced atomic force microscopy (AFM) approaches to visualize and mechanically probe biological systems under physiologically relevant conditions, from individual molecules and membrane receptors to living cells and viruses. By combining nanoscale imaging with single-molecule force spectroscopy and complementary biophysical approaches, his group investigates not only where molecular interactions occur, but also their strength, dynamics and mechanical regulation.

A major focus of his research is understanding the molecular and biophysical basis of virus–host interactions. His group studies how viruses recognize and attach to cell surfaces, and how these initial interactions influence infection. Research on SARS-CoV-2, reovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus combines single-molecule force spectroscopy, nanoscale imaging and molecular biology to investigate the roles of viral proteins, cellular receptors, glycans and membrane organization in viral attachment and entry. Beyond identifying the molecules involved, this work seeks to uncover the physical principles that govern virus–cell recognition, including multivalency, molecular avidity, membrane organization and mechanical regulation, with the longer-term goal of identifying new ways to interfere with viral infection.

More broadly, the Alsteens laboratory studies how the molecular organization and physical properties of biological interfaces regulate cellular behaviour. This includes membrane organization, mechanosensitive receptors, the cell-surface glycocalyx and host–pathogen interactions. The laboratory brings together AFM, optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy and advanced imaging, molecular biology and computational approaches to connect molecular-scale interactions with cellular and tissue-level phenomena.

David Alsteens is Professor at UCLouvain and Senior Research Associate of the FNRS, and leads a Welbio research programme within WELRI. He has received two European Research Council grants, an ERC Starting Grant (2018–2022) and an ERC Consolidator Grant (2023–2028), and was elected a Full Member of the Science Class of the Royal Academy of Belgium in 2024. He is also an academic founder of Intercept Bio, a UCLouvain spin-off launched in 2026.