We use a range of preclinical models to study neurological and psychiatric conditions, including refractory epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, affective disorders, multiple sclerosis, dementia, sensory perception disorders such as pain and itch as well as diseases linked to the autonomic nervous system such as hyperhidrosis and orthostatic intolerance. Our expertise integrates in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro approaches to explore nervous system function and dysfunction, including a range of rodent behavioural paradigms, cOFM and other biomarker sampling techniques, telemetry-based EEG monitoring and slice electrophysiology methods. Our research combines classical pharmacology and genetic models with cutting-edge tools like chemogenetics and photopharmacology. Collaborating internationally, we aim to uncover mechanisms underlying these conditions and translate findings into clinical applications.
The team of Ilse Smolders is dedicated to finding new therapeutic strategies for refractory epilepsy and its main comorbidities such as cognitive impairment.
The team of Dimitri De Bundel studies neuro-immune modulation of cognitive and affective symptoms in neuropsychiatric disorders.
The team of Frank Bosmans investigates the roles of ion channels in neuronal function, focusing on voltage-gated sodium channels and their impact on sensory perception processes. His research also explores the role of these channels in the sympathetic nervous system and their link to hereditary dysautonomia disorders.
