2026 programme
Provisionnal programme
08:30 – Welcome, coffee breakfast and registration
09:15 – Welcome words
09:30 – Keynote 1 | Prof. Nelly Litvak - Eindhoven University of Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science
Nelly Litvak is professor in Algorithms for Complex Networks and has a background in Applied Probability and Stochastic Operations Research. She works on mathematical methods and algorithms for complex networks, such as social networks and the WWW. Real-life networks are modeled as random graphs, and algorithms are used to extract information from the massive network data.
The overall goal of her research is to extract value from (Big) Data, focusing on network data. Her research revolves around three main topics: Information extraction and predictions based on data, mathematical analysis of network characteristics and randomized algorithms. The first looks at defining and collecting the correct measurements and data for specific purposes and deducing networks from data. The second examines mathematical properties of algorithms in networks, for example, the famous PageRank that Google invented to rank web pages. The third looks at efficient algorithms for computing network characteristics when the complete network data is not available.
10:20 – Talk 1 | Dr. Shalini Iyer - UNamur, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, NARILIS Research Institute
Dr. Shalini Iyer is a post-doctoral researcher in the Faculty of Science, Department of Physics at the University of Namur. She did an interdisciplinary PhD at UNamur where she created gold nanoparticles that could improve the anti-cancer immune response after X-ray and proton therapy. Shalini's current work involves pre-clinical research to assess the translation of this treatment approach.
10:40 – Coffee break
11:20 – Talk 2 | Prof. Serena Silvi - University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry
Prof. Serena Silvi is an associate professsor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Bologna. She is Director of the Second Cycle Degree in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials.
She will present how to design artificial molecular devices, taking into account the lessons learnt from biology and bearing in mind the marked difference between the operation mechanisms at the macroscopic and molecular level. Though artificial molecular machines cannot reproduce the structural and functional complexity of biomachines, nevertheless we can construct simple prototypes made of few molecular components, but using a larger chemical toolbox and operating in a wider range of conditions.
11:40 – Talk 3 | Dr. Manel Barkallah - UNamur, Faculty of Computer Science, NaDI Research Institute
Dr. Manel Barkallah is a post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Namur.
12:00 – Talk 4 | Prof. Liselot Dewachter, UCL, de Duve Institute
Prof. Liselot Dewachter is a research associate of the FNRS and a professor at UCLouvain and the de Duve institute in Brussels, Belgium. Her team studies the fundamental cell biology of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae in the hopes of discovering novel ways to kill this major human pathogen. Current research aims to better characterize how S. pneumoniae regulates crucial cell cycle processes (such as DNA replication, cell division, etc.) and characterizing these regulatory mechanisms at the molecular level.
Reverting antibiotic resistance to fight Streptococcus pneumoniae infections
Antibiotic resistance in the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is on the rise. This is particularly problematic in the case of beta-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin, which is the first-line therapy against this bacterium. It is therefore crucial to uncover targets that would kill or re-sensitize amoxicillin-resistant pneumococci. To do so, we developed a genetic screening approach that combines CRISPR interference with cell sorting (CRISPRi-FACS-seq). Since amoxicillin affects growth and division, CRISPRi-FACS-seq was used to identify targets that are responsible for maintaining proper cell size. Our screen revealed that downregulation of the synthesis of bactoprenol, an important lipid carrier molecule, leads to extensive cell elongation. We successfully exploited this knowledge to create a combination treatment strategy where the FDA-approved drug clomiphene, an inhibitor of bactoprenol synthesis, is paired up with amoxicillin. Our results show that clomiphene potentiates the antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin and that combination therapy re-sensitizes amoxicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. These findings could provide a starting point to develop a solution for the increasing amount of hard-to-treat amoxicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections.
12:20 – Flash talks
13:00 – Lunch and Poster Session
14:30 – Keynote 2 | Prof. Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke - UGent, Human diseases: Immunology & inflammation
My research focuses on the effect of systemic inflammation (including sepsis/SIRS or other inflammatory stimuli such as (inflamm)aging and neuroinflammation (such as the age-related disease Alzheimer’s) on the BCSFB.
We study the key molecules that play a role in the activated detrimental processes at the BCSFB upon inflammation, focusing on barrier integrity, extracellular vesicles (exosomes), and acute phase response.
We study whether the choroid plexus is ‘the missing link’ in the body-to-brain axis due to its unique position between blood and brain. Hereto, we are investigating whether peripheral inflammatory triggers, e.g., in the gastrointestinal system, affect the CPE and consequently increase the sensitivity for the development of neuroinflammatory diseases.
We explore whether the CPE can be used as a delivery route to the brain.
15:20 – Talk 5 | Prof. Mercedes Alonso Giner - VUB, General chemistry research group
Prof. Mercedes Alonso Giner is an assistant professor and postdoctoral associate funded by the FWO at the VUB. Her research exploits modern computational tools and conceptual methods towards the understanding and prediction of new organic or inorganic molecules as well as the design of sustainable chemical processes.
15:40 – Coffee break
16:10 – Talk 6 | Prof. Elsa Roland - UNamur, Faculty of Education and Training Sciences, IRDENa Research Institute
