Projects per year
Organisation profile
About us
The Brussels Center for Immunology (BCIM) is a top-notch expertise center on cellular and molecular immunology during health and a variety of oncological, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. The BCIM research is based on employing cutting-edge molecular and genetic technologies, including single cell (spatial) multi-omic analysis, genome engineering and stem cell technology, the generation of novel transgenic mouse strains and the strategic exploitation of camelid-derived single domain antibody fragments (nanobodies) as exquisite tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. BCIM is composed of 4 different groups with complementary research focus, that operate in a synergistic and collaborative manner. The Myeloid Cell Immunology group, led by VIB Group Leader Jo Van Ginderachter, studies the molecular regulation, function, and diagnostic or therapeutic targeting of immunoregulatory cell populations in tumors and in the liver. The Dendritic Cell Biology and Cancer Immunotherapy group, led by VIB Group Leader Damya Laoui, focuses on understanding the heterogeneity and functions of tumor-infiltrating conventional dendritic cells to enable the development of novel cancer therapies. The Brain, Cancer and Systems Immunology group, led by ERC grantee Kiavash Movahedi, studies the heterogeneity and functions of brain macrophages and seeks to understand their role in homeostasis and disease. The Immunoparasitology group, led by Stefan Magez, studies the immunopathology of parasitic infectious diseases and the mechanisms involved in parasite control to develop novel diagnostics and treatments for these diseases.
Keywords
- immunology
- cell
- diseases
- tumor
- cancer
- macrophages
- cells
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
-
Afrah Aboo
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences - Unpaid employee
- Brussels Center for Immunology - Unpaid employee
- Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Person: Researcher, PhD
-
Nadia Abou
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Brussels Center for Immunology - Administrative Assistant
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences - Administrative Assistant
Person: Administrative/technical staff
-
Leen Ali
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences - Scientific employee
- Brussels Center for Immunology - Scientific employee
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Person: Researcher, PhD
-
Lize Allonsius
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences - External employee, doctoral student
- Brussels Center for Immunology - External employee, doctoral student
- Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Person: Researcher, PhD
-
Andrés Álvarez Rodríguez
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Department of Bio-engineering Sciences - Unpaid employee
- Brussels Center for Immunology - Unpaid employee
- Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Person: Researcher, PhD
-
EU712: In vivo PERTURB-Flow: high-throughput single-cell perturbation screening for macrophage target discovery
Movahedi, K. (Administrative Promotor)
1/04/26 → 30/09/27
Project: Fundamental
-
IOFPOC72: IOF PoC Project - BiPET-8-69: Bispecific anti-hCD8b/hCD69 PET tracer for in vivo imaging of activated CD8+ T cells
Van Ginderachter, J. (Administrative Promotor), Devoogdt, N. (CoI (Co-Promotor)), De Groof, T. (CoI (Co-Promotor)) & Raes, G. (CoI (Co-Promotor))
1/01/26 → 31/12/26
Project: Applied
-
FWOTM1345: Unraveling the mechanisms of trained immunity in ontogenically distinct liver macrophages
Geerts, M. (Mandate), Van Ginderachter, J. (Administrative Promotor) & Stijlemans, B. (CoI (Co-Promotor))
1/11/25 → 31/10/29
Project: Fundamental
-
FWOTM1343: Unravelling the role and anti-tumor potential of cDC2s expressing interferon-stimulated genes within intratumoral niches.
Kelecom, L. (Mandate) & Laoui, D. (Administrative Promotor)
1/11/25 → 31/10/29
Project: Fundamental
-
FWOSB197: Macrophage-based cell therapy to enhance anti-tumor immunity in Glioblastoma.
Srinivasan, A. N. (Mandate) & Movahedi, K. (Administrative Promotor)
1/11/25 → 31/10/29
Project: Fundamental
Research output
-
Association of tumour-associated macrophage states with nonconserved lncRNAs in lung cancer
Verheyden, Y., Cinque, S., Kancheva, D., Van Ginderachter, J. A. & Leucci, E., Apr 2026, In: Genes and Immunity. 27, 2, p. 185-194 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies as Tools for Novel Target Identification in Kinetoplastid Research
Jin, B.-K., Magez, S., Odongo, S., Sterckx, Y., Li, Z. & De Vocht, L., 3 Feb 2026, Methods in Molecular Biology. p. 349-382 34 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology; vol. 3014).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
CD8b-BINDING POLYPEPTIDES
Van Ginderachter, J. (Inventor), Raes, G. (Inventor), Vincke, C. (Inventor), Devoogdt, N. (Inventor), De Groof, T. (Inventor) & Lauwers, Y. (Inventor), 2026, USPTO, Patent No. US20260102527A1Research output: Patent
-
Context is everything: how spatial biology is changing our understanding of disease
Allonsius, L., Hickey, J., Krishnaswamy, S., Bosio, A. & Kulasinghe , A., 15 Jun 2026, Drug Target Review. 12 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
-
Employing multiomics profiling to unveil the immune landscape of a patient-relevant orthotopic lung cancer model
Allonsius, L., Bardet, P., Hadadi, E., Kancheva, D., Van Audenhove, A., Roelandt, R., Boon, L., Fucikova, J., Aboubakar Nana, F. & Laoui, D., 8 Jun 2026, (Unpublished).Research output: Unpublished contribution to conference › Poster
Activities
-
Optimizing lipid nanoparticle immunotherapy for dendritic cell targeting to enhance CD8⁺ T-cell–mediated anti-tumor immunity
Fredericq, L. (Speaker)
4 May 2026 → 8 May 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
-
Kinderuniversiteit
Berghmans, F. (Member)
15 Jan 2026 → 4 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in or organizing a school event
-
SID-in 2026
Fredericq, L. (Participant)
22 Jan 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in or organizing a school event
-
Ethical Commission for Animal experiments (ECD) (External organisation)
Gordún Peiró, A. (Member)
1 Feb 2026 → 1 Feb 2027Activity: Membership › Work on academic committees and working groups
-
10th Portsmouth Colorectal Congress
Van Eetvelde, E. (Supervisor)
10 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Equipment
-
High-parametric single-cell protein profiling in intact tissues.
Movahedi, K. (Scientific coordinator)
Brussels Center for ImmunologyFacility/equipment: Equipment › no e-resource/single sited
-
Quantitative Molecular Imaging Platform.
Lahoutte, T. (Consortium coordinator), Devoogdt, N. (Consortium partner) & Raes, G. (Consortium partner)
Supporting clinical sciencesFacility/equipment: Equipment › no e-resource/single sited
-
SPECY-SORT: SPEctral flow CYtometer and cell SORTer .
Laoui, D. (Scientific coordinator)
Flow Cytometry Core FacilityFacility/equipment: Equipment › no e-resource/single sited
-
SPIDER-FLOW: State-of-the-art high-Parameter Immunology and DEvelopmental biology Research FLOW cytometer.
Van Ginderachter, J. (Infrastructure coordinator)
Department of Bio-engineering SciencesFacility/equipment: Equipment › no e-resource/single sited
Datasets
-
Generation and Characterization of Novel Pan-Cancer Anti-uPAR Fluorescent Nanobodies as Tools for Image-Guided Surgery
Mateusiak, L. (Creator), Floru, S. (Researcher), De Groof, T. (Researcher), Wouters, J. (Researcher), Declerck, N. (Researcher), Debie, P. (Researcher), Janssen, S. (Researcher), Zeven, K. (Researcher), Puttemans, J. (Researcher), Vincke, C. (Researcher), Breckpot, K. (Project Member), Devoogdt, N. (Project Member) & Hernot, S. (Supervisor), Zenodo, 26 Mar 2025
DOI: https://zenodo.org/records/15089920
Dataset
-
Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry stainings
Verhulst, S. (Creator), Locy, H. (Creator) & Breckpot, K. (Creator), Zenodo, 11 Feb 2022
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.794175
Dataset
-
Dataset of Development and evaluation of nanobody tracers for noninvasive nuclear imaging of the immune-checkpoint TIGIT
De Groof, T. (Creator), Zeven, K. (Creator), Ceuppens, H. (Creator), Awad, R. M. (Creator), Ertveldt, T. (Creator), de Mey, W. (Creator), Meeus, F. (Creator), Raes, G. (Creator), Breckpot, K. (Creator) & Devoogdt, N. (Creator), Zenodo, 24 Mar 2025
Dataset
-
Dataset of AXL-specific single domain antibodies show diagnostic potential and anti-tumor activity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Vandewalle, N. (Creator), Satilmis, H. (Creator), Verheye, E. (Creator), Wang, Y. (Creator), De Groof, T. (Creator), Bridoux, J. (Creator), Kerre, T. (Creator), De Beule, N. (Creator), De Becker, A. (Creator), De Bruyne, E. (Creator), Menu, E. (Creator), Vanderkerken, K. (Creator), Breckpot, K. (Creator), Devoogdt, N. (Creator) & De Veirman, K. (Creator), Theranostics, 15 Apr 2024
DOI: 10.7150/thno.91456, https://zenodo.org/records/15111364
Dataset
-
A single-cell transcriptomic map of the murine and human multiple myeloma immune microenvironment across disease stages
Laoui, D. (Creator), Kancheva, D. (Creator), Satilmis, H. (Creator), Vandewalle, N. (Creator), Fan, R. (Creator), Bardet, P. (Creator), Clappaert, E. (Creator), Verstaen, K. (Creator), De Becker, A. (Creator), Vanderkerken, K. (Creator) & De Veirman, K. (Creator), NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus, 14 Nov 2024
Dataset