Dr. Lien Van Hoecke 

Exploring mesenchymal stem cell derived extracellular vesicles (MSC EVs) as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease using a genetic mouse model.
(promotor of the grant: Prof. Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke) 

The steady progress in the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has led to the evaluation of therapies aiming to reduce pathological aggregates of either beta amyloid (Aβ) or phosphorylated Tau or aiming to lower neuroinflammation. Unfortunately, except for the recently FDA-approved Aducanumab of which the therapeutic effect is not yet conclusively proven, only symptomatic medication that is effective for some AD patients is available 

In this project Lien will evaluate an immune modulatory approach that is able to fine-tune specific parts of the innate immune response.