University Of Antwerp

Vaccine Immunology and Infectious Diseases

COVID-19 and avian influenza research are central to the sponsor’s infectious disease portfolio, with a strong emphasis on innate immunity, humoral immune responses, and cell-mediated immunity after vaccination. The funded studies also include pertussis vaccination in pregnancy and zoonotic influenza, reflecting interest in immune protection across different populations and viral threats.

  • COVID-19 mRNA vaccination
  • Zoonotic influenza immunogenicity
  • Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy
  • Innate and adaptive immune responses

Several projects focus on how vaccination shapes immune activity in healthy adults and pregnant women, with attention to antibody responses and immune priming.

Human Papillomavirus and Mucosal Infection

Research in human papillomavirus infection examines vaccine-related antibody function and viral infectivity using first-void urine as a biologic sample. This area reflects interest in HPV transmission, mucosal immunity, and laboratory models that assess how vaccine-induced antibodies interact with viral particles.

  • HPV type-specific antibodies
  • Viral infectivity models
  • Mucosal sample analysis

The sponsor’s work in this field connects vaccine immunology with practical approaches for studying infection at the mucosal surface.

Psychiatry and Immune-Targeted Treatment

In major depressive disorder, the sponsor supports research on immune-targeted augmentation for patients who have not achieved remission with antidepressant treatment. The work highlights the intersection of psychiatry, inflammation, and treatment resistance, with interest in stratifying patients by immune-related features.

  • Major depressive disorder
  • Inflammation-based stratification
  • Treatment-resistant depression

This area focuses on identifying biologically informed treatment strategies for depressive illness.

Hematologic Oncology and Molecular Imaging

The sponsor funds research in multiple myeloma with a focus on PET imaging and disease assessment. The use of [68Ga]Ga-PentixaFor supports interest in molecular characterization of plasma cell disorders and improved evaluation of disease burden in hematologic malignancy.

  • Multiple myeloma
  • PET-based disease assessment
  • Molecular imaging biomarkers

These studies align with diagnostic and risk-assessment approaches in blood cancer research.

Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Stroke Sequelae

Research on spasticity after stroke examines interventions for lower-limb motor impairment and spinal-level effects in post-stroke rehabilitation. The sponsor also supports studies involving botulinum toxin A and dry needling, indicating sustained interest in neurological rehabilitation and functional recovery after stroke.

  • Post-stroke spasticity
  • Botulinum toxin A
  • Dry needling
  • Motor rehabilitation

This therapeutic area addresses persistent movement disorders following cerebrovascular injury.

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Matched clinical trials

  • Study of HPV antibody response in urine samples before and after HPV 9-valent vaccine in people with Human Papillomavirus infection

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Belgium
  • Study comparing Dry Needling and Botulinum Toxin Type A treatments for leg muscle stiffness in stroke patients

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    Belgium Spain
  • Study on Minocycline and Celecoxib for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Not Responding to Antidepressants

    Recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    Belgium
  • Study on [68Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET Imaging for Better Risk and Disease Assessment in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

    Recruiting

    1 1
    Investigated drugs:
    Belgium The Netherlands
  • Study on the Best Timing for Pertussis Vaccination in Pregnant Women Using Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccine

    Not yet recruiting

    1 1 1 1
    Belgium
  • Study of H5N8 influenza vaccine in adults previously vaccinated with H5N1/MF59 vaccine compared to those never vaccinated with H5 vaccine

    Not recruiting

    1 1 1 1
    Belgium Italy