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CANEPI - Cancer cells and their
microenvironment: from gene regula-
tory networks to therapy
This frst PAI network, interested in cancer encompasses a large
number of highly qualifed Belgian junior and senior expert,
active not only in the feld of cancerology but also in immunology, stem
cells, epigenetics and angiogenesis. In collaboration with a European
partner, they will join forces and complementary expertise to discover
new genes and epigenetics factors involved in a variety of murine and
human cancers, and also study their functionnal role through genetic and
pharmacologic manipulation in cellular and animal experimental models.
The fnal objective was to ofer and develop new therapeu-
tic approaches. To discover new genes and signaling pathways of
cancer able to promote the tumoral initiation or progression, we will
collect and integrate genomics data (number of copies of DNA and
exomic sequence), epigenomics data (DNA methylation) and transcrip-
tomics data (coding and non-coding RNA) of murine and human tumors
of various origins.
Network composition
Coordinator: Peter Carmeliet (KUL)
Belgian partners: Jean-Christophe Marine (KUL), Jean-Luc Balligand (UCL),
Franki Speleman (Gent), François Fuks (ULB), Cédric Blanpain (ULB),
Jean-Michel Foidart (ULg)
International partner: Eyal Gottlieb (Beatson Institute for Cancer Re-
search, UK)
DEVREPAIR - Paracrine and
transcriptional control of cell
diferentiation in organ develop-
ment and repair
The major objective of DEVREPAIR is to develop a
5-year basic research program that will reinforce the links
between studies on embryonic development and the re-
pair of selected adult tissues and organs. DEVREPAIR has
decided to bring together molecular embryologists who
have confrmed their strong commitment for moving their
research towards regenerative biology with stem cell re-
searchers who fully exploit the new possibilities to change
cell state (pluripotency, diferentiation) and fate (diferen-
tiation versus dediferentiation) by forced transfection of
transcription factors or use thorough comparative analysis
of diferentiation potential of normal and diseased pro-
genitor cells at the molecular, sometimes genome-wide
level. The research program in DEVREPAIR is carried out
by 8 partners from 4 Belgian and 2 Dutch universities many
partners also being associated with local satellite teams (11
in total) that in a number of cases are young and emerging
teams.
Network composition
Coordinator: Danny Huylebroeck (KUL)
Belgian partners: Catherine Verfaillie (KUL), Frans Van
Roy (Gent University), Dirk Elewaut (Gent University),
Brigitte Malgrange (ULg)
, Harry Heimberg (VUB)
International partners: Frank Grosveld (Erasmus University
Rotterdam, The Netherlands), Christine Mummery
(Hubrecht Laboratorium, The Netherlands)
The “Interuniversity Attraction Poles” (IAP) Program
aims to provide support for teams of excellence in
basic research that belong to Belgium’s various (linguistic)
Communities. These teams work as part of a network in
order to increase their joint contribution to general scien-
tifc advances and, where applicable, to international
scientifc networks. Since 1987 the IAP progam has been
implemented in fve year phases. The ongoing IAP phase-
VII (2012-2017) contains 47 networks implicating 369
research teams (257 Belgian teams and 112 International
partners) and spans a wide variety of research felds in the
life sciences, exact and applied sciences and the human
sciences. The impact of the IAP on basic research is consi-
derable. The program represents some 500 researchers
(full-time-equivalents) paid with IAP funds and over 2 000
publications each year within the program as a whole.
Interuniversity
Attraction Poles
Program (PAI)
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