After 5 years of being around in the lab (PhD and master thesis), Indra sucessfully defended her PhD. She was one of a kind and will be missed.
Congratulations and thank you once again for starting 3D cell culture in the Rocha Lab.
We wish you all the luck on your next adventure!
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In this article, Aline applied Expansion microscopy to investigate the co-localization between epigenetic readers and markers for hetero- and euchromatic.
Just out-of-the-press, to show that it is possible to publish your work even after finishing your PhD.
Congratulations Aline!
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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It took some time and hard work, but Guillermo was able to finalize this nice story!
And publish it on the British Journal of Cancer!!! Congratulations!
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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The first edition of the Nanocenter Image Contest was a success!</b> With more than 40 participants, it was difficult for everyone to chose thier favorite...
Congratulations to the winners and let's see what the second edition will bring...
(and a special thanks to Rik Nuyts for the support on the organization)
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Congratulations Bea and Hongbo! Today we celebrate! Both Bea and Hongbo will receive a pretigious FWO fellowship to continue their work on nanoparticles and biomaterials. Three years of funding!
#HappyPI
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The visit of the group of Prof. Paul Kouwer was an amazing day, where we shared lots of science and ideas with . Thanks for visiting the chemistry department.
We are already looking forward to the next meeting!
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Congratulations Dr. Aline Acke
! A PhD on ‘expanding the unexpandable’. A very nice presentation, wanted by all promotors and co-promotors… I wish you all the luck in your new adventures, both on your professional and personal live.
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Like this it is fun to get older!
A big ‘Thank you’ to the team for the presents, they were perfect!
P.S. Drinkable gifts did not survive long enough to be photographed…
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Congratulations Marisa! You made it! After 4 years of hard work, you reach the the light at the end of the tunnel...
. Next challenge: expanding your knowledge in the medical sciences. I am 100% sure you will continue to make significant contributions to the advance science.
I hope to see you around!
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With the start of the academic year, I would like to welcome the new students that joined the group: Silke, Maria, Astha and Sarah!
(Also a late welcome to Ana, who arrived already in the beginning of the year)
RochaLab(2021) = RochaLab(2020) + girls5 #WomenInSTEM
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Very proud of organzing this AMAZING summer school! The first time - and immediately a huge sucess. Three days of lectures, tutorials and workshops. Special thanks to Prof. Paul Kouwer, Prof. Jelle Hendrix and Dr. Mar Cóndor for their contribution.
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Congratulations Bea, Monica - and all the co-authors!
Endoscopy is a very challenging tehcnique but this publication demonstrates how powerfull it can be. Optimized nanowire-based endoscopy probes were used to monitor pH changes in living cells, in both the cytoplam and the nucleus.
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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We are organising a summer school to teach early stage researchers how to use fluorescence microscopy to investigate cellular forces. A mix of lectures, tutorials & hands-on workshops. Organised in collaboration with the group of Prof. Van Oosterwyck (KULeuven) and with the support of Arenberg Doctoral School and PicoQuant. Interested? Find out more here.
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Congratulations are in order for Dr. Laskaratou! After successfully publishing a nice article in Nature Communications (see the publication here.), Danai successfully defended her PhD thesis. Luckly, the current regulations allowed a hybrid defence, and Danai could present her research to the jury members, friends and family. Her explanation of fluorescence, FRET and cell signalling in layman’s terms was superb!
Danai also wrote a nice ‘behind the paper’ contribution, which you can read here.
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Sam has joined the group as a new PhD student. He will strengthen the FRET-based sensors team and has the ambitious plan of taking FRET-based force sensing to the third dimension, using 3D cell models and micro-fluidic platforms. More details on his project can be read here.
Welcome to the team Sam!
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Congratulations Monica! It was not always an easy path, but you have reach the end (or should I stay a crossing?).
The hours of measuring, the days of sample preparation, the challenges of interdisciplinary research... A PhD defence and a paper accepted on the same day.
We wish you all the luck with your future endeavours!
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We were awarded with a project within the “KU Leuven Global PhD Partnerships with Melbourne University” program. The project, entitled “Advanced cell models and multifunctional nanomaterials for light- mediated cancer therapies“ is a collaboration with the group of Prof. Paul Mulvaney and Dr. James Hutchison (a previous post-doctoral researcher of KU Leuven, an a friend).
The PhD position in Melbourne is already open, the position in KU Leuven will open in April/May.
More info? See the project description
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We started writing the review before COVID arrived in Belgium, but it will always be remember like the review we wrote during the lockdown. The goal was to summarised all the information about using nanoparticles in 3D cell culture systems, and create a small guide for researchers with limited knowledge of biology.
I am really proud of this article! #girlPOWER
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It was a long road from ‘Let’s just publish how we do this’ to the final article. But it was worth it!
Congratulations Boris! Now that the method is published, it is time to move on and do some ‘real’ science!
(But first, some drinks!)
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Single molecule imaging has been crucial to unravel molecular mechanisms of several biological systems. In this perspective, we tried to summarise how imaging single virus particles has contributed to the understanding of the HIV viral cycle. It a pleasure to write this article with the Prof. Zeger Debyser, Prof. Johan Hofkens, Prof. Jelle Hendrix and Dr. Doortje Borrenberghs.
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Congragulations Bea and Farsai! The article where we used FRET to investigate the intracellular degradation of nanoprodrugs has been published in Nanoscale. Check the publication (here)
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Pierre is joining us as one of the two PhD students that will be working for the SuperCol project at KU Leuven. A highly interdisciplinary project, requiring very specific skills. Pierre, with his unique background, has impressed us since the first interview. Looking forward to get started!
Bienvenue Pierre!
(There is no ‘NanoGirls’ anymore, we are now a ‘NanoTeam’!)
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Congratulations Johannes!
Published just before the COVID-19 lockdown (apologies for the delay in the congratulations). It is the first article of Joahnnes and the first of our collaboration with the group of Paul Kouwer. Let’s hope it is the first of many!
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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Congratulations Marisa! All those hours/days/weeks bleaching squares finally paid off.
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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For years we have talk about doing a lab trip to Lisbon. This year, we the excuse of celebrating the start of the ‘Rocha Lab’, we finally did it! A lot of walking, eating, drinking, and above all, laughing. It is an amazing group of people. Ah yes, Lisbon is an amazing city also.
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The PhD is hosted by the Rocha lab at KU Leuven, which develops fluorescence microscopy tools and assays to address biologically relevant questions. The group works at the crossroad between biology, chemistry and nanotechnology. The main imaging modalities use are confocal, multi-photon, single molecule fluorescence (single particle tracking, super- resolution) and multi-plane wide field microscopy. In parallel, we work on the optimization of biomimetic matrices for 3D cell models and functionalization of nanoparticles.
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Congratulations Hongbo! A nice example of a biological application of an hybrid hydrogel.
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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Congratulations Ovia! An very nice article reporting the best FRET acceptor for NanoLuc.
Let’s hope this will be the first of many successful research projects.
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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It is strange to return to your university 15 years later to give a seminar and see some of your old professors in the room. Thank you Prof. Gaspar Martinho for the invitation. A day or very useful discussions and hopefully the first meeting of a long standing collaboration on bio-applications of nanoparticles. The work done by Prof. Carlos Baleizão and Prof. Paulo Farinha on tailored design of nanoparticles is amazing! Looking forward to get our hand in those particles!
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EMBO will support the visit of Dr. Hammink to our laboratory. While he is also working with synthetic polymers, he uses this system to activate T-cells. Very interesting work from the group of Prof. Carl Figdor (Radboud University, Nijmegen).
We will use our cutting-edge microscopy techniques to characterise the interaction between polymers and immune cells. I am confident that his visit will result in top science.
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After some attempts, Johannes was able to convince the FWO expert panel of his project (and his personal abilities as a scientist). Congratulations Mr. FWO_aspirant!
A good example where hard work and persistence paid off. (and now still 4 more years ahead!)
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We decided to celebrate the start of Rocha’s lab with a nice team building day. After a tiring and exciting GPS game of cops and thieves (some better than others), we made peace during dinner. Congratulations to Boris, Laurens and Elizabete for their win (but next time we will catch you!)
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The Marie-Curie project of Dr. Hongbo Yuan starts with a visit to his former lab, Kouwer’s group at the Radboud University in Nijmegen.
A collaboration that started 2 years ago, with the visit of Prof. Rocha. After that, Khaizheng Liu (Max) visited our lab, Johannes Vandaele visited Nijmegen, Dr. Hongbo Yuan got a competitive Marie-Curie fellowship and soon Dr. Röel Hammink will come for a short stay.
A good example how collaboration between group with different background can drive science forward.
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Today we celebrated the 80th anniversary of Prof. Frans De Schryver.
During the symposium in honour of Prof. Frans De Schryver, there were 8 poster awards.
Congratulations Johannes, Monica, Beatrice and Marisa! 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
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Today we celebrated the 80th anniversary of Prof. Frans De Schryver.
The list of speakers included Ben Feringa, Tanja Weil, Roeland Nolte, Klaus Müllen, Jürgen Rabe, Hiroshi Masuhara, Thomas Ebbesen, Loredana Latterini, Paolo Samori, Markus Zauer and Hua Zhang.
A day full of interesting talks, with the additional pleasure of reviewing old colleagues.
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Today was a day of many fruitful discussions with visitors from Hokkaido University.
I had the opportunity to give a talk presenting our research, while Johannes and Quinten could present their progress during the poster session.
We have found some common interests in fluorescence-based sensors, drug nano delivery systems and extracellular matrix. Next meeting in Japan - already looking forward!
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Thanks to Dr. Nuno Canha, I could present my research to colleagues from my home country, including some good friends.
It was a short visit, but a memorable one.
The quality of the science being done in countries with very limited resources will always amaze me. For good science, you need a good brain, with a substantial amount of creativity.
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We could have ordered pens or mugs but… the amount of sun in Belgium requires protection!
An item to give to current and future lab members.
(now we have to wait for the end of the summer to join the team for a group picture)
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A nice article showing how simple chemistry can improve cancer specificity and efficiency of drug delivery systems.
Congratulations Bea!
You were also able to (finally) show that PEI does induce endossomal escape. And, for the non-believers, more evidence will follow!
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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Congratulations Hongbo!
Dr. Hongbo Yuan will be joining us after the summer, to investigate forces from the cell or the ECM change the mechanical properties of the matrix and, more importantly, how this change affects biological functions. We are really looking forward to work with you on this.
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Even though we were not directly involved, the Leuven team is very happy to see this work published. Congratulations Max! All your hard work is starting to pay off. This is the first one, hopefully many more will follow.
The full publication can be found in the journal or at Research gate.
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After an unforgettable Xmas party, a few days to (try to) finish up things and we are off to a well deserved Xmas break! 2019 might bring big changes - let’s hope they are all for the better!
And if not, let’s just continue the spirit and do great science!
Happy new year!
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Colaboration Leuven - Madrid keeps increasing!
Thanks to EMBO I will be able to join Guillermo Solis and Dr. Rodrigo Barderas at the Instituto Salud D.Carlos III in Madrid. I am really looking forward to meet the Barderas’ group and get this project going!
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Congragulations Herlinde! I am very proud of this one. After all the struggle with the cloning, and all the re-writing to make the best story possible, 2 years after the PhD - it is out! With the final contribution of Dr. Rafael Camacho and his nice simulations. The full article can be found here.
The software to run the simulations can be found here.
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Congragulations Guy! More than 2 years after submission, this story is finally out! I am proud of my small contribution. The full article can be found here.
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Congragulations Indra & Boris! Awarded FWO doctoral grant. It is going to be 4 years of fun with Nanoparticles & Polymers!
(Unfortunately, I do not have such a pretty foto of Boris…)
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Congragulations Nagma, Doortje & Jelle!
We were able to write a nice article reviewing our work in the virus field. The full article can be found here.
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Congragulations Lieve & Koen!
After some time, this story is (finally) out. A nice collaboration between virology, microscopy and photophysics experts, reporting a phenomena that will give a lot to talk about… The full article can be found here.
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Congragulations Max! Finally some good news from the EMBO organization: Max received the EMBO travel grant for the 3-month stay in Leuven. He will be working on imaging focal adhesions in 3D (more information on this project can be found here)
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Congragulations Wout & Willem! Nice article reporting new development in correlative AFM and Fluorescence imaging, and its application to study the interaction between DNA and DNA-interacting proteins. The full article can be found here.
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A website to share the cool science we do at KU Leuven.
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