VAN EYCKE Yves-Rémi

Units

RNA is central stage in gene expression. The 'RNA Metabolism' Lab is trying to understand why all cellular RNAs are working in very close association with proteins within so-called RiboNucleoProtein particles or RNPs. My Lab is interested both in the modes of synthesis and function(s) of the RNPs under normal and disease situations. Defects in the synthesis and/or function(s) of the RNPs irremediably lead to severe human auto-immune and genetic diseases. Our fundamental research therefore has clear biomedical implications. One of our our major experimental paradigm is Eukaryotic Ribosome. These large RNPs are mostly synthesized within a specialized subcellular compartment: the nucleolus. Nucleolar morphogenesis is therefore also of great interest to the Lab. Nucleolar function provide an excellent readout for the overall cellular activity and cancer cells specifically over express nucleolar proteins which are thus potent markers for diagnosis and prognosis. Our research also focuses on these nucleolar proteins.

Digital Image Analysis in Pathology

DIAPath is a transdisciplinary and interfaculty research unit (Faculties of Medicine and École polytechnique de Bruxelles) integrated into the "Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging" (CMMI, Biopark of Gosselies). This unit is the result of a long-standing collaboration between the Pathology Department of the Erasme Hospital and the Laboratory of Image Synthesis and Analysis (LISA, Ecole polytechnique, ULB). Thanks to this collaboration, DIAPath is developing an integrated computational pathology approach for the characterisation, validation and monitoring of histopathological biomarkers in animal and human tissues.

The approach developed by DIAPath uses histological, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) techniques. In addition, the unit has developed Whole Slide Imaging for the objective and quantitative characterisation of biomarkers using image analysis aided by artificial intelligence. These biomarkers can be morphological in nature or concern the expression, colocalisation or co-expression of antigens (or other labelled molecules), as well as their distribution in histological samples. Data analysis skills complete the set-up. The overall objective is to extract information useful for understanding disease processes and responses to treatment, as well as to identify and validate new biomarkers useful for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes.

DIAPath is continuing to develop its skills to extend its tissue labelling, imaging and analysis techniques to fluorescence.

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