PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche, prof. Heidi Ottevaere, prof. Ilse Weets, prof. Katrien Lanckmans
Research partners: UZ Brussel, Joanneum Research, Demokritos, Coating Plasma Innovation
Funding partners: Horizon Europe, Pathfinder
Effective start/end date: 01/03/22 → 28/02/26
PI: prof. Karine Hellemans, prof. Wim De Malsche
Funding partners: Innoviris
Effective start/end date: 01/09/20 → 30/11/21
IOF Proof of Concept: Lab-on-a-Disk for Single Image Parasite Quantification (SIMPAQ) in Stool
The µFlow Cell has developed a new lab-on-a-disk platform under the name SIMPAQ - Single Image Parasite Quantification - to count the number of parasite eggs in stool. This tool cannot only offer the sensitivity for all levels of infection intensities, it is also a portable instrument that can be used on-farm or in the remote areas of Africa, and it allows to digitalize and store the test data, which can be standardized, analyzed and reported to the farmer, veterinarian, local and international health authorities such as World Health Organization (WHO).
PI: prof. Wim De Malsche
Funding partners: VUB, IOF
Effective start/end date: 01/01/20 → 30/06/21
Moonshot cSBO: Novel Integrated Biorefinery Concepts for a Carbon Neutral Bio-Economy (NIBCON)
The NIBCON project aims to identify and convert fibrous biobased materials, like lignin, into various new building blocks through biorefining technologies. These building blocks can then be used to replace non-renewable resources.
PI: prof. Wim De Malsche
Research partners: KU Leuven, VITO, UGent
Funding partner: Catalisti, VLAIO
Effective start/end date: 01/01/20 → 30/06/21
VLIR-UOS South Initiative (SI): Field Testing of Lab-on-a-Disk for Single Image Parasite Quantification in Stool to Monitor Soil-transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections (SIMPAQ in Tanzania)
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the most deprived communities. After 10 years of mass drug administration (MDA) infection intensities are declining. The µFlow Cell of VUB has developed a new microfluidic tool SIMPAQ - Single Image Parasite Quantification - which cannot only offer the sensitivity for low STH infection intensities, it is also a portable instrument that can be used in the remote areas of Africa, and it allows to store the test data, which can be standardized, analyzed and reported to the local authorities and World Health Organisation (WHO). In this project the SIMPAQ tool will be field tested both on human and animal populations.
PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche, dr. Eliakunda Mafie (SUA), prof. Gerald Misinzo (SUA), dr. Humphrey Mazigo (CUHAS)
Local partners: Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Catholic University of Medicine and Allied Sciences (CUHAS) in Mwanza
Funding partner: VLIR-UOS
Effective start/end date: 01/01/20 → 31/12/21
ERC Proof of Concept: Valorization Trajectory of a 3D Particle Image Velocimetry Instrument (3D-PIV)
The value proposition in this project is a table-top device able to efficiently analyse the velocimetry of particles in 3D, offering an unprecedented level of detail of the fluid motion through micron-sized channels/inlets/outlets, opening new possibilities in microfluidics design and validation with significant impact on multiple applications.
PI: prof. Wim De Malsche
Funding partner: ERC
Effective start/end date: 01/01/20 → 30/06/21
SBO: Efficient Affinity Separations in Chemical Applications (EASiCHEM)
The project aims for a new set of flexibel separation tools with the help of functionalized ceramic materials, with a high selectivity on the basis of affinity and tunable to the concerning separation problem.
PI: prof. Wim De Malsche
Research partners: VITO, UGent, KULeuven, UHasselt, UAntwerpen and UCL
Funding partner: Catalisti, VLAIO
Effective start/end date: 01/06/19 → 31/05/23
SRP Spearpoint: Optical and Microfluidic Tools to Unravel the Dynamics of Bio-condensates
A multidisciplinary team combines state-of-the-art microfluidic approaches and optical detection for studying the phenomenon of biological condensation. Novel chip designs for i) manipulating and visualizing sub-µm particles, ii) creating special mixing regimes for studying equilibrium transient phenomena, and iii) observing nucleation phenomena on the surface or within droplets, will help to gain fundamental insight into the formation and evolution of liquid condensates and aggregates of proteins (e.g. TDP-43, hnRNP A2) related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the single-particle level.
PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche (coordinator), prof. Dominique Maes, prof. Heidi Ottevaere, prof. Peter Tompa
Funding partner: VUB
Effective start/end date: 01/03/19 → 29/02/24
Innoviris BRIDGE 2019: Color Responsive Platform Technology (Colores)
In this multidisciplinary research project, an optical approach is pursued to induce a color change based on the interaction of molecules or electromagnetic radiation with receptors on optically active structured microparticles. These microparticles allow for a straightforward deposition on a wide range of matrices like cloths, bandages, or coatings. To manufacture these optically active microparticles, innovative microfluidic approaches will be developed.
PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche (coordinator), prof. Guy Van Asshe, prof. Heide Ottevaere
Research partners: UCL
Funding partner: Innoviris
Effective start/end date: 01/03/19 → 29/02/22
Prof. Wim De Malsche of the µFlow group of the Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS) and Department of Bioengineering Sciences (DBIT) and prof. Karine Hellemans of the Diabetes Research Cluster (DRC) of the VUB joint forces to form a dedicated valorization cell under the management of ir. Filip Legein. The µFlow Cell is recognized by VUB as a Group of Excellence in Advanced Research (GEAR) and supported by the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) of the Flemish government.
Team: prof. Wim De Malsche, prof. Karine Hellemans, ir. Filip Legein
Funding partner: VUB, IOF
Effective start/end date: 21/12/18 → 20/12/23
H2020: Beta Cell Generation by Stem Cell-derived Implants in Diabetes (BetaCellTherapy)
Objective is to generate a functional beta cell mass by stem cell-derived implants in diabetes patients. A combined preclinical and clinical project will search recipient and implant conditions for formation and maturation of beta cells in subcutaneous implants of device-encapsulated pancreatic endodermal cells that are derived from human embryonic stem cells (hu-ES) and manufactured for clinical studies. The consortium joins innovating cells, methods, markers and minds in a unique combination of expert clinical, academic and industry activities that need each other to make progress in an ambitious program.
PIs: prof. Bart Keymeulen, prof. Dany Pipeleers, prof. Karine Hellemans, prof. Frans Gorus, prof. Zhidong Ling
Research partners: Viacyte (USA), Ospedale San Raffaele (IT), Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden (NL), NESTEC (CH), Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (FR), Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes (BE)
Funding partner: EU H2020
Effective start/end date: 01/12/15 → 31/08/20
The µFlow group has developed an innovative 3D emulsifier concept. This device allows for high throughput production of monodisperse droplets, the precursors for monodisperse microspheres. In this project its expertise in the domain of silicon microfluidic device design and wafer fabrication for microfluidics will be used to make microspheres in the range of sub 100 µm. Some markets that would benefit strongly from monodisperse microspheres include advanced drug delivery, dermal fillers, taste masking, advanced industrial coating systems, ...
PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche, prof. Karine Hellemans
Funding partner: Innoviris
Effective start/end date: 01/10/18 → 31/12/19
The PIF project aims to continuous crystallization, dispersion and emulsion processes for tuneable (sub)micron particle generation. These are advanced (semi)-continuous processes to accurately control the average particle size, the particle size distribution and (polymorphic) shape of nano- and microparticles. A complementary team of experts uses fundamental knowledge of the properties of the various solid-liquid systems to study influences of mixing devices, fluid dynamic and interactions between particles mutually and between particles and reactor components. This knowledge is used to design continuous reactors at lab and pilot scale.
PIs: prof. Wim De Malsche, prof. Guy Van Asshe, prof. Dominique Maes
Research partners: KU Leuven, Janssen Pharmaceutica/Johnson & Johnson, Omnichem/Ajinomoto, Allnex, Devan Chemicals
Funding partner: Catalisti, VLAIO
Effective start/end date: 01/11/17 → 30/04/20
A ground-breaking step to advance HPLC performance to another level would be to accelerate mass transport in the lateral direction, beyond the rate of diffusion only. To meet this requirement, an array of microstructures and local electrodes can be defined to create lateral electroosmotic vortices in a pressure-driven column, aiming to accelerate the local mass transfer in an anisotropic fashion. The achievement of ordered arrays of vortices is intimately linked to this requirement, which is also of broader importance for mixing, anti-fouling of membrane and reactor surfaces, enhanced mass transfer in reactor channels, emulsification, etc. Understanding and implementing anisotropic vortex flows will therefore not only revolutionize analytical and preparative separation procedures, but will also be highly relevant in all flow systems that benefit from enhanced mass transfer.
PI: prof. Wim De Malsche
Funding partner: ERC
Effective start/end date: 01/03/16 → 28/02/21