Medicine and Health Sciences

Public defences 2026

Attend a phd defence or find the archive of concluded doctoral research

Public defences 2026

Attend a phd defence or find the archive of concluded doctoral research

Understanding Transfers from Nursing Homes to Emergency Departments: Patterns, perceptions by healthcare professionals, and prediction of mortality - Sabine Lemoyne (30/09/2026)

Sabine Lemoyne

  • 30 September 2026
  • Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002 ​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: Prof. P. Van Bogaert and prof. K. Monsieurs

A breath of fresh air: Volatile biomarkers in exhaled breath for the early detection of pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer - Kathleen Zwijsen (29/09/2026)

Kathleen Zwijsen

  • 29 September 2026
  • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002 or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: em.Prof. J. Van Meerbeeck, Prof. K. Lamote, dr E. Marcq

Balanced Care Teams: A Systems Approach to Nursing Workforce Design - Senne Vleminckx (02/07/2026)

Senne Vleminckx

  • 2 July 2026
  • Time: 5:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002 ​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: Em.prof. P. Van Bogaert, prof. L. Willem, prof. K. De Meulenaere

Reducing the burden of onchocerciasis: A focus on onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy morbidity, mortality and prevention - Luis-Jorge Teles de Meneses (29/06/2026)

Luis-Jorge Teles de Meneses do Amaral

  • 29 June 2026
  • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002 or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: Em.Prof. R. Colebunders, prof. M.G. Basáñez and prof. I. Mertens

The biological mechanisms associated with BDSM interactions in dominants and submissives - Elise Wuyts (08/06/2026)

Elise Wuyts

  • 8 June 2026
  • Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002 or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisor: Prof. M. Morrens

Decoding Cerebral Palsy: from genetic aetiologies to underlying pathomechanisms - Liene Thys (03/06/2026)

Liene Thys

  • 3 June 2026
  • Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. B. Ceulemans, prof. M. Meuwissen and dr. K. Janssens

The role and reversibility of vascular alterations in the development, progression and regression of metabolic dysfunction - associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) - Shivani Chotkoe (02/06/2026)

Shivani Chotkoe

  • 2 June 2026
  • Time: 5.30 PM - 7.30 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.5 - or online
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. S Franque, prof. L Vonghia and prof. W Kwanten

Understanding the Impact of Screening and Treatment Strategies on Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Antimicrobial Resistance Among MSM in Belgium Using Network Models - Achilleas Tsoumanis (02/06/2026)

Achilleas Tsoumanis

  • 2 June 2026
  • Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Venue: aula Janssens, ITM, Rochusstraat 43, 2000 Antwerpen or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. N Hens and prof. C. Kenyon

Association of SARS-CoV-2 variants and quasispecies with transmissibility, disease severity, and immune evasion - Mathias Smet (29/05/2026)

Mathias Smet

  • 29 May 2026
  • Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building S - D.S.1  or online
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. S Malhotra and prof. S Kumar-Singh

Child Undernutrition and Change in Body Composition: the Role of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and other Factors - Idalécia Cossa Moiane (29/05/2026)

Idalécia Cossa Moiane

  • 29 May 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: aula Nationalestraat, ITM, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: Prof. J.P. Van geertruyden, prof. K. Polman, prof. N. de Deus, prof. C. Doak

Understanding and addressing the double burden of malnutrition at the household level in Guatemala - Diana Cabrera Sagastume de Somers (11/05/2026)

Diana Sagastume Cabrebra de Somers

  • 11 May 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: aula Janssens, ITM, Rochusstraat 43, 2000 Antwerpen or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. J. L. Peñalvo, prof. L. Benova, dr. M. Ramírez-Zea and prof. K. Polman

Insights into adaptation and evolutionary dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mechanically ventilated patients - Thomas van der Schalk (30/04/2026)

Thomas van der Schalk

  • 30 April 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.3
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. S. Malhotra, prof. G. Glupczynski and em. prof. H. Goossens

Strategies to accelerate malaria reduction towards elimination in Uganda: Is mass drug administration suitable in a high-transmission setting? - Ronald Mulebeke (28/04/2026)

Ronald Mulebeke

  • 28 April 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.02 and online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. JP. Van geertruyden and dr A. Yeka

Development and validation of a home sleep apnea test using peripheral arterial tonometry - Steven Vits (21/04/2026)

Steven Vits

  • 21 April 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.06 or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisor: prof. J. Verbraecken

Mesenchymal cells from the amniotic membrane as a therapeutic strategy to contrast neuroinflammation - Alexandro Bufi (20/04/2026)

Alexandro Bufi

  • 20 April 2026
  • Start: 11:30 AM
  • Venue: ​Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, IT
  • Joint PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. P. Ponsaerts and prof. O. Parolini

Unlocking asylum seekers’ voices. Clinical study on the use of the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) with asylum seekers in Belgium - Lukas Claus (31/03/2026)

Lukas Claus

  • 31 March 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Venue: Stadscampus - Promotiezaal, Lange St-Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen or online . Please register here​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. M. Destoop, em.prof. B. Sabbe and dr. S. van den Ameele

Surgical Rehabilitation of Facial Paralysis In The Head And Neck Patient - Callum Faris (19/03/2026)

Callum Faris

  • 19 March 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.05 or online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. O. Vanderveken and prof. V. Van Rompaey

Between guidelines and practice: exploring how clinicians conceptualise and manage Low Back Pain - Rob Vanderstraeten (17/03/2026)

Rob Vanderstraeten

  • 17 March 2026
  • Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.05
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. N. Roussel, prof. J. Michielsen and prof. S. Anthierens

The FINOSA study: Factors Influencing Outcome after Shoulder Arthroplasty - Anke Claes (16/03/2026)

Anke Claes

  • 16 March 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.05
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. F. Struyf and prof. O. Verborgt

Hooked on Translation: leveraging next-generation models to advance interpretation of cardiac variants of uncertain significance, a Brugada syndrome perspective - Bert Vandendriessche (16/03/2026)

Bert Vandendriessche

  • 16 March 2026
  • Time: 5 PM - 7 PM
  • Venue: UZA, auditorium Kinsbergen
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. B. Loeys, prof. M. Alaerts and dr. D. Schepers

Selective pulmonary artery perfusion combined with blood flow occlusion as a novel treatment for lung malignancies - Erik Claes (11/03/2026)

Erik Claes

  • 11 March 2026
  • Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. J. Hendriks and prof. S. Verleden

Further insights in pubic-related groin pain: Is an Arcuate Pubic Ligament injury a possible cause of athletic pubalgia? - Thomas Mathieu (25/02/2026)

Thomas Mathieu

  • 25 February 2026
  • Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.08
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: Prof. F. Van Glabbeek, dr. L. Denteneer and dr. L. Van Nassau

Design and evaluation of novel PET strategies to evaluate immunotherapy response - Louis Lauwerys (23/02/2026)

Louis Lauwerys

  • 23 February 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.1
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. F. Elvas and prof. P. Van Der Veken

Finite element modelling of intraocular lens positions inside the capsular bag - Liying Feng (23/02/2026)

Liying Feng

  • 23 February 2026
  • Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building R - D.R.4
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. J. Rozema and dr. H. Weeber

Rationally designed drug combination screen in more physiologically relevant in vitro organoid models: can we improve personalized therapy for pancreatic cancer? - Maxim Le Compte (28/01/2026)

Maxim Le Compte

  • 28 January 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. C. Deben, prof. G. Roeyen and prof. M. Peeters

Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) for internees: Effectivity on forensic and non-forensic outcome and Substance Use as a factor related to outcome - Thomas Marquant (27/01/2026)

Thomas Marquant

  • 27 January 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. K. Goethals and em.prof. B. Sabbe

Health Technology Assessment of a decision support system to tackle antimicrobial resistance - Erinn D'hulster (27/01/2026)

Erinn D'hulster

  • 27 January 2026
  • Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Venue: KULeuven, Aula O&N5, 04.112, ON5 Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven
  • Joint PhD defence
  • Supervisors:prof.  J. Verbakel, prof. J. Luyten, prof. S. ANthierens and prof. S. Coenen

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and lactation: towards an ideal maternal vaccine platform? - Larissa De Brabandere (22/01/2026)

Larissa De Brabandere

  • 22 January 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building Q - D.Q.002
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. K. Maertens and prof. P. Van Damme

Investigating colistin (hetero)resistance and the impact of decolonization strategies on resistance emergence in multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae - Sahaya Glingston Rajakani (19/01/2026)

Sahaya Rajakani

  • 19 January 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Venue: online​
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. S. Malhotra and dr. G. Glupczynski

The Immunomodulatory Effects of Exercise in Viral and Vaccine-Associated Myocarditis - Sander Eens (09/01/2026)

Sander Eens

  • 9 January 2026
  • Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Venue: Campus Drie Eiken - building O - D.O.4
  • PhD defence
  • Supervisors: prof. PJ. Guns, prof. H. Heidbuchel, prof. T. Roskams