Research

How do we engage with the end of life in an intercultural context?

The PHA Endowed Chair in Social Care for Dying and Bereavement aims to generate insights into how we deal with the end of life in an intercultural context. Its goal is to make finitude, death, grief and loss more discussable, and in doing so improve the quality of life of everyone involved in end-of-life care, death, grief and loss. Through research, education and training, we work in a pluralistic way across sectors and institutions.

The chair is made possible thanks to financial support from Palliatieve Hulpverlening Antwerpen (PHA).​

• Chair holder: Johan Wens (chair holder and supervisor), Katrien Schaubroeck (co-supervisor)
• Faculty: Medicine and Health Sciences
• Active: since 2024
• Partner: Palliatieve Hulpverlening Antwerpen

Jana Declerq investigates how we talk about the body in the context of chronic pain in a pain clinic. The research focuses on the tension between the biopsychosocial model (in which psychological and social aspects are part of the body) and traditional dualistic thinking that separates body and mind.

Although the biopsychosocial perspective has become the standard in specialised pain care, little is known about how healthcare professionals and patients talk about the body and illness in practice. This project analyses those perspectives and develops materials to improve communication with chronic pain patients.​

• Funding: NWO (VENI)
• Timeline: 2021–2026

Bio-Kin-Tsugi is a transdisciplinary project that connects science and society and explores the ethics of synthetic biology. Inspired by the Japanese technique of repairing ceramics with gold or silver (Kin-Tsugi), the project reinterprets the idea of repair through bioengineering: “growing” a biomaterial scar over fractures.

The project consists of two parts. The first (more bio-artistic) part is led by Christina Stadlbauer (postdoc) and Bénédicte Amery (PhD student, Ghent University). The second part, supervised by Prof. Katrien Schaubroeck and Dr. Leni Van Goidsenhoven (University of Antwerp), approaches repair, scars, pain and grief from a philosophical perspective.​

• Funding: FWO
• Institutions: University of Antwerp (Philosophy), Ghent University (Engineering Sciences)
• Researchers involved: Prof. Marjan De Mey, Prof. Katrien Schaubroeck, Dr. Leni Van Goidsenhoven, Prof. Kristien Hens, Nele Buyst, Dr. Christina Stadlbauer, Bénédicte Amery
• Timeline: 2022–2026

This project investigates how best to support parents of young children with autism. While early diagnosis and intervention are important, personal narratives and neurodiversity thinking show that a more nuanced approach is needed. The central question is how professionals can support parents in an empowering way in their diverse roles and responsibilities.

We analyse different perspectives (academic literature, parents’ experiences and insights from neurodiversity thinkers) and, together with parents, clinicians and neurodiversity thinkers, develop a group intervention.​

• Funding / partners: FWO – University of Antwerp (Philosophy), KU Leuven (Educational Sciences; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
• Timeline: 2023–2027

Strange bodies in young-adult fairy-tale retellings, Lore Goossens (BOF Doc-Pro, University of Antwerp & Ghent University).​

• Timeline: 2024–2028

FWO project: Mothers and the feeling of control (pedagogy, feminist studies, philosophy) (PhD student Joke Struyf).​

• Timeline: 2024–2027

SBO-FWO (philosophy, sociology, law, anthropology, environmental sciences) (PhD student Kalin Pak).​

• Timeline: 2024–2028

FWO aspirant (PhD student Katherin Cuadros).​

• Timeline: 2025–2028