2026

We are proud to announce that Prof. Vincent Timmerman, head of the Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group at the University of Antwerp and a key member of μNEURO, has been awarded the 2026 Alan J. Gebhart Prize for Excellence in Peripheral Nerve Research by the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS). The award is one of the society’s highest distinctions and recognizes outstanding contributions to advancing research and improving the lives of people with peripheral neuropathies.

The PNS highlighted Prof. Timmerman’s pioneering role in the discovery of genes involved in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), his contributions to genetic diagnostics, and his continued efforts to translate fundamental discoveries into innovative disease models and therapeutic approaches. His leadership, mentorship, and commitment to international collaboration within the peripheral nerve research community were also recognized.

This international recognition reflects more than three decades of impactful research and innovation, and we warmly congratulate Prof. Timmerman on this well-deserved achievement.

In June 2026, Antwerp hosted the doctoral candidates of the IQ-BRAIN MSCA Doctoral Network for an engaging Summer School focused on advanced neuroimaging and quantitative MRI.

Participants explored both preclinical and clinical MRI applications through expert lectures, hands-on training at the Bio-Imaging Lab, and visits to the MRI facilities at UZA. The programme also included a workshop on scientific communication, helping participants strengthen their poster presentation skills.

Alongside the scientific programme, the Summer School offered opportunities for networking, team building, and informal exchange, making it a rewarding experience for all involved. We thank all speakers, trainers, and participants for contributing to a successful and inspiring week.

We are proud to see Team Rudy, a moving documentary that highlights the resilience, courage, and human connections that help people navigate life with Parkinson’s disease.

Several clinicians and clinical researchers from UZA and the Translational Neurosciences group contributed to the project, sharing their expertise and experiences to help bring the realities of living with Parkinson’s disease to a wider audience. The documentary offers an inspiring perspective on the challenges faced by patients and their loved ones, while emphasizing the importance of understanding, support, and community.

We hope Team Rudy will raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and inspire meaningful conversations about care, research, and the strength of the people affected by this condition.

Several µNEURO researchers have been awarded prestigious grants from the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation (QEMF) during its Academic Session at the Royal Palace, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid. These awards will support innovative neuroscience projects aimed at advancing our understanding of neurological diseases and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Among the funded Interuniversity Research Projects, Prof. Winnok De Vos will collaborate with researchers from KU Leuven and UMONS to investigate how loss of nuclear envelope integrity contributes to neurodegeneration. Prof. Vincent Timmerman, together with Prof. Wolfs (UHasselt), will develop an advanced “organ-in-a-dish” model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Prof. Sarah Weckhuysen and Prof. Gonçalves (KU Leuven) will focus on identifying new treatment strategies for genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathies using iPSC-based models and network analysis.

In addition, Prof. Daniele Bertoglio received a Young Researcher Project award to explore Msh3 modulation as a potential therapeutic approach for Huntington’s disease.

We warmly congratulate all laureates on this achievement and thank the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation for its continued support of groundbreaking neuroscience research. As the Foundation celebrates its 100th anniversary, these awards will help drive the next generation of scientific discoveries.

Two researchers from the µNEURO groups achieved outstanding results in this year’s PRESS>SPEAK science communication competition at the University of Antwerp.

The competition challenges researchers to explain their work to a broad audience in just five minutes. Stéphanie De Keulenaer was awarded third place for her presentation on dementia and brain waves, while Kaat Colman secured first place with her engaging talk on sleep as an early predictor of Parkinson’s disease. Afterwards, they also made a video to explain all about their research.

• Kaat Colman: Eerste signalen Parkinson zichtbaar in slaap?​
• Stéphanie De Keulenaer: Sporen we binnenkort Alzheimer op met hersengolven?​

Their success highlights the importance of making scientific research accessible and understandable to the public. We warmly congratulate Stéphanie and Kaat on this achievement and thank them for being excellent ambassadors for neuroscience research at µNEURO. 

At the start of 2026, µNEURO celebrated the start of its second funding period as a Centre of Excellence, marking an exciting new chapter for our neuroscience research community.

Building on the achievements of the past years, this renewed funding reflects the continued commitment of our consortium to advancing neuroscience through multidisciplinary collaboration. In the coming years, we will further strengthen cooperation across research teams, enhance our scientific excellence, and expand our societal impact.

Through innovative research, strategic partnerships, and international collaborations, µNEURO aims to reinforce its position as a leading centre for neuroscience research and innovation.

We are grateful to the University of Antwerp for its continued support and look forward to working together on the next phase of discovery, collaboration, and impact.