Microfluidics is a technology that allows researchers to precisely manipulate and control tiny amounts of fluids within networks of channels typically smaller than a human hair. The approach is now achieving the extreme miniaturization necessary to truly enter the ‘lab-on-a-chip’ era, with profound implications for biological research and human health.
Meeting the needs of a growing global population while addressing the clear demand for a more sustainable food supply is challenging but not impossible. Innovative biotechnological tools are constantly being created, and they are increasingly available on the market. However, the industry is in desperate need of support, as EU legislation can act as more of a hurdle than a facilitator, hindering local advancement. flanders.bio is committed to advocating for the sector and highlights the most pressing challenges in their latest policy paper.
In line with its stellar name, AstriVax Therapeutics is a rising star in Belgian biotech. The company launched in 2022 with €30 million – the largest seed round ever raised by a KU Leuven spin-out – and rapidly became a clinical-stage company, using its plug-and-play platform to fast-track development of vaccines and immunotherapies.
As 2025 comes peeking around the corner, we invite you to look back with us at some of the most exciting science topics we covered this year. From advances in women’s health, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip models to the challenges of data science and innovations in animal science and sustainable biotech; let us walk you through the Benelux life sciences landscape of 2024 as we reflect on the vast amount of knowledge and know-how characteristic to this region.
Hot on the heels of Movember, the global movement bringing attention to specific men’s health issues like mental health, prostate, and testicular cancer, let’s take a closer look at the current state of systematic prostate cancer screening and different treatment options available.
Every start-up team ponders the all-important question: how to convince investors to fund their idea? Currently, the fundraising landscape is particularly challenging for most early-stage biotech ventures. A fortunate few are raising exorbitant rounds, allowing them to advance their products through preclinical development, but many others are struggling to find the funding they require. In this article, we share our investor perspective on what can help companies to stand out from the crowd, given recent advancements in drug development.
Ghent, Belgium, 4 December 2024 - At MEDVIA, we see the future of HealthTech filled with potential – a future powered by the intersection of health and technology. This is where breakthroughs in healthtech, medtech, AI and digital solutions promise to transform care delivery. It’s where patients have a voice, hospitals and caregivers have access to cutting-edge innovations, and technology like AI is making personalized medicine a reality. That future isn’t distant; it’s already here.
A world where we can 3D bioprint organs on demand is creeping ever closer to clinical reality, thanks to Belgian efforts to standardize the biomaterials necessary. Achieving this will have profound consequences for organ transplants, disease modeling, tissue engineering, personalized medicine, and drug discovery. But bioprinting success depends on multidisciplinary collaborations between material scientists, hardware manufacturers, clinicians, and other partners. Recently, these collaborations have reached the stratosphere, with a project to study cardiovascular aging with a heart-on-a-chip… in space!
Cervical cancer is largely curable if detected early enough and yet it remains a leading cause of death in women globally. Why? Although researchers recently made the biggest improvement in cervical cancer treatment in more than 20 years, cutting the risk of death by over 40%, effective and inclusive screening remains crucial for early detection and treatment. However, recent research from Belgium suggests that certain populations of vulnerable women or those with a migration background are falling through the cervical cancer screening cracks.
Data science is vastly changing the way we do research. Veterinary research is, however, still lagging behind its human counterpart. Why is this the case and can we learn from human health data to close this gap?
In recent decades, the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors have experienced unprecedented progress, reshaping patient care through the introduction of cutting-edge therapies. A stream of novel drugs has emerged at an increasingly rapid pace, for conditions lacking approved treatments or as improved treatments where existing drugs fell short in terms of efficacy, safety, or convenience. But is the health innovation industry falling victim to its own burgeoning success?
Precision oncology, which tailors cancer treatments to an individual’s specific biological characteristics, has advanced significantly in recent years. Doctors are now using more targeted therapies that focus on specific cues or biomarkers in tissues, making treatments more personalized. Nevertheless, cancer is still a tough disease to fight, and many treatments do not consistently eliminate tumors. This is where the power of multiplex imaging comes in.
RootWave’s technology kills weeds using electricity, offering farmers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides. The eWeeding solution supports our transition towards a more sustainable agricultural industry, protecting the health of both people and the planet.
Would you like the opportunity to explore your genetic predispositions? Genetic testing can be empowering, helping you to make informed decisions about your healthcare. But using DNA analysis to diagnose and predict certain health conditions calls for trained genetic professionals to explain complex results, answer lingering questions and provide emotional support to people, especially when they’re receiving unexpected news. Genetic counselors are an important link in this chain, but their crucial healthcare role is yet to be recognized in Belgium.
With the advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) streamlining everything from dentistry to traffic congestion, people in all professions are feeling both excited and uneasy about this increasingly prevalent technology.