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Belgium, Flanders, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Wallonia

What is One Health?

The One Health vision embraces the fact that we don’t exist in isolation. Human health is closely linked to that of animals and plants, and we’re all bound to the health of the ecosystems we live in. The effect of humans on our interconnected world is undeniable and it’s clear that we must begin to tackle the major threats to human, animal, and environmental health to avoid numerous fundamental crises. Thankfully, visions like One Health aim to lead multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities in the right direction to find sustainable non-human-centric solutions to these challenges. Let’s take a look at what One Health is and how the EU and Belgium are playing their part.

The intertwined nature of human and animal health

The world is more interconnected than ever. But our global network goes beyond humans: the health of all people on Earth is intimately dependent on the wellbeing of our ecosystems – our animals, plants, microbes, and the atmosphere that sustains us all. In this article, Belgian veterinary scientist Jan Spaas shares his thoughts on the ‘One Health’ approach from the WHO, and the bi-directional link between human and animal health.

When ignorance isn’t bliss – more knowledge is crucial to combat deadly Candida auris fungus 

Infectious diseases are commonly associated with bacteria and viruses. However, fungi should also be added to this list as there is growing concern that antifungal resistance could be the next global challenge. Moreover, because fungi are eukaryotic like humans, developing targeted treatments without causing toxicity to the host presents a significant challenge. The World Health Organization has recently published its first list of health-threatening fungi. This list aims to promote research to enhance the global response to fungal infections and the growing issue of antifungal resistance. One ‘high-priority’ fungus in particular, Candida auris, has mycologists holding their breath due to its rapid global spread and multidrug resistance.

Biodiversity on the brink: How environmental DNA can help 

Environments are scattered with the DNA of the organisms that inhabit them. Analyzing this DNA could shine a spotlight on how our planet’s biodiversity is changing, from studies in the depths of the oceans to the frigid polar regions. From a One Health perspective, biodiversity is crucial to promoting healthy ecosystems and healthy people. But, while methods that sequence environmental DNA (eDNA) are increasingly powerful in detecting species without direct observation, we need increasingly powerful algorithms to make sense of the complex DNA world around us to truly protect our planet's biodiversity.

Fighting antimicrobial resistance: How public and private investment is essential 

The UN has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) one of the ten major threats to humanity. In Belgium, AMR is associated with around 8000 deaths per year and contributes to an estimated 4.95 million global human deaths annually, set to almost double by 2050. Unfortunately, there are worryingly few novel antimicrobials in development, and even fewer are currently available to patients with severe infections who need them most. Why?

Drug Repurposing: Finding New Roles for Old Medicines 

Drug repurposing describes the process where drugs originally designed for one condition turn out to be highly effective for another. Historically, drug repurposing has often occurred by chance. However, in the era of big data and artificial intelligence, new data-driven opportunities are arising to discover new roles for old medicines and help patients in unexpected ways.

The race for biotech talent – innovate or fall behind 

Belgium has long been and remains a global leader in biotech and biopharma, for now at least. The question is: can it maintain that position? Talent and know-how have been key drivers of the country’s success, yet the system supplying both is under pressure. Job openings in the biotech and pharma sectors are growing faster than the educational system can keep up, creating a persistent talent shortage. However, it's not simply a matter of numbers. As the skills needed to support and advance local innovations evolve – AI integration being a prime example – how can we adapt our educational approach while ensuring its stability? This is a question that needs to be answered in order to stay at the forefront of innovation.

From lab to market: the life cycle of a biotech startup 

From initial discovery to market-ready product, biotech development is a complex multi-phase process, where strategic partnerships, continuous innovation and careful navigation of regulatory landscapes are crucial for long-term success. Despite this complexity (or perhaps because of it), entrepreneurs and VCs seldom take a step back to consider the full trajectory of this journey. In this article, we’ll explore the typical life cycle of a biotech startup, examining the key milestones and hurdles encountered along the way.

Chairing is caring: how endowed chairs align industry and academia to build a better future  

Like two sides of the same coin, industry and academia are each aiming to progress science. On their own, they accomplish great results, but only together can they really drive innovation. One way to reap the fruits from this partnership are endowed chairs. By exchanging resources and independence for publicity and innovative insights, both can contribute to a happier and healthier society.

New advances in the fight against sepsis 

Sepsis is a serious condition where the body responds improperly to an infection. Every 2.8 seconds, someone dies of sepsis globally, yet no direct therapies exist beyond supportive care. Many clinical trials have investigated the role of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) as a potential therapeutic target, but anti-TNF therapy has not proven to be a breakthrough in the sepsis field. Therefore, understanding how TNF triggers this devastating condition could be of help for millions of people worldwide.

4Tissue secures an additional €1.5M in funding and appoints Dr. Katleen Verleysen as independent chair of the board.

Ghent, February 26, 2025 — 4Tissue, a pioneer in biotechnology that is revolutionizing regenerative medicine, has successfully completed an additional €1.5M funding round, consisting of €1M in equity investments and additional grants. This funding will support the further development of the company’s groundbreaking bioresorbable hydrogel technology, which has the potential to significantly improve breast reconstruction and other tissue regeneration applications. This represents an important step forward in the evolution of regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on women’s health.

Belgian innovation in microfluidics: A revolution for diagnostics and cell therapy?  

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.

Aiming for Europe, but starting with the world – how restrictive EU legislation drives biotech innovation in agrifood abroad

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.

AstriVax Therapeutics shoots for the stars with impactful immunotherapies 

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.

ONTOFORCE and Rancho Biosciences Collaborate to Leverage High-Quality Data for Target Identification

Ghent, Belgium, 15 January 2025 – ONTOFORCE, a leader in semantic technology for life sciences, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and Rancho Biosciences, the leading data science services company headquartered in San Diego, California, have announced a joint collaboration. This partnership aims to transform high quality data-driven research and drug development, providing scientists with unparalleled insights that drive discovery and innovation in the life sciences.