University of Mons

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• BIOMARKERS AND DRUG DISCOVERY

Discovering new biomarkers and new chemical entities is a daily challenge for UMONS researchers. Such biomarkers as biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancer, muscular dystrophy FSHD, diabetes, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer disease, inflammatory diseases are currently being studied in UMONS laboratories. Researchers are also active in the development of new drugs such as candidates for infectious diseases (e.g. malaria) and neurodegenerative diseases.

EXPERTISE: Biomarkers discovery using Phage display, proteomic and metabonomic technologies, validation of biomarkers by Immunohistochemistry, Western-blot, Elisa,...

• PREDICTIVE TOXICOLOGY AND METABONOMICS

UMONS is active in predictive toxicology and develops new alternative methods to test the efficiency and/or toxicity of chemicals, drugs or vaccines. The metabolites patterns modifications caused by a disease and more particularly, by idiosyncratic diseases are also studied. The metabolic profiling technology allows identifying the toxicity early in the drug discovery process which makes it possible to reduce both the time and the cost needed to develop new chemical entities.

EXPERTISE: In silico models, In vitro models (perfused organs,...), In vivo models, drug toxicity and efficacy screening, clinical diagnostics and prognostics

• PROTEOMICS AND MICROBIOLOGY

The proteomic and microbiology department of the UMONS has acknowledged expertise in protein chemistry and more specifically as far as the microbial world is concerned. One of the research topics in this field is the study of proteomic modification in a tissue, a cell line or a bacterium in response to changing environment (stress, disease, adaptation, etc.).

EXPERTISE: proteome pre-fractionation, protein identification by high throughput proteomics(gel and gel free approach), protein characterization (MW, purity, sequence, post-translational modification,…), biomarker discovery and  validation, enzymatic testing, protein chip, environnemental microbiology, protein expression and purification, ELISA development,…

Website: http://w3.umons.ac.be/~protmic/

See the video here.

• MEDICAL AND MOLECULAR IMAGING

UMONS research activities in the field of imaging focus on the synthesis, characterisation and validation of contrast agents as far as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging and radiology are concerned.

Visit the NMR lab website: https://portail.umons.ac.be/FR/universite/facultes/fmp/services/service1/Pages/default.aspx

Thanks to funds provided by the Walloon Region and the EU, UMONS together with ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) created the CMMI (Centre for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging) which is dedicated to preclinical imaging ranging from molecule to small animal. It is equipped with a wide range of advanced equipments and benefits from the know-how of highly qualified researchers. See below for more details about the CMMI.

• BIOENGINEERING

UMONS research services are dedicated to various research fields such as biomimetics (for instance, for the study of adhesion mechanisms in marine invertebrates); biomaterials for the development of biodegradable, biocompatible polymers and nanocomposites; biomechanics and bio-optics for the development of new medical devices; bio-signals, image analysis and image processing for the diagnosis of diseases and the study of human physiology.

EXPERTISE: reversible and reusable submarine glues, cell adhesion and organization on structured surfaces, bio-polymer and nanocomposite design, development of enzymatic, ATR-IR and optical fiber based sensors, radiotherapy planning and monitoring tools, production of molecules labelled with stable isotopes, modeling and simulation of respiratory system and blood flow, detection of pathologies of the voice by speech analysis, computer assisted sleep staging, pulmonary embolism diagnosis, drug delivery system design, prostheses design and post–operational follow-up.

• COMMON RESEARCH FACILITIES

# The CMMI (Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, ULB-UMONS) is dedicated to preclinical imaging from molecule to small animal. The CMMI can offer services and expertise in electronic (TEM, SEM) and confocal microscopy, image stream, holographic microscopy, autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, live-imaging microscopy, quantitative microscopy and automation, in-vivo optical and high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), µPET/CT, µSPECT.

Website: www.cmmi.be/

 # The CISMA (Interdisciplinary Centre of Mass Spectrometry) has a high experience level in small and large molecules. This centre is equipped with 10 complementary mass spectrometers selected to cover the largest panel of possible analysis (EI, CI, ESI, MALDI - MS, MSMS, HRMS, GC-MS, LC-MS(MS)).

# The CIRMAP (Centre d'Innovation et de Recherche en Matériaux Polymères).

EXPERTISE: synthesis and characterization of new polymers and nanocomposites including biocompatible or biodegradable polymers, surface treatment of materials (self-healing, increased resistance to external pressures), modelling and evaluation of optical and electronic properties of new polymer materials (photovoltaic applications & OLED), analysis of physico-chemical properties of surfaces, design of organic semiconductor materials for photovoltaic applications, controlled synthesis of new polymer semiconductors for photovoltaic applications, implementation of materials in the form of thin films, characterization of the morphology and electrical properties of thin films at the nanoscale, texturing interfaces for optimization of optical coupling, design and characterization of new plasma sources.

Website: http://morris.umh.ac.be/cirmap/

# UMONS has created various research centers:  Materia Nova focused on new materials, Multitel and CETIC dedicated to ICT and Inisma to ceramics.