Belgium Ghent

VIB-UGent-IRC

VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research

Brief Overview

The Inflammation Research Center (IRC) is a joint venture between VIB and Ghent University. Its aim is to unravel the mechanisms of immunity and inflammation for better prevention and therapy of chronic human diseases. Research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of inflammation in pathologies such as asthma, colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, cancer, infectious diseases and senescence. Central is the investigation of inter- and intracellular signalling pathways in immune cells and barrier cells of the skin, lung and gut. These molecular mechanisms are studied mainly in cellular and animal model systems by using the most advanced methods.

Research Areas

Asthma\Epithelial cell\Immunology\Infection\Molecular biology

Host center eligibility

Global fellowships (return phase only)\ European fellowships

Research infrastructure/facilities

VIB and IRC heavily invests in core facilities as these offer scientific expertise and the latest world-class technologies. The VIB Bio Imaging core offers besides microscopes for routine analysis also state-of-the-art equipment such as a spinning disk confocal microscope with FRET module, TIRF microscope and high-end 3D Auriga SEM and FIB-SEM electron microscopes. IRC also has an extensive and high-end array of flow cytometers and fluorescence activated cell sorters. Moreover, all transgenic technologies can be offered. At the VIB Protein Service Facility, high quality proteins are produced for scientists within the institute.

Research funding/Resources

Research at IRC is funded by national (FWO, UGent) and international (ERC, FP7, Horizon 2020) funding bodies and industrial collaborations. Moreover, scientists at VIB can rely on the VIB grants office that actively identifies and supports funding applications.

Links to non-academic sector

IRC is located at the Tech Lane Science Park Ghent that houses multiple incubators and research oriented companies. This location facilitates collaboration with companies like Argenx and Ablynx. IRC is part of VIB, a life sciences research institute employing scientists of more than 60 different nationalities. To achieve its mission, scientists at the IRC actively collaborate with scientists and clinicians within and outside the center to accelerate interdisciplinary discoveries and translate the acquired basic knowledge into value for society.

Experience hosting international researchers, career development & training programmes, outreach activities

VIB has a strong international research network that places great value on international career experience and attracts on a regular basis group leaders and post-doctoral fellows from different corners of the world. In addition, VIB is experienced in receiving Marie-Curie fellows to its different laboratories: on an annual basis, several young PhD students in the framework of research training network (ITN) as well as a significant number of postdoctoral fellows (IEF, IIF, CIG) are involved in VIB research.

HR Excellence in Research – EU award

Yes

Contact persons