The Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) is one of the research Institutes of Hasselt University with a staff of 80 researchers, clinicians and technicians. The Institute has two key research domains: neuroinflammatory & autoimmune disease and biosensor development.

The Immunology and Biochemistry Unit of the Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) of Hasselt University has long standing expertise in multiple sclerosis immunology research, expertise in design and management of new immunotherapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis (T cell vaccination) and clinical studies in this field. The lab has published over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts, often in top-ranking journals.

Our group has invested substantially in the development of molecular approaches to identify new target antigens for MS and RA using phage display and proteomics. In 2008, two spin-off companies of BIOMED were founded, SEPS Pharma and Apitope, with a focus on prodrug systems and detection assays for autoimmune diseases respectively.

In our biosensor development research domain, we have established a strong collaboration at BIOMED with the Institute of Material Research (IMO) at our university. A joint research group (BIOSensor group) involves biological and immunological expertise from BIOMED and expertise on material sciences and engineering of IMO. We already demonstrated the label-free and real-time detection of both DNA hybridization and antigen-antibody interactions, using Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a biosensor prototype.

BIOMED has a long-standing experience in the development and production of monoclonal antibodies (MAb’s) using enriched natural antigens or recombinant proteins produced in a human expression system based on the K562 cell line and “home made” expression vectors. Using this strategy, BIOMED already developed over 150 cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies specifically designed to bind native antigens. The facilities for the production on laboratory scale (hollow fiber culture systems) of these MAb’s are present. The MAb’s currently available are specific for T-cell antigens and breast cancer cell lines.

BIOMED has also experience in various steady-state and time-resolved (ns) microfluorimetric methods used in biophysics and cell physiology. The instrumentation comprises various fluorescence microscopes, including a confocal laser scanning microscope with spectral detection. In addition, BIOMED offers state-of-the-art patch clamp technology.