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Saelens Lab
Xavier Saelens
- Group Leader at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium, 2015-Present
- Full Professor Molecular Virology (100%) at the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 2020-2032
- Full Professor Molecular Virology (50%) at the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 2018-2020
- Full Professor Molecular Virology (10%) at the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 2008-2017
- Expert Scientist, Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Belgium, 2009 – 2015
- Project Leader, Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Belgium, 2005-2009
- Postdoctoral Assistant, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium, 2004-2009
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Cell Death Signaling unit (Peter Vandenabeele unit, UGent and VIB), 1998-2003
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Lab. of Molecular Biology (Walter Fiers lab; influenza group, UGent and VIB), 1991-1997
Research areas
Human diseasesImmunology & inflammationMedical biotechnologyMicrobiology
Research focus
"Our lab has a major interest in important human respiratory viruses, including influenza A and B viruses, human respiratory syncytial virus, and betacoronaviruses. Our prime aim is to develop new vaccines and antibody-based antivirals against these viruses. A long-term aim is to develop these antibody-based constructs as biologics that can be delivered via the respiratory route.
In addition, we aim to elucidate the antiviral mechanism of action of the interferon-induced virus restriction factors Mx1 and Mx2, taking advantage of interactomics tools that have been developed at the Center for Medical Biotechnology."