TEAM & PROJECTS
Staff members
Prof. Dr. Stefaan Soenen is the PI of the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group. Stefaan's main research interests lie in the development of advanced optical imaging methods for biomedical research, focussing on nanomedicines.
Dr. Bella Manshian is the group leader of the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group. Bella's main interests lie in unraveling the mechanisms on how nanomaterials interact with their biological environment.
Dr. Carla Rios Luci is the technical expert of the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group. Carla's main interests lie in cancer therapy and advanced imaging methodology
Filipa Roque Gonçalves has a Masters in Bioengineering from the University of Porto. Filipa is currently working as a lab technician, involved in different projects at the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging group with a particular focus on in vivo optical imaging techniques.
Postdoctoral researchers
Dr. Mukaddes Izci has PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the KU Leuven and works as a Postdoctoral researcher in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Nanoparticle delivery to solid tumors using physical and pharmaceutical means.
PhD students
Kiana Buttiens is a MSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the KU Leuven university and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Nanomaterials and advanced optical imaging for targeted cellular communication as cancer therapy by extracellular vesicles.
Neshat Saffarzadeh is a MSc in Microbiology and Biotechnology and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Intrinsic nanomaterial toxicity for therapeutic purposes.
Christy Maksoudian is a MSc in Research in Drug Design and Development and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Design and evaluation of optimized nanoparticle systems for the targeted immunotherapy of tumors.
Chu Tianjiao is a MSc in Biological Engineering and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Evaluation of spatio-temporal control of immuno-genic cell death induction for enhanced immunotherapy
Xanthippi Koutsoumpou is a MSc in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Smart theranostic delivery systems of therapeutics to malignant brain tumors.
Ara Sargsian is a MSc in Biomedical Sciences from the KU Leuven university and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Developing ex vivo cultures of animal and human explants for toxicity screening
Gege Chen is a MSc in XXX and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: XXX
Hermon Girmatsion
Hermon Girmatsion is a MSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from KU Leuven and works as a PhD student in the NanoHealth and Optical Imaging Group.
Research: Red blood cells as carriers of nanoparticles for targeted delivery of therapeutics to the lungs
Master Students
Irati Perez Gilabert
2023-2024
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Former Students
PhD Students
2018-2022
PhD in Biomedical Sciences (KU Leuven)
2018-2023
PhD in Biomedical Sciences (KU Leuven)
2019-2022
MSc in Biochemical Engineering Technology (UAntwerpen)
2019-2023
PhD in Biomedical Sciences (KU Leuven)
Master and Bachelor Students
Liz Therese Tony
2022-2023
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Michiel Genar
2022-2023
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Akshaya Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy
2022-2023
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Andreas Giannopoulos
2022-2023
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Hermon Girmatsion
2022-2023
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Joke de Sutter
2020-2021
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Ikra Khan
2020-2021
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Remei Escudero Franch
2020-2021
Master thesis student
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Anna Frimpong Arhin
2020-2021
Master Erasmus student
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Ine Vlaeminck
2020-2021
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Lucia Aversa
2020-2021
Erasmus Internship
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Bart Coenaerts
2018-2019
Master thesis in Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
Research: Nano-immunotherapies
Paula Longás Calvo (Erasmus)
2018-2019
Bachelor Erasmus student
Research: Nano-immunotherapies