Research interest
Exploring the molecular basis of the aging process and the evolutionary basis of vertebrate longevity and ageing. In this context, his group develops theoretical models and numerical simulations to simulate the evolution of biological ageing under different constraints and ask the fundamental question of how natural selection shapes the evolution of different life history traits, such as growth and individual survival.

 
Research interest
Investigating the role of intestinal bacteria in the development of diabetes, steatosis and cardiovascular diseases. By making use of fecal transplants, Dr. Hanssen investigates the causal pathological role of intestinal bacteria and the possibility to use fecal transplant as specific treatment to influence, or even prevent, the course of diseases with particular interest on human cardiometabolism and on the role of gut microbiota in development of human obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.

 
Research interest
Prof. Thomas Meyer's group current research interests focus on the global understanding of infection processes, the manifestation of heritable epigenetic marks upon infection, and the sequels of long-term chronic infection, such as cancer.

 
Research interest
Gaining a detailed molecular understanding of how mitochondrial proteases contribute to the maintenance of mitochondrial functions in health and disease to define the cellular mechanisms underlying the decline of mitochondrial activities during aging and the pathogenesis of age-associated diseases that are linked to a dysfunction of mitochondria.

 
Research interest
Investigating the function of mitochondria in the development of disease and during aging by understanding in details the molecular cascade arising upon mitochondria dysfunction and leading to adaptive cell responses. Understanding the consequences of energy depletion in cells and the organism as a whole.

 
Research interest
Elucidating the role of thyroid hormone in the coordination of cardiovascular parameters and thermoregulatory processes, by dissecting the role of thyroid hormone on the central control of heart rate, blood pressure and brown fat thermogenesis, with a special focus on a novel population of parvalbuminergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamus. Investigating the direct effects of thyroid hormone and its metabolites on brown fat, heart and vasculature using for instance infrared thermography, radiotelemetry and wire myography.

 
Research interest
Elucidating the structural and mechanistic principles underlying the assembly and activation of macromolecular complexes pivotal to immunity, inflammation, and cancer. The cornerstone of Prof. Savvides research approach lies in a rigorous and hypothesis-driven interrogation of the proteins and complexes under study, and is well nested in collaborations with leading academic research groups in Belgium and abroad, as well as partners from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.