
Rewriting DNA, Restoring Memory
What if we could fix the genetic mistakes behind disease? Explore how CRISPR is transforming medicine, and how studying genes helps us understand Alzheimer’s - revealing why some brains are more resilient while others lose their harmony.
From micro-foes to friends: how germs changed medecine ?
Laudonia Lidia Dipalo
PhD researcher
KULeuven
Every human being carries a unique, three-billion characters long combination of four DNA bases – A, T, C, and G – that makes them “them”. For around 300 million people worldwide, a wrong letter in the wrong spot gives rise to an often life-threatening, often incurable disease. CRISPR-Cas9, a protein first found inside a pathogenic bacterium and capable of precisely cutting DNA to allow its repair, may hold the key to fixing these “spelling mistakes”. CRISPR-Cas9 has fundamentally revolutionized biomedical research. Instrumental to such revolution was the hijacking of some of nature’s most efficient machines – viruses – to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 directly into human cells. Together, delivery platforms inspired by viruses and gene editing tools based on CRISPR-Cas9 are paving the way for the development of personalized therapies that hold the potential to transform incurable diseases into manageable conditions, forever changing the face of medicine.

How Alzheimer’s Disease Disrupts the Melody of the Brain
Celeste Laureyssen
PhD student
University of Antwerp and VIB CMN
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and affects millions of people worldwide. It often begins quietly: memory starts to falter, old stories are repeated, and everyday life slowly becomes disrupted. These are signs that the brain’s melody is no longer playing smoothly and that its harmony is gradually slipping out of tune.But why do some brains fall out of rhythm faster than others? Genetics play an important role here. Certain gene variants influence how vulnerable the brain is to disruptions such as amyloid plaques, tau tangles, or other changes known as co-pathologies. In other words, your genetic code helps determine how the brain’s melody is played, and how easily it can be disturbed. In my research, we combine genetic information with detailed analyses of the brain. By examining which gene variants are linked to specific brain changes, we aim to understand which "notes" in the melody are fragile and which help maintain balance. These insights not only deepen our understanding of the complex nature of Alzheimer’s disease, but may also guide the development of future therapies to preserve the brain’s harmony.

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