Debier C./Larondelle Y./Schneider Y.-J.

CELLULAR, NUTRITIONAL, AND TOXICOLOGICAL BIOCHEMISTRY

GROUP LEADERS

CATHY DEBIER Profile
 

Cathy Debier is focusing her research on the toxicokinetics and the physiological effects of organic contaminants in animals (mainly mammals).  Co-author of 14 papers in international journals or books (12 as first author).  Bioengineer degree (1996) and PhD in agronomical sciences and biological engineering (2001) (UCL-FNRS fellowship).  Postdoctoral training at the University of California at Santa Cruz (Centre for Ocean Health) (2002-2003).  Research scientist at UCL (2003-2005, FNRS contract). Assistant professor at UCL, since 2005.

Fields of expertise: 

  • Ecotoxicology
  • Animal physiology (digestion and lactation)
  • Marine mammal biology

 

Unité de biochimie de la nutrition

Bt. Kellner (b.279)
2 Place Croix du Sud (Box 8)
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve-Belgium

 

 

Email :
Tel. +32 10 47 37 32
Fax. +32 10 47 37 28

 

YVAN LARONDELLE Profile
 

The research team leaded by Prof. Yvan Larondelle focuses its efforts on the development of foods with higher nutritional quality and/or increased chemical safety, the final goal being to improve consumer's health.  Co-author of more than 90 articles and reviews as well as 3 patents.  Bioengineer degree (1983) and PhD in agronomical sciences (1989, UCL).  Postdoctoral training at the Institute of Genetics (1989-1990, University of Köln, Germany).  Research coordinator in the laboratory of clinical molecular biology (1990-1992, UCL).  Professor at UCL and head of the unit of nutrition biochemistry since 1992.  Vice-president of the Walloon competitiveness cluster "Wagralim" since 2006.

Fields of expertise: 

  • Human and animal nutrition
  • Biochemistry of lactation and digestion
  • Food quality and safety
  • Nutrition and health

 

Unité de biochimie de la nutrition

Bt. Kellner (d.291)
2 Place Croix du Sud (Box 8)
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve-Belgium

 

 

Email :
Tel. +32 10 47 37 35
Fax. +32 10 47 37 28

 

YVES-JACQUES SCHNEIDER Profile
 

Yves-Jacques SCHNEIDER is professor of biochemistry and related topics (molecular cell biology and pharmacology, cell bioengineering), as well as the head of a team active in cellular biochemistry.  Co-author of more than 160 papers in international journals or books.  Master in Sciences (1973), PhD at the Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology (1977) and "Agrégation de l'Enseignement Supérieur" also at the ICP (1983).  Associate director of the ISV since 2007

Fields of expertise: 

  • Cell culture systems based on mammalian cells
  • In vitro models of the human intestinal barrier
  • Transport across the intestinal barrier
  • Interactions between nutrients and xenobiotics at the intestinal level
  • Physiology and metabolism of CHO cells in bioreactors

 

Unité de Biochimie 

Bt. Carnoy (a.243.10)
5 Croix du Sud
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve-Belgium 

 

 

Email:
Tel.: +32 10 47 27 91; +32 475 46 76 58 (mobile)
Fax.: +32 10 47 48 95

 

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

The research activities are focused on questions related to biochemistry, physio-pathology and pharmaco-toxicology of mammals, with special emphasis on the improvement of the nutritional quality and chemical safety of foods, in the objective of improving consumer's health, as well as on ecotoxicological questions. 

Our studies are carried both in vivo and in vitro, usign whole animals or cell culture systems.  The main topics currently investigated are :

  • Understanding of the machanisms whereby nutrients, food components, xenobiotics and other food contaminants interact with the human intestinal barrier.
  • Upgrading of under-exploited foods (Amazonian fruits, Andean roots and tubers, agricultural by-products, ...) with a specific richness in bioactive compounds (polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, ...) in the frame of functional food development.
  • The contamination of mammals with persistent organic pollutants : toxicokinetics, physiological effects (vitamin metabolism and immun function), mobilization fro fat stores and transfer into maternal milk.
  • Metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins in the adipose tissue of mammals during periods of lipid deposition and mobilization.
  • Improvement and evaluation of the quality of cow's milk fatty acid composition (omega-3 acids and conjugated linoleic acids - CLA).
  • Determination of the dietary requirements of salmonid fish and impact of feeding strategies on the nutitional quality of their flesh.

Additional projects are also carried out :

  • The selective targeting of polymeric nanoparticles to the surface of intestinal M cells and the understanding of the mechanisms by which they cross these cells (collaboration with V. Préat, UCL - School of Pharmacy.
  • The understanding of the factors that control physiology and metabolism of cultivated mammalian cells in order to optimize their production and to control it (in collaboration with S. Agathos, UCL - ISV and G. Bastin, UCL - Cesame).

More on research activities >

 

STAFF

Staff 2009-2010  
Group leaders Cathy Debier, Yvan Larondelle, Yves-Jacques Schneider
Scientists Jérémie Barbau, Alexandraz Bazes, Alexandrine During (post-doctoral scientist), Isabelle Dupont, Michel Focant (invited professor), Pascal Pluvinage, Thomas Raas, Xavier Rollin (invited lecturer), Hervé Rogez (post-doctoral scientist), Thérèse Sergent, Shou He Yan
Research assistant Jean-François Michiels
Graduate students (Ph.D.) Nabila Aoudia, Noélie Bodin, Jessie Bourdeaux, Sophie Bourez, Rosana Chirinos, Chau Dang Van, David Deswysen, Virginie Fievez, Carlos Khachan, Zénia Morales, Laurence Plapied, Diana Ringot, Béatrice Romier, Sébastien Sart, Anne-Catherine Schneider, Evaldo Silva, Jesus Souza, Thi Nang Thu Tran, Jacqueline Van De Walle
Technical and asministrative staff Nicole Devilez, Véronique Lebrun, Marc Michotte, Eric Mignolet, Annick Remacle, Francine Roland, Christine Turu, Luc Vandesteene

More on staff >

 

| 4/01/2010 |