2023-10-20 12:52:26
Motivation and journey
My interest in medicine has always been fueled by the fascinating complexity of the human body and, more particularly, by the search for solutions to remedy its dysfunctions. Guided by my passion for science and technology, I gradually understood that the intersection of engineering and biomedical sciences represents the key to future medical advances. This belief motivated me to pursue training in biomedical engineering, an experience that reinforced my belief that engineers have a vital role to play in improving medicine by collaborating closely with clinicians and researchers. It was this strong conviction that pushed me to undertake a doctorate. This academic background allows me to work in close collaboration with key players in the medical field, while applying my engineering skills in the stimulating context of biomedical research. This doctorate represents the ideal opportunity to contribute to future medical advances by creating innovative solutions with the hope of improving human health.
My academic journey began in 2017 with obtaining a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Liège (ULiège), followed by the completion of my master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2022. I had the opportunity to devote a year of my master’s degree to the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where I took a semester of courses and then carried out my final research project. This project focused on optimizing deep brain stimulation protocols with the aim of improving mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Following this applied experience, I was selected by the GIGA (ULiège) to follow a three-month doctoral training course, with the possibility of choosing a laboratory within GIGA to develop a doctoral project. I made the choice to join theBiomechanics Research Unit Directed by Liesbet Geris. My doctoral project, this time more fundamental, focuses on the synergy between engineering tools and biomedical research methodologies.
Research
My mandate as FRS-FNRS Aspirant is centered on a research project aimed at exploiting new digital tools to study the formation of lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis) in an inflammatory context.
The lymphatic system plays an essential role in removing waste, regulating fluids, and transporting immune cells. However, these crucial functions are compromised during chronic inflammatory diseases, which represent one of the leading causes of disability and mortality globally. The lymphatic system has therefore emerged as a potential therapeutic target for these diseases. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new approaches to better understand the behavior of inflamed lymphatic cells.
My research project aims to leverage computer science and mathematics to create a virtual population of inflamed lymphatic cells, providing a more controlled and flexible study setting. The first phase of my project consists of identifying the internal modifications of cells in response to inflammation. This data will then be used to construct a virtual population of cells capable of interacting with each other and with their environment. By numerically simulating this population, we will be able to explore the effects of various components of the inflammatory environment on lymphatic cell behavior. To validate these observations, we will test them experimentally using appropriate models, such as microphysiological systems. We hope that this innovative approach combining in vitro et in silico will open new perspectives for research and validation of potential treatments.
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