Annual report 2022

New strategy improves diagnosis of ovarian cancer

15 December 2022

An international research group led by UZ Leuven, KU Leuven and Imperial College London developed a new strategy to classify ovarian tumors as benign or malignant. They validated the approach in nearly 5,000 patients at 17 centers worldwide and confirmed that it helps doctors determine the most appropriate treatment.

Anatomic barriers protect the brains against the coronavirus

12 December 2022

COVID-19 is often accompanied by partial or complete loss of the sense of smell. It was long thought that the coronavirus could reach and infect the brains via the nasal mucosa. However, an international research team, including UZ Leuven doctors has found no proof of that.

Anaesthesia during pregnancy does not have impact on the child's development

27 October 2022

UZ Leuven doctors have examined whether exposure to anaesthesie during the pregnancy has an impact on the brain development of the baby. The results are reassuring: no significant link was detected.

First successful treatment of ALS in patients with SOD1 mutation

22 September 2022

A new international clinical trial with tofersen confirms that the drug can stop ALS in patients with a SOD1 mutation. With this doctors and researchers show for the first time that, in principle, ALS is a treatable disease. The results have been published in NEJM.

Mechanism behind deadly fungal infection on top of influenza or Covid-19 deciphered

25 August 2022

Over 15 per cent of all critically ill patients who end up in intensive care with severe influenza or Covid-19 additionally develop aspergillosis, a pulmonary fungal infection. This doubles their mortality rate. A UZ Leuven and KU Leuven trial with international partners has revealed the underlying mechanism.

Start of the Leuven care centre after sexual violence

13 June 2022

On Wednesday 15 June the Leuven care centre after sexual violence (ZSG) will open at the Gasthuisberg campus. Victims of sexual violence can go there 24/7 for medical care, psychological support and forensic research. Anyone who wants to can lodg a complaint in the care centre.

Radioactive cancer radiation from inside out stops metastasis of the tumour

3 February 2022

Via a radioactive molecular cancer drug, injected in the bloodstream, UZ Leuven doctors have managed to stop the metastasis of rare neuro-endocrine tumours. As a result, the chance for further growth significanctly reduced, sometimes even up to 80 per cent.

UZ Leuven celebrates 5,000 kidney transplants

2 February 2022

Mid-January 2022, the 5,000th kidney transplant took place at UZ Leuven. Prof. dr. Dirk Kuypers, head of the nephrology department, looks back on a couple of historic innovations that resulted in the excellence of the Leuven kidney transplant care programme.

First abdominal wall transplant in Belgium

19 January 2022

At UZ Leuven, two intestine transplant patients were succesfully given a new abdominal wall. This procedure has only been done about 50 times across the world.