News

New tool lets children talk about their cystinosis with confidence

14 October 2022

An online tool lets children with cystinosis talk freely about everything they feel and think about the metabolic disease they have. In a virtual environment they are given tips and tricks by a presentation coach.

Digital follow-up for first patients with hearing implants

27 September 2022

For the first time UZ Leuven doctors and audiologists are testing telemonitoring in patients that were given a cochlear implant for the treatment of their loss of hearing. A new app makes digital follow-up possible for patients. As a result they don't have to come to the hospital that often for check-ups.

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.

Reimbursement remote consultations

16 September 2022

Since 1 August 2022 INAMI (RIZIV) uses a new framework for the reimbursement of remote consultations. Patients only need to pay a personal contribution ('rem') for consultations via telephone or video.

Beneficial effects of a malignant brain tumour

1 September 2022

In a new trial dr. Brecht Decraene examines why some patients with a gioblastoma survive ten times longer than the average 15 months. Acquiring insight in the causes, would make it possible in the future to develop more targeted treatments for this type of cancer.

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.

Therapy resistance in ovarian cancer unraveled

12 August 2022

Ovarian cancer is generally treatable with platinum-based chemotherapy, but in time, almost all patients relapse because the tumour cells become resistant. A preclinical trial led by UZ Leuven and KU Leuven discovered a mechanism that is at the base of platinum resistance.

New type of adrenal surgery

9 August 2022

Doctors at UZ Leuven have recently become adept in a new surgical technique to remove the andrena gland. Special about this is that access is done via the back, rather than the classic access via the abdomen. The advantage of this technique is that the patiënt experiences less pain afterwards and recovers more quickly.

New classification for bowel cancer in the making

30 June 2022

Under the co-supervision of UZ Leuven, new research has found 2 new subtypes of bowel tumours with the help of brand new single cell technology. This information provides new insights to unravel the origins of bowel cancer.

Crack the DNA code

27 June 2022

Today the Centre for human genetics (CME) of KU Leuven and UZ Leuven presented the educational game ‘Crack the DNA code’. The game is a playful introduction to DNA and genetics for children of the fifth and sixth grade which teaches them the basics of genetics in a very simple way.

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.

The genetic underpinnings of severe staph infections

20 May 2022

In a large collaborative effort, an international team of researchers describes a genetic mutation that predisposes individuals to severe staphylococcus infections. The research, which includes key contributions from Leuven, appears in the latest edition of Science.