Project Leader Discovery focused on small-molecule drug discovery research developing next-generation differentiated therapeutic candidates aiming to fill patient's unmet needs in immune-inflammation therapeutic areas.Translational Pharmacology Leader supporting early development of new preclinical candidates in Immunology with a focus on rheumatology indications and IBD.

Translational research leader driving immune-inflammation research strategy operating at the interface of research and early clinical development. Expert function focused on patient- and disease-centric translation of preclinical pharmacology, mechanism-of-action and biomarker strategies for new therapeutic candidates. Translational pharmacology lead of first generation SIK inhibitor candidates (GLPG3312, panSIK inhibitor; GLPG3970, SIK2/SIK3 inhibitor; and GLPG4399, SIK3 inhibitor) to first-in-human and short signal-detection patient studies in inflammatory indications including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Lead in GLPG3970 biomarker analysis from Pso and UC patient studies.Contributed to several patient-focused therapeutic back-translation activities, applying multi-omic approaches, aiming to identify novel entry points for new therapeutic strategies.

Project leader drug discovery supporting various target-discovery & validation initiatives and small-molecule DD projects progressing preclinical candidates including first generation SIK inhibitors.Development liaison acting as translational pharmacology lead for GLPG1205 (GPR84 antagonist) supporting indication re-positioning from inflammation to fibrosis disease area e.g. lung fibrosis.

Team Leader In Vitro Cellular Pharmacology supporting various small-molecule drug discovery projects in immune-inflammation. Leadership and communication combined with a focused scientific mindset led to excel as a team to deliver and support target validation activities in a broad panel of target-based and disease-relevant immune cell phenotypic assays. Supported in vitro cellular pharmacology of multiple drug discovery projects targeting immuno-kinases, GPCRs and other enzymes including JAK1, TYK2, IRAK4, and SIKs.

Cell biologist focused on target discovery and validation activities using GLPG adenoviral siRNA knock-down discovery platform supporting our pharma-alliance based business model across various therapeutic areas including alzheimer, immune-inflammation, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

Support isolation of human beta-cell islets for human transplant in diabetic patients (prof D. Pipeleers).Research focused on differentiation of pancreatic ductal cell to insulin-producing cells (prof H. Heimberg).