Evelyn Meylaerts

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer, and despite therapeutic advances, all patients relapse. Most treatment regimens include glucocorticoids (GCs), which trigger apoptosis in myeloma cells. However, their clinical use is limited by severe side effects, such as osteoporosis, and the development of GC resistance. Newer immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, have improved outcomes, yet patients ultimately become refractory to these treatments as well. In (relapsed/refractory) multiple myeloma, the bone marrow tumour microenvironment plays a critical role. It not only supports the survival of malignant plasma cells, but also contributes to the development of myeloma-related bone disease.
In this research, the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid resistance will be investigated by profiling differential coregulator recruitment in GC sensitive and resistant myeloma cells. 
Furthermore, improved cellular and targeted therapies will be explored that disrupt tumour microenvironment interactions to enhance myeloma cell killing and mitigate bone disease. 
 

• Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cell and Gene Biotechnology
   

• Lab address: VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent
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• De Bosscher Lab
• Evelyn Meylaerts is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks