Julie Verbrugge
Doctoral fellow - Pediatric Precision Oncology Lab Ghent – Center for Medical Genetics (UGent)
Principal investigator: prof. Kaat Durinck (PhD)
Research focus
My doctoral research focuses on identifying and functionally validating novel targeted combination therapies for pediatric sarcomas, a group of rare and aggressive childhood cancers often associated with limited therapeutic options and suboptimal prognosis, especially in cases of advanced or metastatic disease. There is an urgent medical need for the development of innovative treatment strategies that both increase efficacy and reduce toxicity. Building on previous lab work within the PPOL research group using sarcoma cell lines, patient-derived ex vivo cuboids and in vivo PDX murine models, I will systematically test new combinations of both clinically validated and experimental targeted agents. I will also utilize proteomics to investigate how these treatments impact the molecular signaling pathways within cancer cells, aiming to identify which drug combinations exhibit synergistic anti-tumor effects and the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, integrated genomic and proteomic profiling aims to discover predictive biomarkers, allowing future treatments to be tailored to the unique molecular features of each patient's tumor. By translating molecular discoveries into improved therapies, my research bridges biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical disciplines. The goal is to advance precise, less toxic, and personalized treatment strategies for pediatric sarcoma patients, making a broader contribution to the field of cancer research and exemplifying the value of multidisciplinary collaboration.
Biography
In 2025, I obtained my Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Care.
Contact & links
- Lab address: Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), Medical Research Building 1 (MRB1), 2nd floor, campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, entrance 34, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Pediatric Precision Oncology Lab Ghent (PPOL)
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent
- Julie Verbrugge is involved in the Consortium for Sarcoma Research Ghent (ConsaRGhent)
- Julie Verbrugge is interested to receive invitations for talks and presentations