dr. Charlotte Derpoorter (PhD)

Childhood cancer is still the most common disease-related cause of death in children. Although cure rates for most cancer types now exceed 70-80%, current treatment regimens face some major challenges. There is an unmet need for novel treatment strategies to increase the survival of high-risk groups and decrease therapy-related side effects in childhood cancer survivors. My research focusses on childhood cancer predisposition for the identification of (novel) oncogenes and tumor suppressors. This topic covers clinical-translational research (e.g. inheritance-based identification of cancer-predisposing genes in selected families using the MIPOGG tool, ethical aspects of whole-genome sequencing) to more fundamental research (defining mechanisms of actions).  
My expertise covers diverse in vitro and in vivo lab techniques and bioinformatics, including whole exome/genome sequencing analysis, array CGH, RNA and DNA analysis techniques, cell culture techniques, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, microscopy, DNA repair foci assays and apoptosis assays. Importantly, the optimal translation of the research findings into a clinical benefit for childhood cancer patients and their families is a major aspect of this research line.
 

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• 2024-present: Postdoctoral assistant, Ghent University 
• 2016-2023: Assisting academic staff, PhD candidate in Health Sciences, Ghent University 
• 2015-2016: Data manager & project manager, Belgian Cancer Registry
• 2009-2014: Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Ghent University
• 2003-2009: Science – Mathematics, Sint-Jozef Humaniora Brugge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Belgian Society for Paediatric Haematology Oncology (BSPHO)
• SIOPE Strategic Cancer Predisposition Syndrome meetings
• I-BFM Genetic Variation Committee

GRANTS

• BSPHO scholarship - SIOP2018 (Kyoto, Japan) 
• ME TO YOU Grant - Evaluation of PCLO as a specific and novel therapeutic target in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia 
   

• ‘Pinpointing a potential role for CLEC12B in cancer predisposition through familial exome sequencing.’ Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2019. (PMID: 30350915)
• 'Genes at the Crossroad of Primary Immunodeficiencies and Cancer.’ Frontiers in Immunology, 2018. (PMID: 30443258)
• ‘Whole genome sequencing and inheritance-based variant filtering as a tool for unraveling missing heritability in pediatric cancer.’ Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 2022. (PMID: 35876323)
• ‘How to recognize inborn errors of immunity in a child presenting with a malignancy: guidelines for the paediatric haemato-oncologist.’ Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 2023. (PMID: 35913104)
• ‘TARP as antigen in cancer immunotherapy’. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 2021. (PMID: 34050774)
• ‘CAR-T in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia : barriers and how to overcome them.’ HemaSphere, 2023 (PMID: 37674860)
   

• Lab address: Laboratory for Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, ingang 10 (route 1034), Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent
• PHO UZ Gent   
• LinkedIn  
• ORCID ID  
• Charlotte Derpoorter is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations