prof. Rudi Beyaert (PhD)
Principal investigator - Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, Inflammation Research Center, VIB
Associate department director - Inflammation Research Center, VIB
Full professor (Faculty of Sciences, UGent)
Head of the BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection (UGent)
Research focus
Our cancer research is situated at the intersection of cancer and inflammation. We study molecular signaling mechanisms (e.g. NF-kB signaling) in cancer cells and immune cells, which eventually contribute to the regulation of tumor cell proliferation and survival. We previously identified the protease MALT1 as a novel therapeutic target, which directly (by mediating cancer cell proliferation) and indirectly (by mediating regulatory T cell expansion) contributes to cancer. In this context, we are investigating the effect of several gain-of-function mutations in CARD-CC family members (e.g. CARD9, CARD11, CARD14) that drive MALT1 activation. We are also studying the regulatory role and therapeutic potential of several ubiquitin-modulatory proteins (e.g. A20, ABIN1, HOIP) in normal cells and cancer cells. Finally, we are strongly interested in the molecular links between intestinal inflammation, intestinal motility, chronic constipation, microbial dysbiosis and colorectal cancer (subteam I. Afonina). In our research we are following an integrated molecular and immunological approach, combining functional studies on in vitro/ex vivo mouse and human cellular models with detailed phenotyping of gene targeted mice. Specific examples of technical expertise include: nanoBRET for protein-protein interactions, detection of different types of ubiquitination, transcriptomics and proteomics, high-parameter immunophenotyping, mouse genetic engineering, mouse models (colorectal cancer, IBD, intestinal motility, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, MS), intestinal organoids.
Biography
Rudi Beyaert is full professor at the University of Ghent (Belgium) and Deputy Director of the Center for Inflammation Research at the VIB. He is heading the Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, whose mission is to study the molecular mechanisms that regulate inflammation and cancer. Major contributions to this topic include the discovery of the paracaspase MALT1 as a novel protease and therapeutic target. He has published over 300 papers that have been cited >32 000 times (h-index 96). Since 2022, Rudi Beyaert is also yearly recognized by Clarivate as ‘Highly Cited Researcher’. Until now, 39 PhD students and 23 postdocs were trained in his lab. Rudi Beyaert received several awards, amongst which the five-yearly Prize of Fundamental Medical Sciences of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine. He is on the editorial board of 'Biochemical Pharmacology' and 'The FEBS Journal', and serves as an expert panel member for multiple national and international science funding organizations. R. Beyaert’s research also contributed to several VIB start-ups, including ‘Flindr Therapeutics’ that aims to develop next-generation immuno-oncology therapeutics (https://flindrtx.com/).
Research team
- prof. Rudi Beyaert (PhD) - principal investigator
- prof. Jens Staal (PhD) - team leader
- dr. Inna Afonina (PhD) - team leader
- dr. Ioannis Skordos (PhD) - post-doctoral fellow
- dr. Aigerim Aidarova (PhD) - post-doctoral fellow
- Marieke Carels - doctoral fellow
- Femke De Meyer - doctoral fellow
- Jill Steels - doctoral fellow
- Silke Vergucht - doctoral fellow
- Emma Vandevoorde - doctoral fellow
- Marja Kreike - lab technician
- Martine Vanhoucke - manager BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection
Key publications
- CARD14 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells induces intestinal inflammation and intestinal transit delay. EMBO Mol. Med. 2025
- Chimeric and mutant CARD9 constructs enable analyses of conserved and diverged auto-inhibition mechanisms in the CARD-CC protein family. The FEBS J. 2024 Mar;291(6):1220-1245. PMID: 38098267
- A20 is a master switch of IL-33 signaling in macrophages and determines IL-33-induced lung immunity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 Jul;152(1):244-256.e4. PMID: 36898482
- CARD14 Signalling Ensures Cell Survival and Cancer Associated Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells. Biomedicines. 2022 Aug 18;10(8):2008. PMID: 36009554
- Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) signaling in cancer and beyond. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021 Nov;193:114747. PMID: 34454931
- Analysis of T cells in mouse lymphoid tissue and blood with flow cytometry. STAR Protoc. 2021 Feb 20;2(1):100351. PMID: 33665631
- Long-Term MALT1 Inhibition in Adult Mice Without Severe Systemic Autoimmunity. iScience. 2020 Sep 12;23(10):101557. PMID: 33083726
- Defining the combinatorial space of PKC::CARD-CC signal transduction nodes. FEBS J. 2021 Mar;288(5):1630-1647. PMID: 32790937
- MALT1 targeting suppresses CARD14-induced psoriatic dermatitis in mice. EMBO Rep. 2020 Jul 3;21(7):e49237. PMID: 32343482
- T cell antigen receptor stimulation induces MALT1 paracaspase-mediated cleavage of the NF-kappaB inhibitor A20. Nat Immunol. 2008 Mar;9(3):263-71. PMID: 18223652
Contact & links
- UGent, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Zwijnaarde - Gent
- Beyaert lab UGent
- Beyaert lab VIB
- GeneCorner Plasmid collection
- Ghent Gut Inflammation Group
- prof. Beyaert is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks