Isabeau De Bie

Cranial radiotherapy is an essential component in the treatment of many pediatric brain tumor patients but also a major contributing factor to long-term neurocognitive impairments, severely affecting quality of life. Unfortunately, treatment options mitigating these cognitive side effects are non-existing, highlighting the need for new therapeutic targets.

Although the specific etiology for cognitive decline after irradiation has not been established, the hippocampus has been the focal point of research due to its crucial role in learning and memory. Irradiation causes hippocampal damage, such as apoptosis and microglial inflammation, resulting in cognitive decline. My research aims to reduce this damage and prevent cognitive decline by modulating noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter with well-documented neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. By pharmacologically boosting noradrenaline signaling after irradiation, we aim to protect the hippocampus from radiation-induced damage and preserve cognitive function. Ultimately, the knowledge acquired in this study can be used to develop novel therapeutic approaches against radiation-induced neurocognitive dysfunction in order to improve the quality of life of young cancer survivors.
 

In 2021, Isabeau De Bie obtained her Master of Science in Neuroscience- Biomedical Sciences at University of Antwerp. Subsequently, she started her PhD research in a collaborative project between SCK CEN, Mol and 4BRAIN, Gent University.
 

• Lab address:
  - 4BRAIN, Department of Head and Skin, Campus UZ Gent, C. Heymanslaan 10, The Core, entrance 37, 9000 Gent, Belgium
  - SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol
• LinkedIn
• How radiotherapy affects your memory 
  (movie 'Science Figured Out')
• Isabeau De Bie is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks