Molecular Diagnostics UZ Ghent (MDG)
Mission
For the analysis of specific somatic defects in the DNA and RNA of malignant tissue, blood or bone marrow of cancer patients, a collaboration is set up between three laboratories of Ghent University Hospital (Department of Pathological Anatomy UZ Ghent, Clinical Biology Laboratory UZ Ghent and Center for Medical Genetics Ghent) under the platform Molecular Diagnostics UZ Ghent (MDG). The platform Molecular Diagnostics UZ Ghent (MDG) combines the expertise of the three laboratories: the tests are requested through the Department of Pathological Anatomy UZ Ghent or through the Laboratory of Clinical Biology UZ Ghent, the laboratory tests are performed at the Center for Medical Genetics Ghent.
The core activity of MDG is the detection of acquired defects in DNA and RNA from the malignant tissues, blood or bone marrow of patients with cancer. With the detection of specific somatic defects in the tumors, a genetic fingerprint of the tumor is determined. This enables to make an accurate diagnosis, to refine a prognosis and/or identify a group of patients for targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is a breakthrough in oncology: for patients in the target group, the response to treatment is greater than the response to treatment with nonselective chemotherapy. Examples of clinical use include imatinib (Glivec) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumumab (Vectibix) in wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal carcinoma, and vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in BRAF-mutated melanoma.
More information on services:
- Targeted DNA NGS with a panel of 112 genes (solid tumors) or 116 genes (hematological malignancies)
- Targeted RNA NGS for fusion gene detection (solid tumor panel, sarcoma panel, ALL panel or heme panel)
- MGMT promoter methylation assay
- For details on available targeted panels: https://www.cmgg.be/en/professionals/labguide/platform-moleculaire-diagnostiek-uz-gent-mdg
Tests under development:
- Targeted DNA NGS on cfDNA for solid tumors
- Methylation profiling for brain tumors
- Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) for hematological malignancies
- HRD for ovarian carcinoma
Team
- prof. Joni Van der Meulen - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor MDG
- dr. Siebe Loontiens - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor MDG
- dr. Suzanne Vanhauwaert - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor MDG and DNA lab
- prof. Kathleen Claes - head of the DNA lab CMGG, PI of Lab Claes
- prof. Elfride De Baere - head of DNA lab CMGG, PI of the De Baere Lab
- prof. Fransiska Malfait - clinical geneticist, head of Medical genetics (CMGG)
- prof. Bruce Poppe – clinical geneticist CMGG
- Elien De Latter - technician MDG
- Aaron De Cock - technician MDG
- Katrijn De Plukker - technician MDG
- Hanne Meulebrouck - technician MDG
- Sabine De Block – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Liselotte Pattyn – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Hanne Rigole – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Katrien Truyens – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Annick Van de Wattyne – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Marijke Van de Wiele – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Nele Vermeulen – technician cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Greta Van der Cruyssen - quality manager CMGG
- prof. Nadine Van Roy - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor cytogenetics lab CMGG
- dr. Marjolein Vandekerckhove - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor cytogenetics lab CMGG
- prof. Kim De Leeneer - sequencing coordinator CMGG
- dr. Brecht Guillemyn – sequencing coordinator CMGG
- ir. Isabelle Rottiers - technician of department Pathological Anatomy
- Vicky Van Muylder – technician department of Pathological Anatomy
- prof. Jo Van Dorpe – pathologist, head of department Pathological Anatomy
- prof. David Creytens - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- prof. Liesbeth Ferdinande - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- prof. Anne Hoorens - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- prof. Koen van de Vijver - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- prof. Sofie Verkebe - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- prof Amélie Dendooven - pathologist, department Pathological Anatomy
- Lies Vandemaele – Staff coordination and policy expert of department Pathological Anatomy
- Sofie Geenen - Staff coordination and policy expert of department Pathological Anatomy
- apr. biol. Barbara Denys - clinical biologist of department Clinical Biology
- dr. Karl Vandepoele - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor molecular hematology of department Clinical Biology
- dr. Annelynn Wallaert - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor molecular hematology of department Clinical Biology
- prof. dr. Bruno Verhasselt – Sector chairman KOS
Contact
- prof. Joni Van der Meulen - scientific collaborator & laboratory supervisor MDG
- dr. Siebe Loontiens - laboratory supervisor cytogenetics lab CMGG
- Molecular Diagnostics UZ Ghent (MDG), Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 1 (entrance 34, first floor, office 110.029), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- +32 9 3323971