I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Hasselt, Belgium, in 2023. During this time, I realised that advances in fundamental science are the driving force behind addressing unmet medical needs. This insight deepened my motivation to contribute to research that applies chemistry to the life sciences with the goal of improving patient quality of life.
I then earned my Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences with a specialisation in Bioelectronics and Nanotechnology at the University of Hasselt in 2025. This interdisciplinary program provided me with a unique skill set at the interface of biology, chemistry, and engineering. During my nearly year-long Master’s internship at IMO-IMOMEC, Belgium, I worked on stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapy.
Now, I am truly excited to take the next step and pursue a PhD within the MITGEST program. The opportunity to contribute to the development of mitochondria-targeting oligonucleotide delivery systems perfectly aligns with my passion for therapeutic innovation. I see this program as the ideal environment to deepen my interdisciplinary expertise, work alongside leading scientists, and engage in international collaborations.
In this project, using baseclick’s patented click chemistry technology in association with different conjugation technology, we will explore the targeting of RNA/oligonucleotides to the mitochondrial matrix. Furthermore, we will also pursue the conjugation of mitochondria-targeting peptide sequences from nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins to deliver oligonucleotides to the mitochondrial matrix. These mitochondria-targeting agents will be combined with known cellular targeting agents, such as lipid nanoparticles or receptor-specific ligands, and will be tested in cellular contexts for the ability to target oligonucleotides to the mitochondrial matrix.
