ULB - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
"The study is conducted within the framework of an international project on communication (production and reception of scientific, media, political discourse) on COVID-19. It aims to outline the role of semiotics in understanding the meaning of the social and cultural changeover the citizen is experiencing with the pandemic. A special attention is paid to the relationship between sign systems and axiologies.
Funding: Journal Degres ReSic (Research Center of ULB)."
Publication References: Special Issue of the journal DEGRES to be published in the summer 2020
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
"The Centre for Protein Engineering (CIP, ULiège), through its two technological platforms, has been involved in the production of reagents (i.e. proteins) for diagnostic and analyses of SARSCoV-2 infection. In particular, Protein Factory has produced a pure and highly active enzyme (CAS12) for a CRISPR/CAS assay, which, in combination with classical PCR technology allows rapid detection of the virus. Automated screening is currently performed at Robotein for optimal formulation of CAS12. The production of complementary protein reagents for such tests is underway. Furthermore, in a collaborative effort with Dr Arnaud Marchant at Institut d'Immunologie Médicale (ULB), the CIP is involved in the design and production of recombinant SARS-COV-2 antigens towards the development of a platform for high dimensional systems serology analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies."
Contact: André Matagne This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

UNamur - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" UNamur researchers have developed a procedure for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The protocol has been approved by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP). As successfully realized within UNamur, the method can be implemented in a molecular biology research lab to be used for diagnostic purposes on clinical samples. It requires little technological development and allows to overcome reagents shortage or availability of automated systems. To support the implementation of the diagnostic procedure, the required equipment and logistical means have been described in a "starting pack" document accompanying the protocol. "
Publication References: The protocol and starting pack can be downloaded here: https://www.narilis.be/news/sana-sars-cov-2-namur
Contact: Virginie Bourguignon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège, CIRM - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" The pandemic has highlighted a critical need of local production of essential drugs used in first-line emergency care of COVID-19 patients. The present consortium has developed a dedicated unit to address this need (both organic synthesis and quality control) following strict quality assurance rules observed by the pharmaceutical industry. The pandemic has highlighted a critical need of local production of essential drugs used in first-line emergency care of COVID-19 patients. The present consortium has developed a dedicated unit to address this need (both organic synthesis and quality control) following strict quality assurance rules observed by the pharmaceutical industry. "
Contact: Prof. Marianne FILLET, CIRM Director, University of Liège https://www.cirm.uliege.be This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULB - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" Our study aims to investigate the impact on mental health and well-being of the people during the containment due to COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically some factors are analyzed such as animal ownership and the practice of artistic activities. An online survey was developped including validated psychological scales. "
Funding: Fondation Prince Laurent
Publication References: The results are currently under statistical analysis
Contact : Claude TOMBERG: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sophie PELLON : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Claire Drogoz-Villegas : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://cognit.ulb.be/wordpress/ 
Comment: This research has been accepted by the Ethics committee Erasme Hospital (April 17, 2020)

ULB
" Learning from the curve is a voluntary and open source research project on COVID-19 and economics. It is a joint initiative of researchers in economics at ECARES, Solvay, ULB. Our mission is to provide detailed and real-time information and visualizations on COVID-19 and economics for the general public and the press, to serve as a platform for research collaboration on these topics, to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the economic tissue of countries and regions, to provide policy recommendations based on scientific arguments supported by data analytics. Learning from the curve started as a voluntary effort of faculty and students in empirical economics at ECARES. We are also very grateful for funding from the Special COVID-19 ULB grant. None of this would be possible without either. We call data from various sources, which are referenced in the respective dashboards and articles. We provide data sources and code on our Github organization. All publicly available data, code...

Read more: Glenn Magerman, Professor - Mathias Dewatripont, Professor - Bram De Rock, Professor

ULB, Department of Pathology, Erasme hospital and DIAPath-CMMI - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" A first objective of this project is to establish an accurate topography of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the organs and various cells of patients who died in COVID-19 units, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19. A second objective is to provide a routine diagnostic test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in routine samples in pathological anatomy. "
Funding: Fonds Y Boël (Brussels, Belgium), Fonds Erasme pour la Recherche Médicale (Brussels, Belgium), and "Appel à projet Spécial COVID-19 - ULB" (Brussels, Belgium). The CMMI is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Walloon Region of Belgium (Wallonia-biomed; grant no. 411132-957270; project "CMMI-ULB").
Contact: Prof. I. Salmon, Department of Pathology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.

UCLouvain - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" Optimisation of bacterial strains for the expression of proteins from the COVID-19 virus Optimisation of bacterial strains for the expression of proteins from the COVID-19 virus Optimisation of bacterial strains for the expression of proteins from the COVID-19 virus "
Funding: FNRS
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" Analysis, in Brussels and Wallonia, of creation, daily management, and use of triage COVID-19 centers as well as satisfaction, suggestions of personnel working in these centers in order to develop a model for further crisis. "
Funding: FNRS: Urgent research credit submitted Possible extension to Flanders.
Publication References: Belche JL, Berrewaerts MA, Burette P, Lenoir AL, Duchesnes C, Giet D. Retrospective analysis of a suburban out-of-hours clinic in Belgium. Acta Clinica Belgica 2014, 69(5):341-347. Buret L, Duchesnes C, Giet D. Des dispositifs d'intégration clinique pour les situations complexes : aide fonctionnelle et défi normatif. Presse Médicale 2017, 46(11) :1113-1114.
Contact: JeanLuc BELCHE. Département de Médecine générale, Université de Liège. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: Promoteur : JeanLuc BELCHE Investigateur principal : Louise Joly Chercheurs associés : Béatrice Scholtès, Christiane Duchesnes Etudiante en médecine...

Read more: Jean-Luc Belche, Chargé de cours

ULiège - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" "The skills in the field of transport-mobility concern the following elements: - general strategy for developing a integrated mobility plan - design of an integral mobility plan - demand analysis - supply analysis - attractiveness-competitiveness analysis - transport modeling - transport and technology - transport and environment - - transport Chain – logistics (SCM) - choice of investments from a business point of view and from a community perspective the skil see before" "
Funding: retired : no more research fundings expertises for international organizations (world bank, FAO...) and governments
Publication References: see "Orby and OPen Acess" in the website of University of Liège
Contact: see before
Comment: The skills and expertises define herewith are the only ones concerned with COVID-19.

ULB - FNRS - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" The "Data against Corona task force" aim is to analyze data on the spread of the virus, making use of telecom- and epidemiological data. Based on this information the task force's goal is to: Take action in containing the rising number of infections, leveling the peak amount, and thus limiting the number of patients in hospital at the same time; Take measures to lower the infection curve; Provide a detailed assessment of the measures taken to contain the contagion. The role of the Ethics committee is to review the output of the "Data Against Corona" taskforce and to provide an ethical advice to the Steering Committee. The committee will highlight potential ethical conflicts arising from decisions taken based on the collection and analysis of the telecom and health data, such as : - Is the collection of information aligned with the concept of data protection ? - Are there potential & actual biases in the...

Read more: Jean-Noël Missa, Professor, FNRS Research Director

FNRS, UNamur, Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" Modelling the Covid-19 with a view to showing the importance of contact habits for the choice of an appropriate lockdown exit strategy. "
Funding: Own funding
Publication References: "Because Culture Matters, There is No One-Size-Fits-All Strategy of Exit from Cov-19 Lockdown", VoxEU article, London.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment: Main paper about to be submitted.

ULiège - FNRS - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" Massive infiltration of activated macrophages is associated with the development of a cytokine storm that leads to severe acute respiratory syndrome induced by SARS-CoV-2. Based on our results demonstrating the key role exerted by epigenetic regulation in the activity of macrophages, we propose to study the methyltransferase EZH2 in the pathogenesis induced by SARS-CoV-2. We have also shown that the PD-1 immune checkpoint is responsible for the macrophage anergy induced by the absence of EZH2. The goal of the project is to temper the excessive inflammatory responses associated with macrophages by interfering on the EZH2-PD-1 axis. "
Funding: Decision pending (FNRS Crédit Urgent de Recherche 40002642)
Publication References: - Inhibition of EZH2 methyltransferase decreases immunoediting of mesothelioma cells by autologous macrophages through a PD-1-dependent mechanism. Malik Hamaidia, Hélène Gazon, Clotilde Hoyos, Gabriela...

Read more: Luc Willems, FNRS Research Director

ULiège, CHU, Obstetrics and Gynecology - Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium
" The primary objective of the project is to assess the risk of maternal-fetal transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The secondary objectives are to analyze the impact of COVID-19 infection on the course of pregnancy as well as that of the newborn. This is a prospective study of a positive COVID-19 pregnant patients cohort in a population of 2,500 patients who give birth in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department at CHR-Liège. Samples will be taken from the mother, the newborn and from the placenta during childbirth from patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy or when they were admitted to the delivery unit. Obstetric and neonatal repercussions will be analyzed. "
Funding: Fondation Leon Fredericq
Contact: Pr Michelle Nisolle This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UCLouvain - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" International research project about the environmental/personal/family/economic factors influencing the risk of parental burnout during the COVID-19 crisis. Link to the Belgian French-speaking version version: https://uclpsychology.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_02LE6m47hjSYtr7 Creation of a hotline to help parents cope with their children and work during the COVID-19 crisis (SOS Parents: 0471/414.333) Project made possible thanks to the gracious help of 42 volunteering psychologists. Participation as expert in the media (written press, radio, TV). "
Funding: No funding
Contact: Hotline: SOS Parents (0471/414.333) Website: Advice to prevent parental burnout during the crisis: https://www.burnoutparental.com/