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Groundbreaking peptide research by VUB professor Steven Ballet wins the prestigious Leonidas Zervas Award 2026
Brussels, 16 June 2026 – Prof. Dr Steven Ballet, head of the Organic Chemistry Research Group at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has been awarded the prestigious Leonidas Zervas Award 2026. This prize from the European Peptide Society (EPS) recognises his exceptional contributions to peptide science, with a focus on structural biology and drug development. The award highlights the success of his translational approach, whereby fundamental VUB research leads directly to leading biomedical and industrial applications.
The Leonidas Zervas Award is recognised worldwide as one of the highest honours for scientists active in the broad field of peptides, during the first half of their independent careers. Professor Ballet built on the work of his illustrious VUB predecessors, Professors Georges Van Binst and Dirk Tourwé. Ballet obtained his PhD in 2007 at the VUB under the supervision of Professor Tourwé, after which he refined his expertise in the field of peptidomimetics and further expanded his work on advanced opioids with safer profiles through postdoctoral research at the University of Adelaide (Australia) and the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (Canada), where he refined his expertise in the field of peptidomimetics and further developed advanced opioids with safer profiles. He has led the Brussels research group since 2010.
From fundamental chemistry to targeted therapies
Steven Ballet’s research ranges from the early synthesis of chemical building blocks to complex protein mimetics and advanced biomaterials. His group designs customised amino acids to control peptide structures with extreme precision and applies innovative techniques for the late-stage modification of peptides.
This allows interactions between peptides and receptors in the human body to be finely tuned. This has led, among other things, to the development of stable molecules (so-called orthosteric and allosteric ligands) that target G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play a key role in various diseases such as neuropathic pain, heart failure and cancer. Among other things, the lab has developed hybrid drugs that offer strong pain relief without the addictive or respiratory-depressant side effects of classic opioids, and contributes to the structural elucidation of crucial receptor forms.
The translational power of peptides in structural biology and medical imaging: a VUB story
What makes Professor Ballet’s work unique is its focus on translational science: translating laboratory discoveries into tangible solutions for patients. Within the VUB, this has led to fruitful collaborations. A striking example is the collaboration with the group led by Professors Jan Steyaert and Wim Versées. Through the structure-based design of protein mimetics, the researchers succeeded in mimicking the action of nanobodies using small peptides. Steven also contributed to molecules that supported the establishment of Steyaert’s successful VUB spin-off biotech company, Confo Therapeutics.
In addition, there is a crucial interdisciplinary synergy with Professors Sophie Hernot, Nick Devoogdt and Vicky Caveliers from the Molecular Imaging & Therapy (MITH) research group. MITH’s expertise in radiochemistry, preclinical and intravital imaging fits seamlessly with Ballet’s peptide technology. By joining forces, the biomaterials developed by Ballet – such as short peptide chains that form hydrogels for controlled drug delivery – are provided with radioactive or fluorescent labels by MITH.
This combined approach enablesthe in vivo visualisation and evaluation of drug delivery and therapy. Recent tests have thus demonstrated that these biogels drastically improve the tumour-targeted uptake of therapeutic nanobodies against cancer. This contributes directly to the development of personalised diagnostic tracers and targeted immunotherapies. The societal applicability of these gels was recently demonstrated at international symposia, where VUB PhD students received top honours for their presentations on these innovative biomaterials, for example for the treatment of heart failure.
A breeding ground for top talent
In addition to his scientific output, which comprises some 172 articles, 3 book chapters and 7 patents, Steven Ballet is highly regarded as a mentor. Since 2010, he has supervised 22 PhD students, 60 Master’s students and 24 postdoctoral researchers. VUB graduates from his lab now hold key positions at leading companies such as Janssen Pharmaceutica, Pfizer and GSK. The international Leonidas Zervas Award 2026 underscores that the VUB continues to excel in translational research that bridges the gap between pure chemistry and the healthcare of the future.
More on the Leonidas Zervas award: https://www.eurpepsoc.com/leonidas-zervas-award-2026/
Contact:
Steven Ballet: steven.ballet@vub.be
Koen Stein
