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Towards more targeted treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases
BRUSSELS – Professor Jan Steyaert (VIB-VUB) is developing a radically new class of medicines to treat immune and inflammatory diseases. Whereas current standard treatments often shut down the entire immune system, his method very specifically activates our body’s own natural braking systems. This fundamental research provides the crucial building blocks for combating diseases much more precisely and with fewer side effects.
Just like a car taking a bend, our immune system is normally perfectly balanced thanks to the interplay of ‘accelerators’ and ‘brakes’. In chronic inflammatory diseases, that balance is disrupted: the accelerator pedal remains pressed down, causing the immune system to become overactive and attack the body itself. Existing medicines often act like a brutal emergency brake that suppresses the entire immune system. Shutting down the engine. This helps combat the inflammation, but shuts down the entire immune system and also leaves patients vulnerable to other diseases and infections.
Jan Steyaert’s team is changing course with the DUAL-PAMproject . They are developing a new type of medicine that works much more precisely. The molecules exclusively reinforce the immune system’s natural brakes. It’s a bit like applying the brakes slightly when cornering or using the engine to slow down. And they do so only in the areas where inflammation is active. The rest of the immune system simply carries on doing its job.
To translate their scientific insights into practical applications, the team can count on strong European support. Following a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant in 2024 and an initial Proof of Concept grant in 2025, the project was selected in 2026 for a second ERC Proof of Concept grant. With the new funding, the research team will test the method outside the test tube for the first time. They will investigate whether the technique works on human cells and test its efficacy in living organisms in relation to specific immune disorders. In addition, they will test a variant that suppresses two different biological inhibitors simultaneously to achieve an even better result.
This research aims to provide definitive proof that the technology works in practice and to further strengthen the development of a planned spin-off, Allosteris. The ultimate goal is a safer and much more targeted treatment for millions of people with chronic immune diseases, without the severe side effects of current medications.
Koen Stein
