dominique olyslaegers

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The main goal of the study was to further explore the phagocytosis and efferocytis defects reported in alveolar macrophages of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to identify potential therapeutics. Leading the bench part of the research, my main responsibilities were coordination and execution of the experimental workflow, lab and data organization, and training and supervision of the lab personnel. In addition, I fostered cross-disciplinary scientific collaborations to secure high-quality, objective research. Key Highlights: - Developed and completed phagocytosis and efferocytosis assays to monitor the innate immunologic function of alveolar macrophages in patients with COPD. - Enabled a ‘gain of function’-screening test for the identification of potential therapeutics for COPD using primary human alveolar macrophages. - Designed and applied a flow cytometry protocol that allows identification and isolation of different myeloid subsets in human lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Gained experience in working in the pharmaceutical industry leading a project at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with the University of Antwerp. Acquired hands-on experience with microbiological methods in a GMP environment and became proficient in collaborative planning with stakeholders and regulatory negotiation. Key Highlights:­ - Introduced ATP bioluminescence as rapid microbiology method for bioburden screening J&J drug products. - Worked out a filing and validation strategy in cooperation with regulatory agencies for the implementation of the alternative method.

­Developed and optimized a formaldehyde-based rapid leukocyte preparation technique to adequately quantify the surface expression of adhesion molecules on feline leukocytes using a whole blood flow cytometric assay. ­Performed a comparative analysis on the quantitative expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and their endothelial counter receptors between cats infected with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and healthy controls. ­Established and validated two novel immortalized feline endothelial cell lines from primary endothelial cells, isolated from aorta and vena cava. Studied the interaction of FIPV-infected monocytes with the endothelium in an in vitro model, providing key insights in the pathogenic mechanism underlying the hallmark lesions of FIP, vasculitis and granulomas.