Prof. Maarten Dewilde

Maarten Dewilde is assistant professor in and the head of the Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies. This laboratory focusses on the generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), antibody derivatives, nanobodies and diabodies for application as either therapeutics, diagnostics or research tools. Major research lines include the development of novel technologies to deliver biologicals to the brain over the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the development of a DNA-based delivery platform for the in vivo expression of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and derivatives. This laboratory is one of the founders of Pharmabs, a KU Leuven innovation, valorisation and incubation platform for the development of antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics. Projects involve collaboration with other academic groups and with industry.

Contact & links

Selected publications

  • Novel Human/Non-Human Primate Cross-Reactive Anti-Transferrin Receptor Nanobodies for Brain Delivery of Biologics. Rué L. Pharmaceutics 15 (6) doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061748
  • VHHs as tools for therapeutic protein delivery to the central nervous system. Wouters Y., et al. Fluids and barriers of the CNS, 19 (1), Art.No. ARTN 79. doi.org/10.1186/s12987-022-00374-4
  • AAV-mediated delivery of an anti-BACE1 VHH alleviates pathology in an Alzheimer’s disease model. Marino M., et al. EMBO molecular medicine, 14 (4), Art.No. ARTN e09824. doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201809824
  • Applicability of cerebral open flow microperfusion and microdialysis to quantify a brain-penetrating nanobody in mice. Custers M-L. et al. Analytica chimica acta, 1178, Art.No. ARTN 338803. doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338803
  • Identification and in vivo characterization of a brain-penetrating nanobody. Wouters Y. et al. Fluids and barriers of the cns, 17 (1), Art.No. ARTN 62. doi.org/10.1186/s12987-020-00226-z