Search results

The fight against disease is both a science and an art. Knowledge of the human body, diseases, and medications is the key to fighting disease. But the essence of the medical art is practiced through interaction with patients who seek a doctor who is thorough, well-informed, and sound in their reasoning—but who is also deeply warm and compassionate. 

Research in the Service of Medicine.Thanks to research in the biomedical field, our life expectancy has increased significantly. Whether through genetic research or new methods for detecting and treating diseases, the biomedical sciences are contributing more than ever to advances in medicine. By studying the biomedical sciences, you’ll explore the scientific aspects of disease to better diagnose and treat it, and become indispensable partners in the medicine of tomorrow. 

Catherine Linard, a researcher in the Department of Geography at UNamur, was recognized for her work at the intersection of geography and epidemiology. This Francqui-Collen fellowship will allow her, starting in September and for the next three years, to be relieved of most of her teaching duties so she can devote more time to her research on the influence of environmental changes on the spread of infectious diseases. 

AbstractThe development of efficient heterogeneous acid catalysts is essential for the sustainable valorization of biomass-derived platform molecules. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and catalytic evaluation of novel acidic materials for two representative biomass upgrading reactions: the ketalization of glycerol to solketal and the conversion of ethyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone. Several classes of catalysts were investigated, including Group IV metal-doped mesoporous silica nanotubes and hollow nanospheres, sulfonic acid-functionalized silica materials, and porous metal phosphonates. The aim was to establish relationships between the properties of the catalysts—in particular their acidity—and their catalytic performance.The results demonstrated that the nature of the metal cation in metal-doped nanostructured silica strongly influences catalyst acidity and reactivity. Furthermore, synthesis parameters such as the loading of the metal cation and the preparation method were shown to control the Lewis/Brønsted ratio and the strength of Lewis acid sites, allowing the tuning of catalytic performance. Materials rich in Lewis acidity preferentially promoted the conversion of ethyl levulinate, while catalysts with higher Brønsted acidity were more effective in glycerol ketalization.The introduction of sulfonic acid groups significantly enhanced Brønsted acidity and led to extremely active catalysts for solketal production. At the same time, studies on layered phosphonates highlighted the crucial role of the phosphoric spacer in ensuring material stability and enabling their reuse over multiple catalytic cycles. For amorphous porous metal phosphonates, key synthetic parameters—including acid concentration, solvent choice, and the use of a templating agent—were found to significantly influence the acidity of the materials and, consequently, their catalytic activity.Overall, this work provides valuable insights into structure-acidity-reactivity relationships and offers guidelines for the rational design of heterogeneous acid catalysts for biomass valorization.JuryProf. Jérémy DEHON (UNamur), ChairProf. Carmela APRILE (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Sophie HERMANS (UCLouvain)Prof. Damien DEBECKER (UCLouvain)Prof. Vera MEYNEN (UAntwerpen)Prof. Tatjana PARAC-VOGT (KULeuven)

The program includes presentations by experts on Raman microscopy and its applications, hands-on sessions, and a tour of the facilities.Participants will have the opportunity to interact with specialists from ST Instruments and the Lasers, Optics & Spectroscopies platform during hands-on workshops and networking sessions.This event allows doctoral students to earn 1 ECTS credit; a certificate of participation can also be issued upon request.The morning will conclude with a networking lunch, and the afternoon will end with drinks. This event is free, but registration is required.  Sign me up Download the programme

Veterinary medicine is a discipline at the intersection of medicine, biology, agronomy, and pharmacy. It focuses on the collective and individual health of farm animals and companion animals, as well as its implications for the environment, human health, and society. At the forefront of managing public health issues and monitoring infectious diseases, veterinarians are also a driving force in biomedical research involving both humans and animals. In this sense, veterinary medicine is an indispensable link in global health. 

Fostering curiosity about the Earth and the natural world: a key to meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

Mathematics, which has been developing since the dawn of time, shapes our daily lives and provides tools for the future. At the heart of the hard sciences—such as physics, chemistry, and biology—mathematics plays a vital role in a wide range of applied problems, whether in computer science and telecommunications, through discrete mathematics and algorithmics, in meteorology and space science, through the theory of dynamical systems, or in finance and actuarial science, through probability and stochastic processes. 

September 15, 2025 A program for all09h00 | Welcome at Pedro Arrupe (Rue de Bruxelles, 67 - 5000 Namur).11h00 | Back-to-school celebration at Saint-Aubain Cathedral (Place Saint-Aubain - 5000 Namur) then welcome students by the Cercles. First year bachelor Monday, September 15 - 2pm-3pm - VAUBAN auditorium : Welcome address Introduction to the various departments of the faculty Bachelor of Medicine 3pm - VAUBAN auditorium : Information session for students of the 1st Bachelor of Medicine by the Director of the Department of Medicine, Pr. Grégoire Wieërs. Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences 3pm - auditorium PA01 (Pedro Arrupe) : Information session for students of the 1st Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the pedagogical coordinator in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mr. Romain Siriez. Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences 3pm - auditorium PA02 (Pedro Arrupe) : Information session for students of the 1st Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences by the Department Director in Biomedical Sciences, Prof. Jean-Pierre Gillet. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory. A student guide will be available on the Bureau Virtuel de l'Etudiant (BVE). From (date to be confirmed), classes resume according to a specific timetable (the 1st quadrimester timetable will be posted at the valves on September 9). Practical work (TP/TD) does not start for 2 weeks, timetables and groups will be posted in due course.All information concerning course timetables, TP/TD, EAP configuration, exemption requests, registration for isolated courses can be found on the Webcampus. Via the MEDINFO course (search in "All courses")Course salesA course sales schedule will be available on your Virtual Student Office (VSO): bookstores will be open to all from the start of the school year. Le guide de l'étudiant Ce guide de l'étudiant comporte toutes les informations pratiques et utiles en début d’année académique.  Il vous accompagnera tout au long de l'année. Consultez le guide l'étudiant (Genially) Deux sessions pour vous préparer au concours L’accès aux études de médecine est notamment conditionné au classement en ordre utile  lors du concours d’entrée unique pour l’ensemble des universités de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. Ces sessions sont ouvertes à tous, mais s'adressent en particulier aux élèves qui ont fait le choix d'un programme de sciences générales dans l'enseignement secondaire. Elles constituent une aide précieuse dans la préparation des différentes matières inscrites au programme du concours, mais nécessitent un réel investissement personnel.En savoir plus sur les cours préparatoires au concours d'entrée en médecine...Pharmacie et en Sciences biomédicalesMettez tous les atouts de votre côté !  Cours préparatoires en août 2026 (dates à confirmer).En savoir plus sur les horaires des différentes sessions et s'inscrire aux cours préparatoires... And before school starts? Give yourself the best possible chance—enroll in preparatory courses!Preparatory courses allow you to get a taste of university-level education by reviewing the subjects essential to your future program of study.Designed exclusively for students graduating in 2026, these preparatory courses—scheduled between mid-August and early September—are tailored to each university program.Learn more about the schedules for the different sessions and register for the preparatory courses...  To make the most of your first semester at the university, be sure to attend the orientation days!The orientation days will take place on September 10 and 11, 2026.On the agenda: a tour of the campus and the city, a student housing fair (KàPs), themed workshops (student rights, digital tools, budgeting, student engagement, sports, and more), a barbecue, and a super-enthusiastic team ready to help you discover life on campus!Thursday, September 10: 7:30 a.m. – Student check-in; 8:30 a.m.–12:40 p.m. - Workshops for students; 12:40 p.m. – Lunch – Barbecue available by registration (€3.60 per sausage sandwich / falafel sandwich) and a bar run by the AGE; 2:00–6:00 p.m. - Project-based student housing fair; 8:30 p.m.–1:00 a.m. – Bunker reserved for first-year studentsFriday, the 11th: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - Workshops for students; 12:30 p.m. - Lunch; 2:00 p.m. - Depending on the faculty: organized by the faculty or open to all.Reserved for new students - Information will be sent after registration at UNamur.   

Learn how to address the social and environmental challenges facing our society to develop a scientific approach focused on the future and on solving societal issues!

Ever since the discovery of fire in prehistoric times, human beings have been fascinated by matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes—whether naturally or as a result of human intervention. Now known as “chemists,” specialists in the reactivity of matter continue to pursue the art of experimentation and discovery. The products of their essential knowledge are applied in the fields of nutrition, health, hygiene, transportation, sports, construction, and environmental protection. 

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous malignancy in which human papillomavirus (HPV) status strongly influences therapeutic response. HPV-positive tumors generally show greater sensitivity to treatment, whereas HPV-negative tumors are associated with a poorer prognosis and increased resistance. This thesis investigated how HPV status shapes cellular adaptation to therapeutic stress, with a particular focus on therapy-induced senescence (TIS), autophagy, and MMS19.HPV- HNSCC cells developed a senescence-like phenotype following cisplatin or X-ray irradiation, whereas HPV+ cells showed limited induction. Silencing of the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 in HPV-positive cells enhanced this phenotype, indicating that HPV actively modulates treatment-induced cellular responses. Proteomic analyses further identified autophagy- and lysosome-related pathways as major features distinguishing HPV- from HPV+ cells. Autophagy inhibition predominantly impaired proliferation and clonogenic survival in HPV- cells, supporting an HPV-dependent autophagy–senescence axis involved in treatment adaptation.The second part of this thesis identified MMS19, a component of the cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly machinery, as a potential determinant of HPV- HNSCC resistance. MMS19 was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, while its silencing impaired proliferation and clonogenic survival, particularly in HPV- cells.Together, these findings identify autophagy-dependent remodeling and MMS19-associated genome maintenance as potential vulnerabilities contributing to therapeutic resistance in HPV- HNSCC. Jury Prof. Anne-Catherine HEUSKIN (UNamur), ChairProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Francis RODIER (UMontreal)Prof. Yves POUMAY (UNamur)Prof. Anabelle DECOTTIGNIES (UCLouvain)Prof. Marc THERRIEN (University of Montreal)Prof. Sue YOM (UCSF)