Immunology

Immunology and the mechanisms of immune system disfunction

Immunology is rapidly changing, increasingly complex and interdisciplinary discipline and has entered the field of neurology for several diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica, myasthenia gravis or other less common disorders. This workshop will cover basic immunology concepts, including the different types of immune cells and their function, as well as the mechanisms of immune system activation and regulation. It will also provide the basis for understanding the role of immune cells and cytokines in the development of MS and the mechanisms of tissue damage, as well as the mode of action of disease-modifying therapies. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions and case-based learning activities, allowing for a more in-depth understanding of the functioning of the immune system and its relevance for MS and the treatment of immune-mediated neurological disorders.

BIOGRAPHY

Vincent van Pesch

Van Pesch served as neurology resident at the Department of Neurology, Saint-Luc Hospital and then progressed in positions from Adjunct Clinical Head to Associate Clinical Head and finally to Adjunct Chief of Neurology Department at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (COI).

He is also responsible for the coordination and supervision of the neurophysiology unit and is consultant for the clinical biology department concerning neuro-immunological analysis. He obtained his medical degree in 1999 from the UCLouvain and then completed his PhD thesis in neuroimmunology in 2003.

At the UCLouvain, Dr Van Pesch is a Professor of Neurology and is responsible for teaching neuroimmunology and cerebrospinal fluid/neurochemistry analysis. He is the Principal investigator of the Neurochemistry Unit at the Institute of Neuroscience currently supervising 2 PhD students. Dr Van Pesch also greatly contributes to scientific publications and has over 169 published papers in a number of renowned journals. He is also co-editor of Frontiers Neurology, section of Multiple Sclerosis and neuroimmunology and section of Neuroepidemiology and has Co-editor of the Acta Neurologica Belgica between 2014 and 2022.