INAUGURAL SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM
Mapping Liver Physiology and Disease Through Single-Cell & Spatial Omics
5 November 2026 • Promotiezaal, KU Leuven • Leuven, Belgium
A Belgian inter-university symposium bringing together researchers across career stages to explore how single-cell and spatial technologies are transforming liver physiology and disease research.
SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS
A programme designed to connect discovery, technology and collaboration
Rather than a traditional conference, this symposium emphasizes discussion, collaboration and hands-on learning. The programme combines keynote lectures, scientific sessions, poster presentations and interactive roundtables to foster exchange between early-career researchers, principal investigators and international experts.
International Lectures
Hear from international scientists whose discoveries are transforming biomedical research and advancing liver biology through single-cell and spatial omics.
Belgian Research Showcase
Explore research from laboratories across Belgium through invited talks and selected presentations spanning basic, translational and clinical science.
Meet the Expert Sessions
Join interactive discussions with leading scientists and explore emerging concepts in computational biology, spatial omics, and liver biology.
Strengthening National Collaboration
Build new collaborations across Belgian universities and research institutes to advance multidisciplinary liver research initiatives.
INVITED SPEAKERS
Researchers advancing single-cell and spatial transcriptomics while transforming our understanding of liver biology, immunity, regeneration, and precision medicine.
Jeffrey Moffitt
Associate Professor of Microbiology
Harvard Medical School
Investigator, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Boston Children’s Hospital
United States
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Imaging the microbe-host interface with genome-scale microscopy
Research focus
Spatial transcriptomics • MERFISH • Host–microbiome interactions • Single-cell genomics
Prakash Ramachandran
Professor of Experimental Hepatology
Centre for Inflammation Research
The University of Edinburgh
United Kingdom
INVITED SPEAKER
Dissecting Human Liver Fibroinflammation in the Era of Single-cell and Spatial Omics
Research focus
Macrophage biology • liver fibrosis and tissue repair
Jawairia Atif
Postdoctoral Fellow
Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
University of Cambridge
United Kingdom
INVITED SPEAKER
Macrophage heterogeneity in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma
Research focus
Single-cell genomics • Spatial transcriptomics • Liver immunology • Human cell atlases
Scientific Programme
Thursday 5 November 2026 · Promotiezaal, Universiteitshal, KU Leuven
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Alexandre Denadai-Souza & Hannelie Korf · KU Leuven
09:15 – 10:15
Opening Session
Chairs: Hannelie Korf & Alexandre Denadai-Souza
Dissecting Human Liver Fibroinflammation in the Era of Single-cell and Spatial Omics
Prakash Ramachandran · University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Epithelial plasticity regulates immune checkpoint barriers in chronic liver disease
Dania El Abyad · KU Leuven
10:15 – 10:40
Technology Showcase I
Chair: Hannelie Korf
In situ quantification of TGF-β/TGFBR2 receptor engagement by QF-Pro® assay reveals microenvironment-driven signalling dynamics across hepatic fibrosis-to-HCC progression and metastasis
Juan Gumuzio · BioSPX
Scaling up Single Cell transcriptomics with Parse Biosciences
Paolo Devanna · Parse Biosciences
Coffee Break
Session I · 10:55 – 11:55
Liver Injury & Immunity
Chairs: Leo van Grunsven & Lindsey Devisscher.
Stellate cells sense before they activate: an in vivo receptor signature six hours after liver injury
Stefaan Verhulst · Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Systemic clearance of necrotic cell debris via circulating red blood cells
Sara Schuermans · KU Leuven
Unraveling the mechanisms of infection-induced trained immunity in Kupffer cells
Malé Geerts · Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Single-nucleus profiling reveals hepatocyte identity and immune features associated with corticosteroid response in severe alcohol-related hepatitis
Lukas Van Melkebeke · KU Leuven
11:55 – 12:15
Technology Showcase II
Chair: Alexandre Denadai-Souza
Detecting coding and non-coding RNA in liver at single-cell resolution
Nan Fang · CEO & Co-founder, Singleron
Ex vivo liver perfusion using the gentleMACS tissue dissociation platform
Ruben Beuk · Account Manager, Miltenyi Biotec
Lunch & Poster Session
Coordinator: Olivier Govaere
13:30 – 14:15
Keynote Lecture
Chair: Alexandre Denadai-Souza
Imaging the microbe-host interface with genome-scale microscopy
Jeffrey Moffitt · Harvard Medical School & Boston Children’s Hospital, United States
Session II · 14:15 – 15:00
Host–Microbe Interactions & the Gut–Liver Axis
Chairs: Schalk van der Merwe & Jeffrey Moffitt
Intestinal blood vessel-associated macrophages and gut-vascular barrier dysfunction in cirrhosis
Lena Smets · VIB–KU Leuven
Cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction reflects impaired intestinal CD8αβ⁺ IEL compartmentalization
Matthias van Sligtenhorst · KU Leuven
Liver fibrosis regression restores ileal barrier function but not microbial homeostasis
Katja Sommer · Medical University of Vienna
15:00 – 15:30 · Parallel sessions
Meet-the-Expert Sessions & Roundtable
Building the Tools of Spatial Biology
Moderator: Jeffrey Moffitt · Harvard Medical School & Boston Children’s Hospital
From Macrophages to Medicines in Liver Fibrosis
Moderator: Prakash Ramachandran · University of Edinburgh
From Cell Atlas to Cancer Target
Moderator: Jawairia Atif · University of Cambridge
Collaboration in Liver Research in Belgium
Moderator: Schalk van der Merwe · KU Leuven
Panel: Charlotte Scott, Lindsey Devisscher, Leo van Grunsven, Olivier Govaere
Coffee Break
Final Session · 15:50 – 17:15
Liver Disease, from Resolution to Patients
Chairs: Charlotte Scott & Jo Van Ginderachter
Time-resolved single-cell profiling of liver fibrosis regression identifies monocyte-derived Kupffer cells as central mediators of resolution
Katharina Bonitz · Medical University of Vienna
Single-nucleus profiling reveals macrophage transcriptional programs associated with clinical outcome in alcohol-related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Lotte Vanheer · KU Leuven
From State Drift to Spatial Niches: How Does Epithelial Plasticity Shape Immune Escape in Liver Metastasis?
Elena Richiardone · KU Leuven
Macrophage heterogeneity in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma
Jawairia Atif · University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Closing Remarks, Audience Award Vote & Awards
Hannelie Korf & Alexandre Denadai-Souza · KU Leuven
Networking Reception
Selected talks: 10 min + 5 min Q&A. Invited lectures include Q&A. Programme subject to minor changes.
Registration is now open. Places are limited to preserve an interactive format.
Registration fees
Early-career researchers — €50
Master’s students and PhD researchers
Standard registration — €100
Postdoctoral researchers, professors, and other participants
Payment details
Beneficiary: KU Leuven
IBAN: BE09 4320 0000 1157
BIC/SWIFT: KREDBEBB
Structured communication: 400/0029/22365
Please use the structured communication exactly as indicated when making the payment
Sponsors & Partners
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
Additional Sponsors
Organizing Committee
Scientific Committee
KU Leuven
KU Leuven
VIB – Ghent University
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
UCLouvain
Co-organizing Institutions
KU Leuven
Laboratory of Mucosal Biology
Alexandre Denadai-Souza • Matthias van Sligtenhorst
Laboratory of Liver Immunology
Hannelie Korf • Schalk van der Merwe • Jef Verbeek
VIB Center for Inflammation Research – Ghent University
Laboratory of Myeloid Cells in Inflammation and Tissue Damage
Charlotte Scott
Laboratory of Myeloid Cell Biology in Tissue Homeostasis and Regeneration
Martin Guilliams
Ghent University
Gut–Liver ImmunoPharmacology Unit
Lindsey Devisscher
Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Hans Van Vlierberghe • Anja Geerts • Xavier Verhelst • Sarah Raevens • Sander Lefere
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Liver Biology Research Group
Leo van Grunsven
HEPx – Experimental Liver Pathology, Next Generation Liver Toxicology and Space Pharmaco-toxicology
Mathieu Vinken
UCLouvain
Laboratory of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Human Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Group, IREC
Peter Stärkel • Yifan Hu
University of Antwerp
Viral Hepatitis Research Group, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics
Thomas Vanwolleghem • Arno Furquim d’Almeida
VIB Center for Cancer Biology – KU Leuven
Department of Oncology
George Halder
Venue
Promotiezaal & Jubileumzaal, KU Leuven
Universiteitshal
Naamsestraat 22
3000 Leuven, Belgium
