Sven Seys

 Lab of clinical immunology – pneumology

 Catholic University of Leuven

 Herestraat 49

 3000 Leuven, Belgium

 Tel: 0032 16 346165

 sven.seys@med.kuleuven.be

I studied biomedical sciences at the K.U. Leuven (Belgium) and got my master degree in 2009. My thesis was focused mainly on airway inflammation in different asthma phenotypes. This was the start for my PhD training where I combined my clinical and scientific interests to study asthma phenotypes in more detail.

Together with my supervisor prof. Dupont, I was involved in a program to prepare and follow up 20 asthma patients to climb the Aconcagua mountain. The effects of cold air, extreme high altitude and physical exercise were studied on lung function parameters and airway inflammation.

Currently, I am working at the lab of clinical immunology (prof. Bullens) on the development of a sputum biomarker array to identify distinct clinical asthma phenotypes. During the last year I was selected to give three oral presentations on EAACI related meetings: annual congress of EAACI, ERAM/SERIN and the winter school. Furthermore, I am a member of the European Respiratory Society.

As JMA representative of the asthma section I will try to further improve communication between young scientists in the field of asthma. To stimulate asthma research I will support juniors to give them the opportunity to present their innovative work. As my second interest is related to the effect of exercise in asthma I will cooperate with the interest group of allergy, asthma and sports.