Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde | Institute of Tropical Medicine

25/11/2025

Wat een leerrijke editie van de Dag van de Wetenschap! ✨

Afgelopen zondag namen we jong en oud mee in de wereld van tropische ziekten op de Stadscampus van UAntwerpen met een speciale focus op slaapziekte. Zo belichtten we de internationale strijd om deze verwaarloosde tropische ziekte voorgoed te elimineren.

🔬 Van tseetseevliegen tot trypanosomen
Bezoekers keken recht in de ogen van de tseetseevlieg, ontdekten de parasiet onder de microscoop én leerden hoe digitalisering en innovatieve technieken onderzoek en diagnose versnellen.

🧪 Word zelf arts voor één dag
De CATT-test uitvoeren met een patiëntendossier in de hand bleek een echte publiekstrekker en toonde hoe cruciaal snelle en juiste diagnose is, zowel in de DRC als in het lab.

🦟 Tijgermuggen, klimaat en verwondering
ITG-expert Wim Van Bortel gaf twee lezingen voor groot en klein. De aanwezigen waren opvallend enthousiast en nieuwsgierig, met veel vragen over de opmars van de tijgermug en de impact van klimaatverandering.

🤝 Samen werkt het
De Dag van de Wetenschap blijft een waardevolle gelegenheid om te tonen hoe we samen met onze internationale partners en donoren samenwerken aan oplossingen voor mondiale gezondheidsuitdagingen. Dankzij die samenwerking staan we dichter dan ooit bij de eliminatie van slaapziekte, en het ITG blijft daar trots een sleutelrol in spelen.

Bedankt aan alle bezoekers, partners en collega’s voor hun enthousiasme en betrokkenheid! 🫶

24/11/2025

How can a place with relatively low antibiotic use still face such a high number of fatal antibiotic-resistant infections? 💊

ITM epidemiologist Brecht Ingelbeen explored this question together with Nanoro research partners in Burkina Faso. In response to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week ending, we'd love to share what he wrote about it for EOS. 💡

In his blog article 'Why 200,000 children still die every year due to antibiotic resistance' he describes how the team investigated exposure to contaminated drinking water, food, soil, and other potential sources of resistant bacteria in and around the home. Their findings led them to a clear conclusion:

"In Burkina Faso and many other low-income countries, the fight against antibiotic resistance must consist of both intercepting resistant bacteria before they reach the intestines or lungs, and keeping the host healthy."

🔗Discover the full story here: https://www.eoswetenschap.eu/gezondheid/waarom-jaarlijks-nog-200000-kinderen-sterven-door-antibioticaresistentie

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Hoe kan een plek met relatief weinig antibioticagebruik toch zoveel dodelijke antibioticaresistente infecties hebben? 💊

Epidemioloog Brecht Ingelbeen van het ITG onderzocht het samen met onderzoekspartners uit Nanoro in Burkina Faso. Met het einde van World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in zicht delen we graag wat hij hierover schreef voor EOS. 💡

In zijn blogartikel ‘Waarom jaarlijks nog 200.000 kinderen sterven door antibioticaresistentie’ beschrijft hij hoe ze onderzochten in welke mate omgevingsbronnen zoals drinkwater, huisdieren of toiletten, bijdragen aan de verspreiding van resistente bacteriën. Het onderzoek bracht hen tot een duidelijke conclusie:

In Burkina Faso en veel andere lage inkomenslanden moet de bestrijding van antibioticaresistentie bestaan uit zowel het onderscheppen van resistente bacteriën voor ze in de darmen of longen terecht komen, als uit het gezond houden van de gastheer.”

🔗Lees het volledige artikel hier: https://www.eoswetenschap.eu/gezondheid/waarom-jaarlijks-nog-200000-kinderen-sterven-door-antibioticaresistentie

Foto: Illias Teirlinck

24/11/2025

Can you contract HIV from a toilet seat? And do you always experience symptoms if you have an STI? 🤔

Participate in our quiz and find out! On the occasion of World AIDS Day, you can take part in a quiz about HIV/AIDS in the entrance hall of our main building. This way, you can help debunk false assumptions and stigma. What you should know:

📍ITM main building, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen
📆 1/12, World Aids Day: 13h-16h30
🏅Participants of the quiz get a 'safe space' totebag or sticker!
👤 Everyone is welcome!

Find out more via https://www.itg.be/en/research/projects/uu-campaign-for-world-aids-day

21/11/2025

Zzzz...what do you know about mosquitos? 🦟

This Sunday it's Science Day! 🧪 ITM is yet again present with an informative booth about sleeping sickness and two lectures on mosquitos at the City Campus of UAntwerp. During these lectures, colleague and scientist Wim Van Bortel will explain to young and old why these tiny insects matter, the threats they pose, and what we can do to reduce their impact.

📆 23/11
🕐 13h-13h30: lecture for adults
🕒 15h10-15h30: lecture for kids
🕙 10h-18h: booth sleeping sickness
📍City Campus University of Antwerp

Be sure to come and take a look!
🔗 More info via https://shorturl.at/AWr5X

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Zzzz...wat weet jij over muggen? 🦟

Zondag is het zo ver: de Dag van de Wetenschap! 🧪 Het ITG is er opnieuw bij met een boeiende stand over slaapziekte en twee lezingen over muggen op de wetenschapbeurs van UAntwerpen. Tijdens deze lezingen vertelt collega en wetenschapper Wim Van Bortel jong en oud waarom deze kleine insecten belangrijk zijn, welke bedreigingen ze vormen en wat we kunnen doen om hun impact te verminderen.

📆 23/11
🕐 13u-13u30: lezing volwassenen
🕒 15u10-15u30: lezing kinderen
🕙 10u-18u: stand slaapziekte
📍Stadscampus Universiteit Antwerpen

Kom zeker een kijkje nemen!

🔗 Meer info vind je via https://shorturl.at/AWr5X

Duik met wetenschapper Wim Van Bortel van het Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde in de fascinerende wereld van... muggen?! Onze nieuwsgierigheid is alvast geprikkeld. Ontdek alles op de website van de Dag van de Wetenschap 2025.

https://www.dagvandewetenschap.be/

20/11/2025

New HIV figures out today: the Belgian research Institute Sciensano reports that while overall HIV diagnosis in Belgium remain stable, cases are rising among Belgian Men. 📈

The HIV epidemic continues to affect Belgian men who have s*x with men and sub-Saharan African heteros*xual men and woman the most, with Brussels remaining the most impacted region.

Sciensano underscores the urgent need to strengthen prevention, expand testing, and improve access to PrEP. Sensoa, the Flemish Expertise Centre for Sexual Health, also highlights the importance of early and comprehensive s*xual education.

ITM s*xual health professor Bernadette Hensen reinforces this message:

“Ending the HIV epidemic requires prevention services people can easily access, including PrEP and condoms, backed by strong s*xual health education.”

Did you know?
ITM hosts one of Belgium’s HIV Reference Centres (HRCs). They play a crucial role in monitoring the HIV epidemic. At every HRC, you can access a professional medical and paramedical team for HIV follow-up and support.

👉 More information: https://www.itg.be/en/clinics/service/hiv-follow-up

19/11/2025

We need your help! 🫵

Our water basin in the Art Deco garden surrounding ITM is partaking in the Heritage Challenge. The contestant with the most votes wins a whopping € 10 000 and gets to restore their chosen piece of heritage! But why should you vote for our basin?

Here's 5 reasons:

💨 Not only is it beautiful, it was also part of an ingenious ventilation system for the buildings... a bit of innovation from 100 years ago.

💚 It's located in the public garden of ITM, a green oasis in the heart of Antwerp. Everyone gets to enjoy it!

🌱 By restoring it, we bring new life, cooling, and biodiversity back to the city.

🏆 The prize: € 10 000, covers a big part of the necessary restoration budget; a significant step towards restoration.

⌛ It only takes up a minute of your time!

Vote now! https://bit.ly/4oVyGSl

19/11/2025

Are you a man that has s*x with men?

Fill out this survey from ITM and Hasselt University and contribute to research on Mpox and s*xual health in Belgium! 🔎

What you should know:
✅It's completely anonymous.
✅It only takes 10 minutes.
✅Ten people will have the chance to win a €100 voucher.
✅You help predict a new possible Mpox outbreak in Belgium.

🔗Fill in the survey here! https://redcap.itg.be/surveys/?s=F3N4KWATMRW7PC7P

17/11/2025

It's the first day of ! 📣

The ideal moment for ITM to highlight its dedication to improve testing and care for those living with HIV, hepatitis and STIs. Our colleague and European Testing Week co-Chair Tom Platteau, emphasizes the importance of this campaign:

"I'm proud of ITM’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to integrated testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Early detection means better health outcomes and reduced transmission. Test. Treat. Prevent."

Let’s challenge and address stigma and discriminatory laws and policies to make testing available for all. To learn more about , visit www.testingweek.eu 🔗

14/11/2025

Vote for our colleague Sara and her story about girls who knock down gender norms through soccer! ⚽

For the very first time, researchers have the chance to win a new Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen (FWO) prize, the Public Prize for Inspiring Pioneers. Participants write about their research for a broad audience.

Our colleague and researcher Sara Van Belle is participating with her blog article ‘For the girls of Mumbra, street soccer is so much more than just a game’. In it, she explains how activist Sabah Khan is using soccer to break through strict gender norms and offer Indian Muslim girls strength, freedom, and a voice in their community.

⌛Voting only takes a minute of your time.
🏆The winner will receive a check for a course of their choice at scimingo.
📆 The award ceremony will take place on November 23 during the Brussels Science Festival at Muntpunt.

🔗 Read the article and vote via https://www.eoswetenschap.eu/prikkelendepioniers2025

Dag van de Wetenschap

31/10/2025

🍬 This was October, the Halloween month full of treats! Swipe for some sweet moments worth sharing.

1. Climate and health go hand in hand 💚 Together with thousands of others, our colleagues joined the Climate March for a liveable future.

2. This month, we welcomed students from Erasmushogeschool BXL and showed them around.🤗

3. Who knew heritage could make a splash? 💦 Our garden’s water basin is nominated for the Heritage Challenge. Help us win and vote here! Stem en geef erfgoed een toekomst! | KIK

4. Hello from Atlanta! ITM joined the International Conference for Realist Research. And guess what? We’re bringing the 2027 conference to Antwerp! 🎉

5. Ship ahoy! As a 'thank you' for taking part in Open Monumentendag, we were invited on the Kerkship at Houtdok Eilandje. A unique reception for all Antwerp participants! ⚓

6. Our colleague Bouke De Jong joined the Wetenschapje podcast to talk about bacteria and whether you can wash your hands too often! Curious? Comment an emoji and we’ll DM you the link!👐

7. During the ‘Microbes that Matter’ Soirée, we explored the fascinating world of microbes together with artists and researchers through live lab performances, hands-on experiments, and discussions.. 🦠

8. Yum! Our doctoral students were treated to hot chocolate and pancakes. Do we hear something growling over there? 🥞

9. Meet our new PhD graduates: Christelle, Gountante, Isabel, Lena, Opeyemi and last but not least, Quang! 💪

10. ITM colleagues paid a visit to our partner, the INS in Mozambique to provide training on financial management, monitoring and evaluation! 🔎

29/10/2025

⚡AI gives scientists superpowers — but also super responsibilities.

How can artificial intelligence help defeat drug-resistant tuberculosis?

Meet Prof. Oren Tzfadia, ITM’s computational biologist, using omics and AI to unlock new insights into one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

🎤 Join his keynote at the ITM Colloquium 2025, on Wednesday 5 November.
📖Read the full interview: https://www.itg.be/en/health-stories/articles/ai-gives-scientists-superpowers-but-also-super-responsibilities