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Medical and psychosocial support around childbirth. NATUS is a multidisciplinary team at Erasme Hospital providing preventive, medical and psychosocial support around childbirth.The team supports expectant parents and families experiencing vulnerability or who feel they need additional support before, during or after pregnancy.Who is NATUS for?NATUS primarily supports expectant mothers and mothers receiving care at Erasme Hospital.Support can begin from the time parents start planning for a child, including as part of an assisted reproduction pathway, and can continue throughout pregnancy and after the birth of the baby.Support may be provided at the request of the patient or her family, or following a referral from a healthcare professional when vulnerability is identified during pregnancy or around the time of birth.What support does NATUS provide?Every situation is different. The NATUS team therefore provides support tailored to the needs of the mother, baby and family.This may include:an assessment of the medical, psychological and social situation;support during pregnancy and after the birth;short-term follow-up tailored to the perinatal period;particular attention to the bond between parent and baby;referral to specialised professionals or services when additional or longer-term support is required.Admission to a psychiatric unit may also be considered when necessary.‘Nurture and Play’ groups, designed to support the parent–baby bond, are also currently being developed.A multidisciplinary teamNATUS brings together professionals from a range of disciplines who work closely to provide coordinated support:Child and adult psychiatristsChloé Leemans, Laurence WeetsObstetricians and gynaecologistsClotilde Lamy, Siham ZaytouniPaediatricianAdrien GuillaumePsychologistsJulie Venegoni, Maelle Hector, Aline CuvellierSocial workersLaurence Bonkain, Barbara GiannetoMidwivesCharlotte Delvigne, Marta VaqueroNATUS coordinatorPauline EondesThe team meets weekly and remains in regular contact to ensure continuity and coordination of care.Working as part of a care networkNATUS works closely with the different H.U.B. teams involved in pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood.After the birth, the team works in particular with the Parent–Baby Unit at the Laeken site, the APPI units and day units for young children, as well as with professionals at the Children's Hospital (HUDERF) specialising in early childhood care and support.When necessary, families may also be referred to SOS Enfants or to youth support and protection services (SAJ/SPJ).ContactNATUS – Erasme HospitalTel.: 02 555 49 44Email: natus [dot] perinat [dot] erasme [at] hubruxelles [dot] be (natus[dot]perinat[dot]erasme[at]hubruxelles[dot]be)

As winter approaches, the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF) and Erasme Hospital are launching a new RSV immunisation campaign. A single injection can protect your baby throughout the period when the virus is circulating most widely. Why protect babies against RSV before winter?Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in babies. The virus circulates mainly during the autumn and winter months and is highly contagious. It spreads through coughs and sneezes, as well as via hands and contaminated objects.Most children recover without serious complications. In young babies, however, RSV can cause breathing or feeding difficulties and may sometimes require hospital admission.The aim of the campaign is therefore simple: to protect babies before they are exposed to the virus during the winter months.RDV HUDERF      RDV HÔPITAL ERASMEIs my baby eligible for the 2026 campaign?This mainly depends on your baby's date of birth and, in some cases, on whether they have particular risk factors.Was your baby born between 16 March and 30 September 2026?Your baby is eligible for the immunisation campaign running from 1 September to 31 October 2026 at the Children's Hospital and Erasme Hospital.Was your child born before 16 March 2026?Some children with specific risk factors may also be eligible, depending on factors such as their age, prematurity or certain chronic conditions. Speak to your paediatrician, who can check whether your child is eligible for immunisation.Will your baby be born during the RSV season?There is no need to wait for a catch-up campaign. When immunisation is recommended, it can be given from birth, ideally in the maternity unit.How can a single injection protect my baby?Nirsevimab is not a vaccine. It is a monoclonal antibody. Instead of prompting your baby's immune system to produce its own antibodies, it provides antibodies directly to help neutralise RSV.This means that protection begins quickly after the injection.A single intramuscular injection provides protection for at least five months, helping to cover the period when RSV is most widely circulating.Immunisation significantly reduces the risk of severe RSV infection and RSV-related hospital admission.Vaccination during pregnancy or immunisation of the baby: what is the difference?There are two ways to protect a newborn baby against RSV.The first option is vaccination of the mother during pregnancy. The mother's immune system produces antibodies against RSV, which are then passed to the baby through the placenta. This means the baby is already protected from birth.The second option is to immunise the baby directly with a monoclonal antibody.Both approaches therefore have the same goal, but work in different ways: in one case, the baby receives antibodies from the mother; in the other, the antibodies are given directly to the baby.In most cases, one of these two approaches is sufficient.When and where can my baby be immunised?The catch-up campaign runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026, with dedicated paediatric appointments available at the Children's Hospital and Erasme Hospital.The appointment is quick and ensures your baby receives the injection before RSV circulation reaches its seasonal peak.How can I make an appointment?Children's Hospital: 02 477 31 20Erasme Hospital: 02 555 55 55

The Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B) is the first hospital in Belgium to have acquired technology dedicated to biportal endoscopic surgery. The Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B) is the first hospital in Belgium to have acquired technology dedicated to biportal endoscopic surgery. An acquisition that further strengthens the expertise built up over a number of years ​ by the Department of Neurology in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgery, establishing the H.U.B as a pioneering hospital in Belgium. ​Two access routes to regain the technical freedom of conventional surgeryEndoscopic surgery involves introducing a camera into the treatment zone for a precise visualisation of the anatomical structures while at the same time operating through a limited surgical opening. In the case of a monoportal approach the camera and surgical instruments enter through the same access route. While this method already permits certain interventions through a very small incision, it can limit the technical possibilities available to the surgeon. The biportal approach uses two small and distinct access ​ routes. One is for the camera and visualisation, the other is for the surgical instruments. ​ This configuration gives the surgeon greater freedom of movement and permits the use of instruments similar to those used in conventional spinal surgery, while retaining the advantages of the endoscopic approach. ​“For the surgeon, the approach is particularly intuitive. We can operate on precisely those structures that are sometimes very deep or with difficult access without having to make a big opening to reach the treatment zone,” explains Dr Alphone Lubansu, Neurosurgeon and Director of the Spine Clinic at the Erasmus HospitalA technique used across many indicationsThe development of biportal endoscopic surgery at the H.U.B covers a growing number of indications, notably: ​ ​ ​ discal hernias, lumbar spinal stenosis, stabilisation surgery and arthrodeses, the draining of certain infections and vertebral biopsies. ​ It will ultimately be possible to use the endoscopic approach ​ for more complex spinal fusion procedures as is already happening in some expert centres in Asia and the United States“Endoscopy is probably one of the most important developments we have seen in minimally invasive spinal surgery. The biportal approach today allows us to envisage increasingly complex interventions through very limited access routes. It is a technological development that will progressively enlarge our surgical arsenal as well as our care offer,” stresses Professor Olivier de Witte, Director of the H.U.B Department of Neurosurgery.More rapid recovery for patientsOne of the benefits sought with endoscopy is to reduce the muscle and tissue trauma associated with surgery. ​ Less severe post-operative effects, earlier mobilisation and a shorter period of hospitalisation (reduced from 3 days to 1.5 days) can result. In the future, day hospitalisation can be envisaged. This development is also important in terms of the care pathway logic: ​ the aim is to enable the patient to ​ ​ regain their autonomy more rapidly and return more quickly to their family, professional or sports environment and at no extra cost. Thanks to the acquisition of this new technology, the H.U.B intends to continue to develop its neurological expertise and contribute to the expansion of endoscopic spinal surgery in Belgium. Its ambition is to become a reference centre for treating patients using this innovative approach and the associated training and development. ​ Contact our Neurosurgery Department

The new recommendations from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) on the management of biliary strictures have recently been published in the journal Endoscopy. This publication represents an important step forward for digestive endoscopy practice in Europe. It provides evidence-based recommendations to guide the management of benign and malignant biliary strictures, including through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).H.U.B expertise at the heart of these recommendationsThe H.U.B. is strongly represented in this work: Prof. Arnaud Lemmers, Director of the  Digestive Endoscopy Clinic is the first author and personally coordinated the development of these guidelines together with a panel of international experts. Prof. Sara Teles de Campos, Gastroenterology, specialising in therapeutic endoscopy, and Prof. Marianna Arvanitakis, also specialising in therapeutic endoscopy and Director of the Pancreatology and Nutritional Support Clinic, are also among the co-authors.The development of these recommendations, commissioned by the ESGE in 2025, brought together several groups of experts and included a systematic review of the scientific literature following the GRADE methodology. The document notably updates previous recommendations on biliary stenting and incorporates recent developments in endoscopic techniques and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound.Recommendations set to become a reference for the years to comeAmong the key developments, the guidelines clarify the role of different types of stents in benign and malignant strictures, drainage strategies according to the location of the stricture and the patient’s anatomy, and the role of endoscopic ultrasound when ERCP is unsuccessful or cannot be performed.These recommendations now constitute a European reference for specialists involved in the endoscopic management of biliary diseases and will contribute to harmonising clinical practice through an evidence-based approach tailored to each clinical situation.Congratulations to Prof. Arnaud Lemmers, Prof. Sara Teles de Campos and Prof. Marianna Arvanitakis, as well as to all the international experts, on this important work, which contributes to the scientific reputation of the H.U.B and to the continued development of digestive endoscopy! Consult the new ESGE guidelines

Visit our listening platforms to discover new patient testimonials, hospital professions, as well as the innovations shaping the medicine of tomorrow today! Behind every episode of this new season are three faces: Frédérique, Marine and Pauline. We meet you where you are to lend our microphone to those who bring the H.U.B to life. You have entrusted us with your stories… your emotions… your voices.This new season features moving testimonials, inspiring life journeys, innovations that are advancing medicine, and hospital professions that are sometimes still little known.Our aim? To take you to the heart of the H.U.B through the people who bring it to life every day.Join us now to discover the very first episode of season 2 of HÔP'VOICES!Listen on Spotify, Deezer and YouTube (@hopitaluniversitairebruxelles).  Image

On 15 October, Erasme Hospital will inaugurate its Family Tree to mark World Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Dr Caroline De Coninck, the gynaecologist behind the project, tells us the full story behind this initiative for families facing perinatal bereavement. When a pregnancy ends, regardless of the stage, parents are confronted with a reality that is often difficult to name: perinatal bereavement. At the Fetal Medicine Clinic of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Erasmus Hospital (H.U.B.), healthcare professionals regularly support couples facing a pregnancy that is not progressing, a medical termination of pregnancy or the loss of their baby. Different situations, unique stories, but the same question that keeps coming up. “Are we the only ones going through this?” This question stayed with the healthcare professionals for several years. It also gave rise to the Family Tree, a place of remembrance open to all families experiencing perinatal bereavement, whether or not they are receiving care at H.U.B., conceived by the teams to enable bereaved families to give a place to what they have been through and, perhaps, to feel a little less alone. “We know there are many of them, but we do not see them” For Dr Caroline De Coninck, a gynaecologist at the Fetal Medicine Clinic, the idea for the project arose from situations encountered in day-to-day care. She particularly recalls a couple who were expecting their first child after undergoing medically assisted reproduction. It was a much-anticipated pregnancy, following a long wait. Then, during the second trimester, a brain abnormality was detected in the baby. Regular support began, every week, to explain, listen, answer questions and help the parents through an extremely difficult decision. “ We see couples who are completely overwhelmed by the sadness and enormity of what they are experiencing. And they often wonder whether they are the only ones.”, explains Dr De Coninck. Yet healthcare professionals know that they are far from being alone. Perinatal bereavement nevertheless remains a subject that is rarely discussed. After losing a baby, parents may feel that they are left alone with their pain. Those around them do not always know what to say. Some no longer dare to raise the subject, for fear of reopening the wound or simply because they do not know how to find the right words. “ It is such a taboo subject that people may isolate themselves. We no longer dare to talk to them about what happened. And they themselves may find it difficult to talk about it. ”, explains Dr De Coninck. This was precisely the isolation that the team wanted to help break. A tree to connect stories The idea of a tree quickly took hold. Its roots, its connection to the earth, its branches reaching towards the sky: everyone can find their own symbolism in it, without it being associated with a religion or a particular way of experiencing bereavement. The project developed over almost two years. Gynaecologists, midwives, psychologists, social workers, fetal medicine professionals and delivery-room teams worked together to consider what this place could be. A real tree? A sculpture? What material? Where should it be installed? How could it be made welcoming to families over the long term? The final choice was a metal sculpture, installed in a peaceful, green setting near the hospital. But behind this apparent simplicity, the project required many stages: finding administrative contacts and a sculptor, meetings with the field teams, choosing the sculpture (design and size), administrative procedures with authorisation from the Green Spaces Department and obtaining a planning permit from the Region and, finally, an agreement between H.U.B., the owner of the Tree, and the Green Spaces Department, responsible for Vogelenzang public park, to ensure the site’s maintenance, safety and long-term preservation. The Brussels-Capital Region’s Green Spaces teams quickly embraced the project. The chosen location, away from the bustle of the hospital, proved to be an ideal setting for quiet reflection. “ We really wanted this place to last. To still be there, even years from now, whatever difficulties might arise”, emphasises Dr De Coninck. At the same time, another discussion was continuing with the teams: that of the ribbons that would allow families to leave a trace on the tree. Because time has a particular place in bereavement. The ribbon deteriorates over time. This change can also become symbolic: the ribbon changes over time, just as bereavement evolves: its form changes, but the story it represents remains. There is no such thing as a “small bereavement” A pregnancy may end in the first trimester. An abnormality may be discovered several months later. A medical termination of pregnancy may be decided upon. A baby may be lost around the time of birth. The circumstances differ. Pain, however, cannot be measured by the number of weeks of pregnancy. “ When you are expecting a baby, have invested in the pregnancy and everything comes to an end, it is still a bereavement. A non-viable pregnancy in the first trimester is also a bereavement”, Dr De Coninck reminds us. For healthcare professionals, this recognition is essential. Because after the loss, the journey does not necessarily end when returning home. Sometimes people must continue living with questions, memories, an absence and a space that has suddenly become empty. The team also observes how much bereavement can lead to social isolation. Family and friends do not always know how to talk about it. Some parents may then feel that their baby is also disappearing from other people’s language.  The Family Tree aims to offer a space to which people can simply return. Without an appointment. Without having to explain how they feel. To come and place a ribbon. To sit for a few moments. To think of their baby. To pay their respects.  A place for all families, whatever their story The tree does not seek to bring families together around one single way of experiencing bereavement. Quite the opposite. Each ribbon will tell a different story. The parents’ age is irrelevant. Nor does the stage of pregnancy matter. Family backgrounds, beliefs, culture and ways of expressing emotions may be very different.  Some people will need to talk. Others will not. Some parents will find comfort in a support group. For others, this approach will feel too intimate. Language barriers, personality, beliefs or fear of being judged may also make certain forms of support difficult. The tree offers another possibility: a simple gesture that is accessible to everyone, at any time. “ You can simply come and place your ribbon and see that other families have experienced something similar, even though every story is different”, adds Dr De Coninck. This aspect is particularly important for fathers and co-parents. Within a couple, each person may experience bereavement differently. Some show their emotions more openly at first, while others express them later. “ The timing of bereavement may differ, even within a couple”, explains Dr De Coninck. Caring today, while also thinking about what comes afterwards For obstetrics and gynaecology teams, supporting someone through perinatal bereavement requires particular care. The difficulty also lies in the stark contrast between what the pregnancy initially represented and what it suddenly becomes. An event that was meant to be joyful can, within a few hours, become one of the most painful moments in a couple’s life. “It is a very complicated situation to manage. And every member of the team genuinely wants to support these families well”, says Dr De Coninck. No single professional can meet all the needs of a bereaved family alone. Gynaecologists, midwives, psychologists, adult psychiatrists and child and adolescent psychiatrists, and social workers: each contributes their expertise at different points in the journey. And support must continue beyond the acute phase. “ We need to think about what comes afterwards. Not only about what happens in hospital”, emphasises Dr De Coninck. Working with specialised organisations helps maintain contact with families and offer them other resources once they leave hospital. This continuity is essential: bereavement does not end when medical care comes to an end. Making room for bereavement, so that it can be spoken about The Family Tree is therefore much more than a sculpture installed in a park. It arose from situations encountered by healthcare professionals in their daily work. From conversations with families. From the desire to acknowledge a reality that is still too often left unspoken.  “ I hope this tree will stand for a long time and help people talk about perinatal bereavement. I hope families will feel less alone and that this subject will become less taboo”, concludes Dr De Coninck.  Inauguration: information and registration Dr Caroline De Coninck Gynaecologist who initiated the Family Tree project. Image

On World Alzheimer’s Disease Day, the Integrated Memory Clinic highlights two new developments recently introduced into its clinical practice and research projects. On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Disease Day, our Integrated Memory Clinic highlights two new developments recently introduced into our clinical practice and research projects. They illustrate an important evolution in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases: similar symptoms can sometimes conceal different biological mechanisms… and, in some cases, several mechanisms may coexist in the same person.A blood test to detect the biological signs of Alzheimer’s diseaseWe can now measure a protein called pTau217 in the blood, thanks to the work of the LHUB and Prof. Fleur Wolff.Its increase is closely associated with the brain changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly the presence of amyloid pathology (a disease caused by an abnormal accumulation of proteins in the organs). The performance of this blood biomarker has improved considerably in recent years, to the point that it now plays an increasingly important role in international recommendations.The benefit for patients is significant: a simple blood test can, in certain situations, provide information that previously required a lumbar puncture or a specialised imaging examination.However, it is important to note that this is not a screening test for Alzheimer’s disease in the general population.pTau217 measurement is a specialised examination performed in patients with cognitive impairment and after an initial medical assessment. It supplements the information provided by the patient interview, cognitive tests and, depending on the situation, brain imaging.When all these elements already strongly and specifically suggest Alzheimer’s disease, pTau217 can provide the additional piece of information that strengthens the diagnosis, while sometimes making it possible to avoid a lumbar puncture. It is indeed difficult to establish a diagnosis based solely on this examination. It should nevertheless be noted that, for other neurodegenerative diseases, pTau217 does not provide the information obtained by analysing cerebrospinal fluid through a lumbar puncture.In a way, the icing on the diagnostic cake…What if several diseases were behind the same symptoms?A second new development concerns a protein called alpha-synuclein. With the support of Lewy.be, and in collaboration with the Clinique Saint-Pierre d'Ottignies and Mr Jean-Louis Bayart, we have begun analysing alpha-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid. Alpha-synuclein is a protein naturally present in the brain. In certain diseases, it adopts an abnormal form and gradually accumulates in nerve cells. These diseases are called synucleinopathies. They include, in particular, Parkinson’s disease and abnormal movements and Lewy body disease.New techniques make it possible to detect in cerebrospinal fluid the presence of abnormal forms of alpha-synuclein capable of aggregating. This examination is currently used mainly in a research context, and its result must always be interpreted together with other clinical and paraclinical data. Why is it of such interest to us? Because our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases is changing.For a long time, we tended to consider Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease and other neurodegenerative diseases as clearly separate entities. We now know that several pathological processes can coexist in the brain of the same person.Thus, studies conducted on the brain after death and new studies using biomarkers suggest that approximately one third of patients with Alzheimer’s disease also have alpha-synuclein-related pathology. In other words, for some patients, the question may not simply be: “Is this Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body disease?” but rather: “Are we dealing with co-pathology in this patient?” Identifying these different components could, in the future, help us better understand each patient’s symptoms and their progression and, we hope, provide increasingly personalised care.Towards increasingly precise neurologyUltimately, these two new developments pursue the same objective: looking beyond symptoms in order to better understand the biological mechanisms responsible for cognitive impairment in each patient. A blood test that can sometimes avoid a lumbar puncture. An analysis of cerebrospinal fluid that helps us uncover diseases that were previously difficult to identify during the patient’s lifetime. Two different advances, but the same direction: a more precise, less invasive and more personalised diagnosis Contact the Integrated Memory Clinic

An important step that increases the department’s capacity and reflects a new dynamic driven by the strengthening of the teams. After several years of closure, the second inpatient ward of the H.U.B’s Gastroenterology Department is reopening. This is an important step that increases the department’s capacity and reflects a new momentum driven by the strengthening of its teams. This reopening was eagerly awaited. Closed for several years due to an insufficient number of nursing staff to care for patients under appropriate conditions, the second inpatient ward can now reopen its doors. Eight new nursing staff members have joined the department, strengthening the teams and making this reopening possible. An additional 24 beds are now available for patients cared for by the department, bringing the total to 102 beds between Erasme Hospital and the Jules Bordet Institute. A mobilisation to strengthen the teams Against a backdrop of nursing staff shortages, recruiting and retaining new professionals is a major challenge for hospitals. At the H.U.B, the Management, project coordinators, nursing teams, Human Resources and the Communications Department joined forces to make the department more attractive and encourage new talent to join the institution. Communication about career opportunities, recruitment support, highlighting the professions and the working environment: several measures were implemented to support this momentum. The recruitment of these eight new nursing staff members has enabled the department to take a concrete step forward: reopening an inpatient ward and welcoming more patients. Recognised expertise This reopening strengthens the department’s ability to fulfil its care mission, for the benefit of patients requiring specialised gastroenterological care. It also comes at a particularly favourable time for the department, whose expertise has once again been recognised by the Newsweek ranking of the best hospital departments: the H.U.B’s Gastroenterology Department ranks first in Belgium. This recognition reflects the H.U.B’s role as a leading academic hospital, where medical and nursing expertise, research, innovation and teaching all contribute to improving the quality of care. But this excellence is above all based on the teams. Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, paramedical staff, administrative staff and all the professionals involved in patients’ care pathways bring this expertise to life every day. Discover the Gastroenterology Department Image

The role of biobanks The mission of the Erasmus Hospital and ULB Faculty of Medicine biobanks is to collect, store and supply biological samples for scientific research subject to very strict regulations. The samples are obtained from residue body material following diagnoses or collected in connection with clinical studies.The material is linked to data on the sampling, pathology and patient while preserving donor anonymity. In Belgium, the donation of human body material is governed by the law of 19 December 2008. In the case of sampling following a diagnosis, the principle of opting out applies. In this case the residual material is used unless the patient opposes it in writing. This can be done at any time, including a posteriori. In the case of clinical studies, the patient’s prior agreement in writing is required. Any project for scientific research that wants to use samples stored in a biobank must submit a file for approval by the Ethics Committee and Scientific Council.  Sample circuit Hospital-Faculty Council for Biobanks (CBEU) PresentationThe Conseil hospitalo-facultaire des biobanques Erasmus-ULB/ Hospital-Faculty Council of the Erasmus-ULB biobanks (CBEU) was founded in 2012 to facilitate and harmonise the day-to-day management of the Erasmus Hospital and Faculty of Medicine biobanks in regard to the law of 19 December 2008 concerning the use of human body material (HBM) intended for medical applications or the purposes of scientific research. Aim and missionsThe CBEU supports biobanks and researchers, in particular on matters concerning their legal, deontological and ethical obligations. It acts as an umbrella structure providing a contact point between the hospital and faculty biobanks and the public authorities, Ethics Committee and researchers in particular.   It encourages scientific researchOrganisationThe CBEU consists of a Bureau with decision-making powers concerning its day-to-day and operational management. The Bureau meets at least three times a year. In addition to the Bureau, the CBEU includes members representing a particular biobank, that is, natural or legal persons representing a biobank that already exists or is in the process of being set up and that is active within the Erasmus Hospital or ULB Faculty of Medicine. There are also associate members that are admitted following a decision of the Bureau as they possess recognised scientific authority in a field of direct or indirect interest to the CBEU. A general assembly, convened by the Bureau, meets annually.   BureauComposition of the BureauChairman: Pr M. Remmelink.Members: Pr G. Smits, Dr E. Trepo, Pr J. Nortier, Pr F. Mascart, Pr I. Salmon, Dr Y. Sokolow, Pr J-M. Hougardy, Pr J-L. Van LaethemFunctioning of the BureauThe Bureau has set up working groups so as to be able to communicate information to all the CBEU members on the following points: Inventory of existing biobanksType of material storedLink with other teaching hospitals in the networkPutting into place of an adequate IT tool for day-to-day biobank management. Contacts with patients Biobanks on the Erasmus campus There are 10 biobanks on the Erasmus campus.  They are grouped together within the CBEU. They are also members of regional (BWB), national (Plan Cancer (Action 27) - BBMRI.be)  and European (BBMRI) networks, thereby contributing to international scientific projects. Consult the organizational chart Contacts Name and particulars of contact personsCBEU management: Prof. M. RemmelinkTel.:  +32 (02) 555 31 16 E-mail :  myriam [dot] remmelink [at] erasme [dot] ulb [dot] ac [dot] be (myriam[dot]remmelink[at]hubruxelles[dot]be)  CBEU secretary: F. SandrasTel :  +32 (02) 555 89 13 Fax :  +32 (02) 555 47 90 E-mail :  info [dot] cbeu [at] erasme [dot] ulb [dot] ac [dot] be (info[dot]cbeu[at]hubruxelles[dot]be)Address: Route de Lennik, 808 1070 Anderlecht Consult the ethical charter for the collection, storage and use of human body material for the purposes of scientific research, drawn up by the BWB working group.  Charte éthique Useful links Biothèque Wallonie Bruxelles Belgian Cancer Registry BBMRI CMI-BBMRI. Vlaanderen Biobanques - Réseau français des biobanques International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories - ISBER European, Middle Eastern & African Society for Biopreservation & Biobanking - E… The Erasmus Hospital and ULB Faculty of Medicine biobanks collect, store and supply biological samples for the purposes of scientific research. There are 10 of these biobanks on the Erasmus campus, grouped together within the CBEU (Conseil Hospitalo Facultaire des Biobanques Erasme-ULB/Hospital-Faculty Council of Erasmus-ULB biobanks).

On the occasion of Purple Day, we met with the Neurotechnology Department at Erasmus Hospital, a key player in the fight against epilepsy. The Neurotechnology Department: a key player in the fight against epilepsy At the forefront of epilepsy management, this department stands out as an indispensable player, providing specialized expertise and advanced technologies for accurate diagnosis and continuous patient monitoring. What sets this department apart is its mobility, availability, and versatility across other services. Utilizing portable electroencephalograms, the nurses in this department intervene whenever a neurological issue in a patient needs analysis, whether it be in neurology, intensive care, neonatology, geriatrics, or elsewhere. What sets this department apart is its mobility, availability, and versatility across other services Accurate diagnosis and continuous monitoring The Neurotechnology Department has a 5-room epilepsy exploration unit, capable of accommodating patients requiring thorough diagnostic evaluations of the frequency, intensity, and origin of their symptoms for hospitalization of at least 24 hours. Sometimes even in anticipation of surgical treatment for their epilepsy. The nurses in the neurotechnology department also perform outpatient procedures: electroencephalograms and evoked potentials. With exemplary responsiveness, essential mobility, and specialized expertise, it contributes to precise diagnosis and ensures continuous monitoring of epileptic patients, resulting in improved patient care. In the fight against epilepsy, the Neurotechnology Department at Erasme Hospital emerges as a key element in patient management. Affiche de présentation du Service de Neurotechnique Le service de Neurologie Contact: nathalie [dot] buffe [at] hubruxelles [dot] be

You live abroad and want to organise  hospitalisation or receive medical treatment at the H.U.B (Jules Bordet Institute, Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital, Erasmus Hospital)  You have social security cover in Europe For scheduled care your insurer must issue you with document S2 (formerly E112) For a medical emergency confirmed by a doctor at our institution, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) can be used. We ask you to check your card’s expiry date.    You do not have social security cover in Belgium or Europe Please provide the department secretariat or specialist doctor with:  Your medical file that should be as complete as possible so as to determine the treatment your health condition requires.  A copy of an official identity document and/or of your passport clearly indicating your family name, first names and date of birth.  On the basis of the information communicated by the medical team, the Preadmission Unit or Insurance Unit will provide you with an estimate of the costs of the treatment  required. If you have a payment guarantee from an insurer, please provide us with this so that the insurance Unit can validate it. If not, please make the payment of the full amount of the estimate.  Once the care has been validated, the Insurance Unit will put you into contact with the secretariat of the department or specialist doctor in charge of your file so as to plan for your arrival.  On the day of your arrival at the H.U.B please go to reception with a valid identity document (identity card or passport). 

In November 2024, this specialty will be highlighted during a dedicated event, underscoring the importance and advancements of epilepsy neurosurgery in Belgium. Healthcare professionals will have the opportunity to gather, share their knowledge, and explore new perspectives offered by this discipline. Epilepsy neurosurgery in Belgium: a leading specializationIn Belgium, neurosurgery, and more specifically epilepsy neurosurgery, represents a medical specialty that is both advanced and rare. Essential for the treatment of patients with epilepsy who are refractory to traditional medication treatments, this discipline is distinguished by its cutting-edge techniques and promising results.State-of-the-art equipment at the H.U.B.The Brussel University Hospital (H.U.B.) stands out for its use of advanced technologies for the treatment of epilepsy, notably SEEG (stereo-electroencephalography) and, soon, LITT (laser interstitial thermotherapy). The H.U.B. boasts some of the leading specialists who utilize this advanced equipment, crucial for pediatric patients resistant to traditional pharmaceutical treatments.SEEG: precision and effectivenessSEEG provides a detailed mapping of brain activity, accurately pinpointing epileptogenic zones. With this technique, neurosurgeons can identify the areas responsible for epileptic seizures with great precision, facilitating more targeted and effective interventions.LITT: minimally invasive innovationSoon, the H.U.B. will integrate LITT into its treatment protocols. This technique offers a minimally invasive solution for treating the epileptogenic zones identified by SEEG, using a laser to destroy the brain tissue responsible for seizures. LITT serves as an effective alternative to traditional open surgeries when the functional or cognitive risk is too high. It provides a curative solution for patients who were previously deemed inoperable.An international symposium in November 2024On November 8, 2024, the H.U.B. will host an international symposium dedicated to epilepsy neurosurgery. This event will bring together world-renowned experts to discuss the latest advancements and innovative perspectives in this highly specialized field. The goal is to improve the care of epilepsy patients and to promote cutting-edge surgical techniques.Practical InformationDate: November 8, 2024Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PMLocation: Museum of Medicine, Erasme Hospital ULB, 808 route de Lennik, 1070 BrusselsTo access the detailed program and register, please follow this link.