Three researchers at the University of Liège have received Audacious Medical Grant funding from the FNRS for ambitious projects in neuroscience and oncology. Athina Demertzi investigates why our brain sometimes appears momentarily “asleep” (a state of mind blankness) while we are awake; Jean‑Claude Twizere leverages AI to transform therapeutic discovery in pediatric leukemia; and Frédéric Baron is developing a targeted immunotherapy for T‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‑ALL).
T
he 2025 edition of the AMG grants recognizes three projects led by Liège-based experts, each aiming to push the frontiers of knowledge and medicine. From elucidating the mechanisms of consciousness to therapeutic innovation against pediatric cancers, these initiatives exemplify scientific excellence and the diversity of approaches within ULiège.
A specialist in cognitive neuroscience, Athina Demertzi focuses on the phenomenon of mental blankness (MB)—those moments during wakefulness when the mind seems empty. The BLANK project tests the hypothesis that MB is linked to neurotoxic clearance via the glymphatic system, a mechanism hitherto associated primarily with sleep. By combining advanced neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral tasks, the project seeks to revise current models of consciousness and to drive a paradigm shift in our understanding of wakefulness and spontaneous thought.
An expert in systems biology and molecular oncology at the Laboratory of Viral Interactome Networks, Jean‑Claude Twizere leads PCAIM, which integrates artificial intelligence with experimental biology to predict the impact of somatic mutations on protein–protein interactions in pediatric leukemias. Using protein language models, AlphaFold, and an automated yeast two‑hybrid platform, this work aims to identify targetable vulnerabilities for precision therapies. The project is supported by international collaborations with the Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute and NYU Abu Dhabi.
A hematologist and specialist in immunotherapies, Frédéric Baron is developing an innovative approach to treat T‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‑ALL). The project involves engineering autologous T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD7, incorporating 4‑1BB costimulation. The goal is to induce deep remissions without recourse to allogeneic transplantation, while reducing risks associated with CAR transduction in leukemic blasts.
The Audacious Medical Grant (AMG) is a funding instrument supporting biomedical research projects that are original and bold, yet not typically supported by traditional funding systems due to a lack of preliminary data, absence of prior work, or the use of unconventional methodologies. The term “audacious” indicates a non‑negligible risk that the project may yield limited or no tangible scientific outcomes because of its originality or complexity.
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