Assets and specific features

The Institut des Epidémies (InDeEp) will benefit from an exceptional anchorage in a local scientific fabric rich in complementary expertise that is rare in the international arena. The future Institute will be distinguished by five major assets, giving it a leading role and great agility in preparing for and responding to emerging infectious threats.

1. Epidemiosurveillance and integrated research networks (medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, sciences, agronomy, social sciences) already in place. ULiège coordinates or participates in several national and international networks, as well as wildlife, domestic animal and human monitoring programs in Wallonia and abroad. These schemes, and the Institute's strategic location in the immediate vicinity of the University Hospital and the Veterinary Hospital, offer privileged access to human and animal cohorts, biobanks and epidemiological data that will reinforce the Institute's monitoring and prevention mission. By pooling these strengths, the Institute will be able to position itself as a major European player, capable of moving in a matter of weeks from the identification of an emerging agent to the implementation of scientifically and operationally validated counter-measures.
2. Recognized expertise in the isolation and characterization of new infectious agents. ULiège researchers master the entire continuum from sampling to pathogen characterization: isolation in BSL-3 containment, targeted (phylo-)genetic and metagenomic analyses, high-throughput sequencing and validation by histopathology and serology. These skills enable rapid detection of emerging agents in humans, domestic animals and wildlife, a rare expertise that places ULiège among the reference centers for epidemiosurveillance and response to emerging diseases.
3. A capacity to develop relevant preclinical models. Our teams in Liège have built up an international reputation in the development of murine, avian and ex vivo models (organoids, human microphysiological models), enabling them to accurately reproduce host-pathogen interactions. This experimental capability, combined with the equipment made available under BSL-3 conditions, forms an essential foundation for testing vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tools prior to any clinical application.
4. Fundamental expertise in immuno-infectiology. ULiège researchers have developed solid expertise in the study of immune mechanisms of tissue homeostasis, infection and vaccine responses. Their work has led to major advances in myeloid cell biology, virus-host interactions and immunoregulatory mechanisms. This research is supported by several grants of excellence, including those from the European Research Council (ERC) and the WEL Research Institute (WELRI - WELBIO). They are reflected in publications in the best international journals in the field, such as Nature Medicine, Nature Immunology, Science Immunology, Immunity, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, etc. This strong grounding in fundamental immunology gives the Institut des Epidémies a solid scientific base, capable of continuously feeding translational approaches in the field of immuno-infectiology.
5. Logistical capacity to transform research into concrete solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the agility and responsiveness of Liège's teams: development of the screening platform, local production of reagents and consumables, development of a saliva sampling kit and plasmapherapy in partnership with the Red Cross. This experience has given rise to a unique operational culture, capable of mobilizing fundamental research in the service of public health and technological innovation.