Unlocking the Power of Nanobodies: Professor Jan Gettemans Visits IDM

The Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) recently hosted Professor Jan Gettemans from Ghent University, where he engaged with IDM researchers and explored opportunities for future collaboration.

A biochemist in the Department of Biomolecular Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Gettemans’ research focuses on camelid nanobodies—unique antibody fragments derived from heavy-chain antibodies found in animals such as llamas and alpacas. Despite their small size, nanobodies retain high specificity for their targets, making them powerful tools across biomedical research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development.

During his seminar, Professor Gettemans showcased the versatility and growing impact of nanobodies in modern biomedicine. He highlighted how their stability, compact structure, and engineering flexibility enable innovative approaches to complex biological challenges. Examples from his work included the use of nanobodies to silence intracellular proteins, enhance orientation in diagnostic capture platforms, and improve the precision of lipid nanoparticle delivery systems for vaccines and cancer therapies.

The visit created a valuable platform for scientific exchange, sparking discussions around shared interests in translational research and opening new avenues for collaboration between IDM and Ghent University.