The Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Laboratory (THOR Lab) is dedicated to fundamental and translational research in hematology, immunology, and cellular therapy.
The core objectives of the THOR Lab include:
- investigating interactions between leukemic cells and their microenvironment;
- identifying novel prognostic biomarkers;
- developing innovative therapeutic strategies.
In the field of cellular therapy, the THOR Lab focuses on the functional characterization of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from various tissues and on their manipulation to enhance therapeutic potential.
The THOR Lab aims to advance understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Our team has identified new cellular, molecular, and epigenetic biomarkers that refine patient prognosis and inform therapeutic decision-making. A major research area concerns the crosstalk between leukemic cells and their microenvironment—whether through direct cell-to-cell contact or via extracellular vesicles—which plays a key role in disease progression. We are actively exploring strategies to disrupt these pathological interactions.
Within cellular therapy, the THOR Lab has characterized MSCs from multiple tissue sources. Our research also focuses on the development of acellular therapeutic systems based on extracellular vesicles released by MSCs, which can mimic many of their beneficial effects. Pilot clinical cellular therapy studies are initiated in collaboration with clinical teams and conducted following approval from the Institut Bordet Ethics Committee.
Professor Basile Stamatopoulos is Professor of Hematology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), where he teaches courses from the second Bachelor year through the first Master year in Biomedical Sciences.
The THOR Lab is actively involved in training students from the Faculties of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and from the Hautes Écoles. Students are supervised during immersion internships, for their final dissertations, and throughout their 4‑year doctoral theses. We also participate in supervising theses from students enrolled at other universities.
Research projects
09/03/2026
Project 1
Elucidating the function of microRNA-203a in stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
- Project leaders : Basile Stamatopoulos
- Financing/Support : «Association Jules Bordet», FNRS-Télévie, Crédit de recherche FNRS
PROJEcT 2
TCR repertoire by high throughput sequencing in chronic lymphocytic leukemia : the missing piece of the immuno-oncology puzzle
- Project leaders : Basile Stamatopoulos
- Financing/Support : «Association Jules Bordet» FNRS-aspirant
PROJEcT 3
Potential role of EVs from BM-MSC to prevent osteoradionecrosis
- Projectleiders : Basile Stamatopoulos, Sébastien Penninckx, Cyril Bouland
- Financiering : Fonds Lambeau-Marteaux, Fonds Boël
PROJEcT 4
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MICROENVIRONMENT IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA: ROLE OF BONE MARROW-MESENCHYMAL CELL (BM-MSC) GLYCOSYLATION
- Projectleider : Basile Stamatopoulos
- Samenwerking : Nathalie Meuleman
- Financiering : «Association Jules Bordet», Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome, PDR et CDR FNRS, Fondation Lambeau-Marteaux, Fonds Emile Defay
PROJET 5
THE USE OF ADIPOSE TISSUE DERIVED STROMAL VASCULAR FRACTION IN A PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN SCAFFOLD WITHIN MEDICATION-RELATED OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW TREATMENT
- Projectleider : Cyril Bouland
- Samenwerking : Nathalie Meuleman, Isabelle Loeb, Didier Dequanter
- Financiering : Fondation Vésale, «Association Jules Bordet», FNRS
Our team
Laboratory head
Basile Stamatopoulos, PhD, Professor
The team
Karlien Pieters, laboratory technician
Cyril Bouland, MD, PhD student, FNRS
Achille Ruer, PhD student Télévie
David Van Morckoven, PhD student
Léona De Groote, Aspirant FNRS, PhD student
Marie-Eugénie De Meester, PhD student
Arianna Grilli, MD, PhD student
09/03/2026