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Verhelst Lab

@verhelstlab.bsky.social
674 followers 76 following 90 posts

Chemical biology lab at KU Leuven, Belgium. ABBP. Chemical probes. Proteases. Posts by Steven Verhelst. See www.verhelstlab.net

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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Een aantal internationale professoren aan KU Leuven, waaronder ik, schreef dit opinie-artikel in De Standaard. Deze krant had onlangs kritiek op de 'verengelsing' van de academische wereld - onder andere het publiceren van PhD thesissen in de Engelse taal. www.standaard.be/opinies/vlaa...
standaard.be
Vlaanderen futureproof maken lukt alleen met Engelse taalvaardigheid
Door het Engels te omarmen als lingua franca in academisch onderzoek wissen we onze Vlaamse wortels niet uit, schrijft een groep internationale professoren van de KU Leuven. We zetten de deuren open voor samenwerking, investeringen en talent.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Run for tomorrow - donate.kuleuven.cloud/crowdfunding... You may know that I am an avid runner, for >35 years. The older, the more motivated I became. Last year, I ran my first full marathon. When I crossed the finish line, I thought: "This was the toughest thing I’ve ever done (beside a PhD)."
donate.kuleuven.cloud
Run for Tomorrow: Antwerpen Marathon tegen kanker
Ik ben Emeric Bomans, student in mijn tweede bachelor geneeskunde aan de KU Leuven. Kanker vormt één van de grootste uitdagingen in de geneeskunde. Maar voor mij werd deze ziekte plots ...
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Our most recent paper, in ACS Chem Biol is now online. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/... We describe quenched fluorescent ABPs for Neutrophil Serine Proteases and their application in real-time imaging of neutrophil activation.
pubs.acs.org
Mixed Alkyl Aryl Phosphonates as Quenched Activity-Based Probes for Real-Time Imaging of Active Neutrophil Serine Proteases
Activity-based probes have been instrumental in the study of proteases, and quenched fluorescent versions can be utilized in real time imaging. Unfortunately, this application has not yet been reporte...
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Because of preparation for the new semester haven't had time yet to write about this. Two weeks ago, I participated in the yearly University Trail @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social with post-doc Roeland Vanhoutte, PhD student Femke Speelman-Rooms and her co-promotor Flore Sneyers
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Reposted by Verhelst Lab
Virtual ChemBioTalks @chembiotalks.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
The 5th Virtual @chembiotalks.bsky.social on September 30th are one week away. We have an exciting program including our keynotes Sarah O'Connor (@oconnorlab.bsky.social) and @craigmcrews.bsky.social. Make sure to register for free: web.cvent.com/event/... #ChemSky #ChemBio
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Monday, during the first session of the Polish Peptide Symposium, there was a power outage. Speaker Anna Wardowska went in front of the audience anyway and held an impressive talk without slides about peptides as immune regulators. Fortunately for other speakers, electricity was back within 20 min.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Polish peptide symposium at a wellness hotel in Szklarska Poreba. Starting the day well with a 1.5h treadmill run...
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
There are still 6 days left to apply for these two positions in my lab! 1 PhD student position in Organic Synthesis (focus on carbohydrates) and one in Cell Biology/Biochemistry.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Our latest manuscript has now appeared in Analytical Chemistry! We designed SODA (sulfoxide-diazirine). It enables photoaffinity labeling and subsequent MS-based cleavage of the probe, leaving a small fingerprint on the modified digested peptide. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org
Sulfoxide-diazirine (SODA) as a Cleavable Photoaffinity Group To Enable the Identification of Photolabeled Modification Sites via LC–MS3
Photoaffinity labeling is a common approach in chemical proteomics for the identification of small-molecule probe targets. However, the modification site on the target protein remains difficult to ide...
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
My lab has two open positions! One in Organic Chemistry (focus on carbohydrates), one in Cell Biology/Biochemistry. Deadline Sept 3rd, 2025! PhD student Organic Synthesis: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... PhD student Cell Biology/Biochemistry: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
kuleuven.be
PhD student in Organic Synthesis
Organic synthesis in chemical biology project
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Vacation to Norway (by train and ferry) without laptop. Only replied to emails if highly urgent. It was a relaxing vacation with nature, museums and running. On the evening I got back, exhausted, I went into the moshpit a Therapy? concert in my hometown Leuven. Feeling 17 again. Battery recharged.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Our department has an open position for a research professor in Translational Research on Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer. For more details, see: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... Deadline for application: Sept 2, 2025
kuleuven.be
Research professor in Translational Research on Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer (BOFZAP)
The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine – KU Leuven is recruiting a professor in Translational Research on Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer.
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Reposted by Verhelst Lab
Virtual ChemBioTalks @chembiotalks.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
We are about to finalize the program for this year's Virtual ChemBioTalks and we are very excited about the lineup we have been able to put together including our keynotes Craig Crews and Sarah O’Connor. Already mark your calendars for September 30th at 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. CEST! #ChemBio #ChemSky
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
I cannot stay quiet about what happens in the US. Today, I read that the current US president bars Harvard University from enrolling international students. As an undergraduate, I spent 6-7 months at Harvard in the lab of Hidde Ploegh. This has had a bit impact on my career.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Balancing academic life - what does that mean? I think this is highly dependent on you as a person! What are your needs? What do you want to do or achieve outside your job?
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
I am happy to share that my post-doc Denise-Liu Leone, who very recently joined my lab, obtained a @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social junior post-doc fellowship. Her enthusiasm and dedication are inspiring, and I look forward to working with her.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Last Saturday, I attended - unfortunately not live, but hybrid - the retirement symposium of Prof. Hidde Ploegh. I enjoyed presentations of @kesslerbenedikt001.bsky.social @mbogyo.bsky.social, Domenic Tortorella, various other alumni of the lab, and of course of Hidde himself
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Last week, I attended a networking event of the lab where I did my PhD: Biosyn in Leiden, since early 2000s led by Hermen Overkleeft. My presentation was about balancing academic life. Because I had the feeling, at several points in my career, that I was on the edge of failure and success
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
I haven't posted at Bluesky for quite a while, but a lot of things happened. I'm just getting back from a 10k race and am full of adrenaline, so no going-to-bed yet. Instead, I'll share some of my thoughts and experiences here... (no thread, see other posts; btw Verhoeven is one of my fav directors)
media.tenor.com
a woman with a bald head is being examined by a doctor and the words get ready for a surprise are above her
ALT: a woman with a bald head is being examined by a doctor and the words get ready for a surprise are above her
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Great start of the third day of #ABPP2025 with an impressive lecture of Ben Cravatt on the power of stereoprobes for ABPP. Some further highlights so far include Markus Lakemeyer's work on identification of a B.fragidis protease that processes PAR2, and Alexey Nesvizhskii on FragPipe.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Second day of #ABPP2025 was filled with highly interesting presentations. I'll highlight here the talks of Balyn Zaro on different subsets of microphones and the redeployment membrane proteins of targeted cells on the surface of macrophages.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Great keynote of @mbogyo.bsky.social to kick off the second day of #ABPP2025 Impressive progress on probes for image guided surgery and for detection of Staphylococcus aureus.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Wearing my nerdiest t-shirt at the second day of #ABPP2025. Beware, the backside is even worse...
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Good start of the second day of #ABPP2025. After a slow 5k run, I set off the fire alarm in my studio room while frying up some bacon and eggs. Those bacon rashers came out crisp, real crisp.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
On Sunday, #ABPP2025 kicked off well with an inspiring keynote of Emily Balskus, a great, resourceful talk of Stephan Hacker, impressive results by Chris Parker and thought provoking screening assays by Matt Child.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Just returning from a 17km run through Regent's park and Hyde park, before going to the Crick Institute for #ABPP2025
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
A bit early due to an alternative train schedule (trainstrike), I'm on my way to London for #ABPP2025 Meeting up with my friend @mbogyo.bsky.social tonight prior to the conference start tomorrow.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Yesterday, I participated in a local trail run in Bierbeek, close to Leuven, together with PhD students Femke and Jonathan. Fun event and good to keep your life balanced!
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Back in the lab to try out some chemistry myself!
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
I've just wrote a post about grant writing, when I saw this. Indeed shocking numbers of percentage of time some scientists spend at grant writing. Also important, grant writing slows down innovation! In this thread, an example from my own lab during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
A few weeks ago, I held a lecture about grant writing for my course "Information & Communication Skills 3". In their last exercise for this course, the students need to write a mini research proposal. I also discussed a few negative aspects of the need for grant writing.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Yeah, I like proteases as well as Charles Bukowski books. So I asked chatGPT to stich them together... "Proteases, those scrappy little enzymes; they know how to cut through the noise—literally. They slice and dice proteins like a drunk with a broken bottle, shaping life’s gritty, molecular chaos.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Yesterday's journal club session brought another compound characterization quiz to sharpen the NMR and MS skills of lab members. Classic exercises on finding compound structures based on 1H & 13C NMR or finding the molecular formula based on MS.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
This looks like an interesting application of the oxSTEF probes developed in the Poulsen lab before. Good example of developing interesting chemistry/chemical biology and then asking the right biological questions.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
On the menu tonight: a biiiig salad, with some garlic bread and pasta with gorgonzola sauce on the side. Paired with a piraat tiple hop. Yes, I'm hungry! #chemistswhocook
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
This week our 3rd year BSc students biomedical sciences perform their poster pitches for my communication skills course. In 11 sessions, we judge approx 180 students on their poster presentation skills. To save paper, we project posters on large flatscreen TVs. Overall, students perform very well.
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Hello #chemicalbiology community on bluesky! Some of you may know my lab. We work on covalent chemical probes with a main focus on proteases. #abpp #chemicalproteomics You can visit www.verhelstlab.net or check our papers on pubmed.
verhelstlab.net
Verhelst Lab – Laboratory of Chemical Biology
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Verhelst Lab @verhelstlab.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
This is my first post on bluesky! Please check out our most recently accepted paper on oxo-beta-lactams as inhibitors for the human intramembrane protease PARL. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org
4-Oxo-β-lactams as Covalent Inhibitors of the Mitochondrial Intramembrane Protease PARL
Rhomboid proteases play a variety of physiological roles, but rhomboid protease inhibitors have been mostly developed for the E. coli model rhomboid GlpG. In this work, we screened different electroph...
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