Dr Sylvia Faict and Professor Willem Staels, both affiliated with VUB and UZ Brussel and active within the University Medical Centre (UMC), have been selected by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) for a Senior Clinical Investigator Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship supports medical doctors and specialist pharmacists in developing long-term academic careers, by granting up to 50% exemption from clinical duties for five years, with the possibility of renewal. It offers vital breathing space to build bridges between cutting-edge science and compassionate care.
For Dr Sylvia Faict, this is her first fellowship – and she’s one of just eight new fellows selected across Flanders this year. Her research focuses on multiple myeloma, the second most common blood cancer. She investigates the role of microbiome-derived extracellular vesicles (BEVs) in immune responses and tumour growth. By mapping these BEVs in both mouse and human disease models, she aims to identify new biomarkers and targeted treatments.
“This fellowship gives me the time and focus to dig deeper – and hopefully help improve treatments for people living with myeloma,” says Dr Faict.
Professor Willem Staels, paediatric endocrinologist at UZ Brussel, was previously awarded the fellowship and now sees it renewed. His research zooms in on the biology of pancreatic beta cells, with the aim of developing stem cell therapies for children with diabetes. By combining clinical care with fundamental research, he works on sustainable solutions that can truly improve young lives.
“That combination is crucial for me. This mandate allows me to keep standing by children with diabetes and their families, with one clear goal: to improve their future,” says Professor Staels.
Both fellowships will officially begin on 1 October 2025.