The Limburg Clinical Research Centre (LCRC) is a unique collaboration between Hasselt University, Jessa Hospital and the Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL). We want to improve our healthcare, by combining both academic research and clinical practice. Through patient-oriented, medical-scientific research, we work towards finding innovative solutions to needs in daily clinical practice. As an internationally oriented academic-medical knowledge center in Limburg, LCRC aims to form an important stimulus for top medical care, academic education and healthcare innovation in Limburg and Flanders.
Medical clusters
Cardiology
How can we improve the quality of healthcare for heart patients - both in hospitals and at home? Research focuses on developing:supporting prediction methods for optimal heart valve surgery;
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Oncology
How can we provide cancer patients with better treatment? Which innovations are needed to respond to the daily clinical needs of patients and specialists in this field? In this research cluster, LCRC focuses on:
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Gynaecology / fertility
How can we improve the quality of healthcare for (high-risk) pregnant women and women who have a desire for children? These questions guide the research within this cluster with research on:
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Infectious diseases
How can we improve the quality of healthcare for specific patient populations with infectious diseases? And how can we strengthen general healthcare for patients with infectious diseases by taking an immunological and genetic approach? In this cluster, research is primarily focused on:
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Anaesthesia / neurology
This research is based on the expertise of clinicians in the field of anaesthesia, neurology, intensive care and emergency medicine. Research is mainly focused on:
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Orthopedics
Through medical scientific research, they search for ways to optimize orthopaedic treatments and rehabilitation processes. The focus is primarily on:
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In addition to these medical clusters, LCRC also wants to encourage new research initiatives from other medical domains.
Scientific platforms
To perform good medical-scientific research, the right research setting is needed. Therefore, LCRC invests in a number of service and technology platforms which optimally support our researchers.
University Biobank Limburg (UBiLim)
An extensive, high-quality biobank is an indispensable (and legally required) resource in clinical and translational (bio)medical research. Ultimately, top-medical research always starts with well-documented human body material.
In UBiLim, blood, bone marrow, urine, and tissues among others - along with patients’ disease status - are collected and stored for research studying hematological disorders, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. Thanks to UBiLim, LCRC (and other) researchers have access to a unique collection of interesting patient samples, as well as top expertise in sample processing and storage. The access to these resources saves LCRC (and other) researchers a lot of valuable time, because they can start their research sooner.
UBiLim is committed to quality assurance. The biobank meets all national and international standards and regulations, and also participates in Belgian and European initiatives related to biobanking.
Do you want to read more about UBiLim, and the studies and projects that UBiLim supports? Go to www.ubilim.be.
An extensive, high-quality biobank is an indispensable (and legally required) resource in clinical and translational (bio)medical research. Ultimately, top-medical research always starts with well-documented human body material.
In UBiLim, blood, bone marrow, urine, and tissues among others - along with patients’ disease status - are collected and stored for research studying hematological disorders, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. Thanks to UBiLim, LCRC (and other) researchers have access to a unique collection of interesting patient samples, as well as top expertise in sample processing and storage. The access to these resources saves LCRC (and other) researchers a lot of valuable time, because they can start their research sooner.
UBiLim is committed to quality assurance. The biobank meets all national and international standards and regulations, and also participates in Belgian and European initiatives related to biobanking.
Do you want to read more about UBiLim, and the studies and projects that UBiLim supports? Go to www.ubilim.be.
Mobile Health Unit (MHU) & Data Science
In recent years, the Mobile Health Unit (MHU) has grown into a successful and internationally renowned center of expertise in mHealth.
The MHU does not only conduct academic-scientific research into the medical, clinical and socio-economic added value of mHealth. We also support and guide companies in their mHealth innovation processes from bench to bedside.
Innovation in healthcare is teamwork. The MHU is therefore strongly committed to community formation. We bring together healthcare professionals, patient associations, industrial partners, SME’s, research institutions and governments to exchange experiences, knowledge and ideas. Additionally, we also give our partners access to our clinical testing ground so that they can test and validate their mHealth applications in patients in clinical practice.
In order to improve care processes sustainably, a lot of health data are needed. From the start, the MHU has invested in data sciences via the “Dharma” data platform. This platform plays a key role in the development of mobile follow-up strategies of various patient populations such as high-risk pregnant women, hip and knee patients and chronic pain patients.
Do you want to read more about the Mobile Health Unit, their activities and current projects? Go to www.mobilehealthunit.org.
In recent years, the Mobile Health Unit (MHU) has grown into a successful and internationally renowned center of expertise in mHealth.
The MHU does not only conduct academic-scientific research into the medical, clinical and socio-economic added value of mHealth. We also support and guide companies in their mHealth innovation processes from bench to bedside.
Innovation in healthcare is teamwork. The MHU is therefore strongly committed to community formation. We bring together healthcare professionals, patient associations, industrial partners, SME’s, research institutions and governments to exchange experiences, knowledge and ideas. Additionally, we also give our partners access to our clinical testing ground so that they can test and validate their mHealth applications in patients in clinical practice.
In order to improve care processes sustainably, a lot of health data are needed. From the start, the MHU has invested in data sciences via the “Dharma” data platform. This platform plays a key role in the development of mobile follow-up strategies of various patient populations such as high-risk pregnant women, hip and knee patients and chronic pain patients.
Do you want to read more about the Mobile Health Unit, their activities and current projects? Go to www.mobilehealthunit.org.
Good Clincal Practice (GCP) Platform
Belgium is a world leader in clinical trials. Every year, more than 500 trials are conducted in our country. This is a huge advantage for scientific research as well as for the patients who get faster access to pioneering treatments which are not yet available everywhere else. But the regulations to which those clinical trials are subjected are becoming increasingly stricter and more complex. Strong expertise in this domain is therefore crucial.
Both Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) and Jessa Hospital have their own Clinical Trial Unit (CTU), that is recognized for KCE Trials and that can leverage new research projects and funding. This expertise is used to carry out the LCRC research projects according to the applicable standards.
Belgium is a world leader in clinical trials. Every year, more than 500 trials are conducted in our country. This is a huge advantage for scientific research as well as for the patients who get faster access to pioneering treatments which are not yet available everywhere else. But the regulations to which those clinical trials are subjected are becoming increasingly stricter and more complex. Strong expertise in this domain is therefore crucial.
Both Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) and Jessa Hospital have their own Clinical Trial Unit (CTU), that is recognized for KCE Trials and that can leverage new research projects and funding. This expertise is used to carry out the LCRC research projects according to the applicable standards.
RELAB, Rehabilitation en Assistive Technology
RELAB is the academic innovation lab of LCRC and the faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences of Hasselt University. Through research, support and advice, specialists in musculoskeletal, neurological and geriatric rehabilitation make their expertise in technological measurement and treatment methods available to patients, companies and the healthcare sector.
Physiotherapists, doctors and specialists can refer patients with complex problems to RELAB for clinical and technological research where they will be helped with the most sophisticated sensor and camera techniques. Effective rehabilitation training can be found with the results from these different analyses.
RELAB also supports companies in their product development and validation processes; helps them with new treatments and carries out clinical trials on their behalf. Healthcare providers can turn to RELAB for customized advice on rehabilitation technology.
Do you want to read more about RELAB? Go to www.relab.eu.
RELAB is the academic innovation lab of LCRC and the faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences of Hasselt University. Through research, support and advice, specialists in musculoskeletal, neurological and geriatric rehabilitation make their expertise in technological measurement and treatment methods available to patients, companies and the healthcare sector.
Physiotherapists, doctors and specialists can refer patients with complex problems to RELAB for clinical and technological research where they will be helped with the most sophisticated sensor and camera techniques. Effective rehabilitation training can be found with the results from these different analyses.
RELAB also supports companies in their product development and validation processes; helps them with new treatments and carries out clinical trials on their behalf. Healthcare providers can turn to RELAB for customized advice on rehabilitation technology.
Do you want to read more about RELAB? Go to www.relab.eu.