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The central dogma of biology goes as follows: genetic information flows from DNA to RNA via transcription, and from RNA to protein via translation. That’s it. This is the fundamental framework for molecular biology. But, this central dogma overlooks an important layer: molecules used in, and resulting from, metabolism, known as metabolites. While genes and proteins provide the blueprint and machinery of life, metabolites represent the chemical activities occurring inside cells at any given moment.

In short: Researchers led by Prof. Ive De Smet (VIB-UGent) discovered a molecular mechanism that helps plants stay cool during heat stress by keeping their natural cooling system active. The study, published in Nature Plants, identifies the protein UBP24 as a key regulator that helps leaf pores (stomata) remain open, allowing plants to cool themselves through evaporation.

Planten kunnen niet wegtrekken naar een koelere plek wanneer het warm wordt. Daarom zijn ze afhankelijk van slimme biologische systemen om oververhitting te voorkomen. Een van hun belangrijkste verdedigingsmechanismen zijn de huidmondjes: kleine openingen in het bladoppervlak. Wanneer de temperatuur stijgt, kunnen deze poriën zich openen. Daardoor verdampt water uit het blad, wat voor verkoeling zorgt. Dat werkt vergelijkbaar met zweten bij mensen.

Thirty years later, Melinda can look back on a career that has spanned VIB's entire history, from its earliest pioneering days to the internationally recognized innovation organization it is today. When Melinda applied for an executive assistant position at VIB, there were no guarantees. The institute had funding for five years, but few could predict what the future beyond that would hold. Yet the opportunity to help build something new appealed to her.

A cancer cell escaping therapy. A yeast cell revealing the secrets of gene regulation. A poplar tree engineered without introducing foreign DNA. At first glance, these discoveries seem to have little in common. Yet they are all connected by the same revolutionary technology: CRISPR, or – big breath – Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

In short: Single-cell study by VIB-UGent researchers led by Prof. Sofie Goormachtig reveals how tomato roots respond to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Gene activity was mapped in nearly 66,000 individual root cells colonized by the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The researchers identified four successive stages of fungal colonization and nutrient-exchange development. These insights could help develop crops that use nutrients more efficiently and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

Ghent, 11 August 2026 – Every day, billions of cells in our body die and are removed as part of normal tissue maintenance. This continuous clean-up process is essential for keeping the immune system in balance and preventing harmful immune reactions against healthy tissues. Researchers at VIB and Ghent University have now discovered that a protein best known for sensing cellular stress also acts as a cholesterol sensor in specialized immune cells.

Leuven, 05 augustus 2026 – Onderzoekers van VIB en KU Leuven hebben ontdekt hoe kankercellen die zich verspreiden naar de lever erin slagen om aan het immuunsysteem te ontsnappen. De studie toont aan dat uitgezaaide kankercellen gebruik maken van een vetzuur dat van nature aanwezig is in de lever om een belangrijke verdedigingslinie van het lichaam uit te schakelen.

Leuven, 05 August 2026 – Liver metastases are among the most common and deadly forms of cancer spread. Now, researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, with international collaborators, have discovered how cancer cells exploit a fatty acid abundant in the liver to evade destruction by the immune system. By disrupting this process, the researchers restored the cancer-fighting activity of immune cells called neutrophils and reduced metastatic growth.

Among other things, biotechnology is helping to create more sustainable food systems, reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture, and develop innovative bio-based materials. Yet scientific breakthroughs alone do not guarantee societal impact. Even the most promising innovations can fail if the people they are designed to benefit do not trust or accept them.