Dr. Timo De Groof studied Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Ghent where he graduated in 2015. During his master's studies, he specialized in Biomedical Biotechnology and Structural Biology/Biochemistry. During his last year of studies, Timo performed research in the biopharmaceutical company Argen x and gained experience in the identification and characterization of llama-derived antibodies in inflammatory diseases and oncology.
From 2015 to 2019, he completed his Ph.D. in the Medicinal Chemistry group at VU University Amsterdam under the supervision of prof. dr. Martine Smit. During his Ph.D., Timo, together with Dr. Raimond Heukers, developed a nanobody platform within the research group and used this platform to develop nanobodies targeting viral G protein-coupled receptors with a special focus on the human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28. During his Ph.D., he used these nanobodies as research tools, to investigate different GPCR conformations, while also focusing on their therapeutic potential in oncology and transplant infectious disease.
Starting from September 2019, Timo started working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in the In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging (ICMI) group that is focused on translational/clinical applications of nanobodies. He currently is focusing on the development of nanobody-based immunotracers as part of the IMI/EFPIA project entitled "Immune Image". Moreover, he is closely involved in multiple projects where he focuses on the generation of nanobodies against "difficult-to-target" proteins. In the near future, Timo hopes to combine his previous GPCR experience with his current focus to set up his own research line focusing on translational applications of GPCR-targeting nanobodies.
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