Current projects

Nathalie Verbruggen coordinates the FNRS-PDR T.0085.16 « Plant nutrition and circadian clock » (2016-2020) and the FNRS-PDR T.0206.13 "Analysis of metal hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance in Arabidopsis halleri» (2013-2017)

Project : « Investigating the role of post-translational modifications in cadmium tolerance and accumulation in the metal hyper-accumulator Arabidopsis halleri”. University of Grenoble (France) / LPGMP , ULB . Fondation Rovaltin - Programme de Recherche en Toxicologie Environnementale et Ecotoxicologie (2016-2018)

Bilateral Scientific Cooperation/ exchange agreements :
-University of Lodz ,Poland (FNRS/PAN)
-University of Tokyo, Japan (FNRS/JSPS)
-University of Silesia, Poland (ERASMUS)

International collaborations

Stephan CLEMENS

Stéphane RAVANEL

University of Grenoble (France) - Collaborative Project funded by the Rovaltin Foundation (2016-2018)

Milord SHUTCHA
Francine ILYNGA KABEYA

Faculté d’Agronomie de l’Université de Lubumbashi, République démocratique du Congo

David SALT

Eugeniusz MALKOWSKI

Michal JURANIEC

University of Silesia, Katowice , Poland (Bilateral Erasmus Agreement)

Assistant Professor, University of Lodz,Poland. F.R.S.-FNRS /Polish Academy of Sciences (Polska Akademia Nauk, PAN). Project « Melatonin impact on root growth ». Bilateral Scientific Cooperation (2017-2019)

Matsuko KOBAYASHI

Assistant Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan. F.R.S.-FNRS / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Project « Developing synergistic research activities to decipher mechanisms of magnesium homeostasis in plants", Bilateral Scientific Cooperation (2017-2019)

National collaborations

Lieven DE VEYLDER

Didier GONZE
Jean-Christophe LELOUP

International networks

Nominations

  • Nathalie Verbruggen has been nominated as ITC CG Coordinator CA19116 on 20th of October of 2020.
  • Nathalie Verbruggen has been nominated as MC Vice-Chair CA19116 on 12th of October of 2020.

PLANTMETALS - A new COST Action bringing together 110 labs from 30 countries launched 

Metals in plants - this is the issue that will be jointly tackled by experts from one hundred and ten laboratories from 30 European countries. A new project "TRACE METAL METABOLISM IN PLANTS (PLANTMETALS)" was launched in October, bringing together biologists, (bio)physicists, (bio-geo)chemists, molecular geneticists, ecologists, agronomists and soil scientists to produce not only new insights into plant functioning, but also to propose innovations for agriculture, crop production and breeding, as well as environmental protection. The project is funded by the European COST Association (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) will be implemented for a period of four years.

The new PLANTMETALS COST Action will provide international and interdisciplinary exchange of experience. Thus the Action will organise scientific conferences and workshops are planned as well as establishing new opportunities for cooperation during internships and scientific exchanges. It is also important that beside basic research scientists, applied research experts and industry partners are involved in the project. Disseminating research results and translating them to the needs of farmers and consumers to practical application in agriculture and other sectors is the common goal of the Action. Practical innovations may include, for example, better targeted fertilization, crop cultivar breeding, critical evaluation of the benefits and risks of genetically modified plants, more effective estimation of ecological risks and, last but not least, phytoremediation tools, ie the use of plants to remove toxic metals from polluted soils and water resources.

Chair: Hendrik Kupper, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Vice-Chair: Nathalie Verbruggen, Faculty of Sciences, Unievrsité libre de Bruxelles, Belgique

CNRS financed International Research Network (GDRI)

CNRS financed International Research Network (GDRI) : LOCOMET (Transport, localization and complexation of metals in hyperaccumulating plants) (2012-2015 ; 2016-2019)