Lien De Somer

Professor Lien De Somer, MD, PhD, is a leading expert in pediatric rheumatology, serving as a staff member in the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology and General Pediatrics at University Hospital Leuven, Belgium. She specializes in pediatric immune-inflammatory diseases, transplantation immunology, and autoimmune disorders, contributing to advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for children with complex immune conditions.

Prof. De Somer earned her medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Leuven, followed by an interuniversity degree in pediatric rheumatology at the University of Paris Descartes, France. She completed a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris and University Hospital Leuven, refining her expertise in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases affecting children.

Since 2015, she has been actively involved in clinical practice and research, integrating translational immunology with pediatric rheumatology. She pursued a PhD in biomedical science, focusing on transplantation immunology, ensuring that children with immune-related disorders receive specialized, evidence-based care. Her current research involves collaborations with the Laboratory of Immunobiology at the Rega Institute and the Genetics of Autoimmunity team at Leuven University, studying genetics, cytokine pathways, and immune signaling in pediatric inflammatory diseases.

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