Professor Dr Karin Haustermans

Research Priorities: Gastrointestinal oncology, radiotherapy, personalised radiotherapy, translational research, functional imaging, proton therapy, cancer registry
Karin Haustermans is a Belgian medical expert. Her research focuses primarily on gastrointestinal oncology and uro-oncology. In particular, she develops methods for cancer treatment, above all proton therapy. She leads clinical studies in which targeted molecular agents are combined with radiation therapy. Karin Haustermans has significantly helped optimise radiation therapy by improving precision and efficacy while simultaneously reducing side effects.
Interdisciplinary diagnostics and treatments are especially important when it comes to cancer. Karin Haustermans takes a translational and multidisciplinary approach to her research in order to allow new scientific insights to directly inform medical treatment. The studies she leads make it possible, among other things, to test new approaches to radiotherapy as well as combining various treatment methods. For example, her team investigates the integration of chemotherapy and radiation as well as the synergies between radiotherapy and immunotherapy to boost the immune response against tumours.
She and her team use innovative procedures to investigate biomarkers that make it possible to tailor radiotherapy to individual patients, enhancing treatment precision and effectiveness. Another feature of this personalised approach involves developing models to predict treatment outcomes and adapt therapy plans in a dynamic manner. The team also explores the potential of proton therapy, which, thanks to its high precision, spares healthy tissue, as well as optimised photon therapy in order to maximise the therapeutic impact. By reducing side effects and increasing efficacy, her work directly improves the quality of life and survival rates for cancer patients.
Another focus concerns organ preservation in the case of digestive oncology. In light of the fact that some patients respond very well to radiation therapy, which means an operation is not necessary, she seeks optimal treatment plans and strategies for organ preservation.
Furthermore, Karin Haustermans promotes training and support for future radio-oncology specialists and works to ensure fair access to the latest therapies all over the world.