Curious about the course of the investigation? We totally understand that.
On this page, you can read the broad outlines of the course of Isala. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter or follow Isala on social media for even more updates!
A more concrete idea
Sarah Lebeer submits a research proposal to the European Research Council (ERC) for groundbreaking research into lactobacilli’s useful role (Lacto-Be). This proposal aims to analyze lactobacilli in 1000 samples from the skin and the vagina for the first time. Therefore our citizen science expertise will have to be expanded much further. She has previously conducted citizen research on fermented roots and healthy bacteria in the nose.
Sarah Ahannach starts her PhD
Another Sarah will join our research group. Sarah Ahannach is passionate about Women’s Health and is very passionate about researching the vaginal microbiome.
We see it bigger
Within Sarah Lebeer’s research group, the idea is growing further to focus more on creating ‘awareness’ around women’s vaginal health and breaking the associated taboos for the new citizen research into vaginal lactobacilli.
The scientific basis of our research is further developed
We do a lot of literature study, brainstorms, experiments, and analyses to prepare the research design. We gradually know what we want to measure and how we want to involve participants actively!
Eline Oerlemans is receiving her PhD
During her Ph.D., she studied the importance of the vaginal microbiome. Interest within our research group is growing: we have to work on this!
June 2019: This is the first time we sit down with our communications agency, Studio Maria
We are looking for 200 women who want to provide very intimate samples. Will this work?
Defend project in Europe
Sarah Lebeer may defend the entire research design of lactobacilli’s useful role for the ERC (European Research Council).
Greenlight from Europe
We are getting good news from Europe; the broader research project has been approved, so Isala can now really start. There is a certainty that there will be a budget to analyze the samples. Isala must continue to look for funds to set up the complete citizen research.
Our research is given a name and a logo
We choose Isala. A tribute to Isala Van Diest, the first female doctor in Belgium. We dare to choose a fun, eye-catching logo, panties.
Swabs, swabs, swabs!
We conduct numerous tests. Which type of swab is most suitable for our research? What points of attention are there for transport and storage? Which analysis technique gives the best results?
Approaching stakeholders and writing files
You don’t do such a major citizen investigation alone, and there is a lot involved. We write files for the ethics committee, seek funding, and approach partners and stakeholders. Europe looks at all ethical and privacy aspects of our research.
The scientific and communicative dots on the i
We take our time for thorough preparation, both the scientific side of the research and the communication, because this is also crucial in citizen research. So we are conducting a pilot study with about twenty women. Is everything clear? Are all of their swabs usable for analysis?
First Isala Advisory Board
We provide an update on the study to all partners in Isala and ask for their advice.
Almost finished!
We are working hard on the website and all communication materials for launching the search for 200 women.
Women’s day
Everything was ready to launch on this symbolic day, but there it was, COVID-19.
Wanted: 200 vagina’s
Despite the corona crisis, we decide to launch our search for 200 participants. Few hours later, we have already achieved that goal. Wow!
A proud ambassador
Evi Hanssen, a famous Belgian TV presenter, helps break the taboo around vaginal health and proudly poses in our lab
Massive enthusiasm
We are blown away by the success. As many as 5,528 women responded to our call. We close our launch phase with a smile.
Adjusting the research
The massive response offers many new possibilities. We decide to adjust our research completely. We will invite all women to take two vaginal samples. Everyone is given a lengthy questionnaire to complete. Again we are happy!
Busy times
We are changing everything and working very hard in our lab to get all the scientific material ready for this new research phase. All communication must also be adjusted and adapted. Suddenly, thousands of women will take two swabs instead of 200 participants in a long-term study…
You can also support Isala financially
The University Fund includes Isala. It is now possible to donate and support our research.
Get rid of the taboo!
We’re making an important addition to our blog page, adding the scientific answers to our Isala kit conversation starters.
Isala kits leave …
More than 4,150 kits from Isala were sent. We invite all women to take samples. Our social media exploded thanks to countless tags and stories.
… And return
The samples are pouring in. This citizen science project is a great success. We have received samples from 3332 women! Now to start the analyses!
Preparation in our lab
We welcome robot Rey, who will help us process all samples, fortunately, because there is a lot of work.
Ready for phase two
Based on a complex scientific algorithm, we have selected 500 women eligible for the second phase of our research. We consult intensively about this with biostatisticians and other scientists. Using several swabs over two cycles, we want to learn even more about the influence of birth control, hormones, nutrition, and personal hygiene on the vaginal microbiome. We even hope to collect data to help with a breakthrough in forensics.
The large Isala kits are shipped
In the end, we choose 275 women. They received the pink, large Isala kit in their Postal box. They were asked to take swabs from their skin, vagina and saliva.
The analyses continue
These are super exciting weeks at our lab. The DNA analysis of all swabs continues, and we are busy checking hypotheses and writing history. By Friday, October 30, we had already examined 1,526 samples, keeping up the hard work!
The samples from phase 2 are pouring in
Now we investigate the dynamics of the vaginal microbiome in 275 women. They also donate three skin samples and one saliva sample.
Isala goes international! Get to know Laura in Peru!
We will study the vaginal microbiome in Peru’s Amazon and Coastal regions! We are working in collaboration with Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia.
The first birthday of the Isala project
Hip hip hoeray, today Isala turned 1 years young! Without you all and our great research team we would never made it this far. Honestly, we can never express it enough: thank you very much!
At full throttle
The lab is still running at full capacity. We continue analyzing swabs and also growing bacteria. And for the very first time in our lab, we managed to isolate Lactobacillus iners. This could really be a milestone for further research on this common vaginal bacteria
A wealth of data
Thanks to more than 3300 women who participated in the first research phase of Isala, we have a wealth of data. We have many intensive consultations with microbiologist, doctors, statisticians, and communication specialists. Together we make the right choices to inform our participants about their individual results.
Almost…
We are almost ready to share a year of hard work with the world. We like to pamper Isala’s participants, so we are working hard to combine our lab work with the preparations for communication to the general public, scientist and of course our participants.
Fortunately, Isala can count on a fantastic team!
The first results arrived!
Discover here what we have already learned about the vaginal microbiome in Flanders
The science communication price
Isala has received a price and not just any: The science communication price of the Young Academy and the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Art
Welcome Leonore and Caroline!
Two new PhD students are joining the Isala team! Leonore will investigate the interactions between vaginal bacteria and the influence of underwear fabrics on the microbiome. Caroline wants to explore the beneficial impact of vitamin producing lactobacilli in the human body. Welcome to the team!
Presentation on the international ISIDOG conference
Isala goes international! Sarah Lebeer and Sarah Ahannach were invited speakers to present on the vaginal microbiome on the international conference for gynaecologists ISIDOG in Budapest, Hongarije.
The first samples of the Laura project
The Laura project receives the first vaginal samples! Thanks all Peruvian women that have donated vaginal samples and the researchers that are enthousiastically working on the project.
Marie project
After the Laura project, a second sister project is born, this time in Switzerland: the Marie project. Follow it here for more info!
Preprint of the first Isala phase manuscript
All the hard work has paid of and there is a scientific article in preprint! You can find it here.
In Brussels for the Belgian Society of Microbiology Symposium 2022
The team has presented the Isala project on BSM2022 with several poster presentations. Sarah Ahannach even received a price for best poster!
2 years of Isala
Isala is officially a 2-year-old toddler and even has two sisters: Marie and Laura! Really, everyone involved, a huge thank you!
Almost done! (Second phase of Isala)
We have received all Isala samples from the Isala longitudinal phase and are almost ready to share the first results with all of you.
Camille Allonsius joined the Isala team
Camille finished her PhD on women’s health in 2019 with Sarah Lebeer as promotor and is very excited to join the Isala team.
Presentation of Isala to microbiome pioneers in Sweden
Sarah Lebeer was invited to present Isala to the researchers of CTMR at Karolinska Institut in Sweden & some famous microbiome pioneers: Jeff Gordon, Martin Blaser, Maria Gloia Bello Dominguez, Fredrik Backhed, Tore Midvedt, Phil Bennet, David MacIntyre, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, …
Another scientific Isala publication!
This time about a specific bacteria that is able to produce vitamin B2. You can find the paper here.
The Isala team was in Barcelona at the international ISAPP conference
Sarah Lebeer had the opportunity to present the Isala project on THE ‘international scientific association of probiotics and prebiotics’ (ISAPP) in Barcelona, and invited researchers all over the world to start their own sisterhood.
Together with Soapbox Science we went to the streets of brussels
Sarah Ahannach went together with Soapbox Science to the streets of Brussels to talk about the microbiome, vaginal health and Isala with passing people. Read all about it in her blog.
Meet the Isala team
They have worked on Isala in the background, each of them did their part and so they clearly deserved their place on the teams page. You can find the updated teams page here.
Our new results are out!
We have some new insights into the vaginal bacterial community from the second part of the Isala project. You can find more information here.
Two more interesting vaginal bacteria were added
Last year, we shared eight bacterial passports with you. We now found that two other bacteria also deserve a passport. Read more about the Anaerococcus and Limosilactobacillus here.
Thank you Eline Oerlemans for all your hard work on the Isala project!
Eline Oerlemans worked on the Isala project since the very start but will now take on a new professional challenge. We want to thank her for all her hard work for Isala, thank you Eline!
Prijs Stichting Antoine Faes
This year’s prize from the Antoine Faes Foundation focused on microbiology (Good and bad microorganisms). We are very proud that the Isala team led by Sarah Lebeer, together with the intestinal microbiome team of Jeroen Raes, received this prize. Microbiome research is big in Flanders!
Welcome Isabel & Inas
Two new PhD students are joining the Isala team! Isabel, who you might know from her previous blog posts, will investigate the link of the vaginal microbiome with food. Inas on the other hand will try to improve diagnosis of endometriosis. Welcome to the team!
Isala present on the Science Day
Over 30,000 visitors, large and small, were welcomed at various locations, such as universities, museums and companies. The University of Antwerp also opened the doors of her city campus for a major science festival. Of course, we were delighted to attend. There was certainly no lack of enthusiasm!
First Isala symposium
Big news! Our very first Isala event happened! During this event, many well-known experts gave a scientific lecture on a saga of topics related to vaginal health. We are still savoring its memory 😊 It was definitely a big success as we can conclude from the many positive reactions of those present. And for sure we want more of this in the near future…
Isala is celebrating its third birthday with some new results
It is Isala’s third birthday! One big party! As a present from us to you, we share brand new results abour the intimate microbiome. Wondering which bacteria live on different skin sites and in saliva? Check it on our website!