• Prof. Laure Elens

CV

Prof. Laure Elens is a Professor of Pharmacokinetics at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences of UCLouvain in Brussels, where she conducts research at the Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI). Her research focuses on understanding interindividual variability in drug response, with a particular emphasis on host-related factors. She investigates how gut microbiota, pharmacogenetic variations (such as polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and targets), comedications (acting as enzyme or transporter modulators), and other host-related determinants influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. While her work is particularly centered on immunosuppressive therapies, it also extends to antiretroviral, anticancer, antibiotic, and statin treatments. By integrating clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, and systems pharmacokinetics, Prof. Elens aims to advance personalized medicine in transplantation and beyond.

ABSTRACT

Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiome and Immunosuppressive Drugs in Kidney Transplantation

 

In kidney transplantation, achieving optimal immunosuppression while minimizing toxicity and rejection remains a major challenge. Emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiome as a key host factor influencing drug disposition and therapeutic outcomes. This talk will explore the dynamic interplay between gut microbial communities and immunosuppressive drugs, focusing on agents such as tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Prof. Laure Elens will present data illustrating how microbial composition and activity can modulate drug metabolism, absorption, and enterohepatic recycling, thereby contributing to interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The role of microbial enzymes, such as β-glucuronidases, and microbial-derived metabolites will be discussed and the complexity of host-drug-microbiome interactions will be highlighted. By integrating clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, and microbiome science, this presentation aims to shed light on novel strategies for personalizing immunosuppressive therapy in transplant recipients. Ultimately, understanding these interactions may pave the way for microbiome-informed therapeutic monitoring approaches, enabling better control of immunosuppression and potentially improving long-term transplant outcomes.