About
At the Heart of VHH research
The VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core incorporated at VUB at the heart of the single domain camelid VHH discovery by Raymond Hamers in 1989. The NANOBODY® VHH Core, as other research groups, are located near each other and still cross-polinate technical innovations. The VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core is a reference center for VHHs and its excellence is nurtured by a devoted team of scientists internationally recognized as pioneers and major contributors to VHH technology with state-of-the-art facilities.
Our Philosophy
We achieve high quality service by extensive support to our customers. Client customization and in-depth definition of the goals are our key factors.
The best modalities for the immunization of the antigen in question are used and the antigen is kept in the best possible shape during the panning and screening stages. Additional support is provided on how to best express, re-clone, purify and use the generated single domain camelid VHHs to obtain the goals. We deliver a new set of VHHs and provide the support to make the VHHs successful!
Our history
The VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core was founded by the internationally reputed group which discovered the camelid heavy-chain antibodies and developed the VHH technology, and has contributed over 400 VHH-related peer-reviewed publications in high ranking journals and the establishment of several biotech companies.
Spinoff: Ablynx
In November 2001, Ablynx was established as a spin-off of the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and the Free University of Brussels (VUB).
Foundation of VIB NANOBODY® Service Facility
single domain camelid VHHs were recognized as a revolutionary discovery in the antibody field that VIB wants to make available to all its groups.
VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core opens up VHH services to everyone
The VIB NANOBODY® Service Facility morphs into the VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core and opens up it's doors to everyone needing VHH services: VIB labs, Academics from universities and Biotech companies. Our clients come from all over the world, from the USA to China.
Spinoff: Confo Therapeutics
Confo Therapeutics was spun out of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and VIB in 2015. Supported by international life-science focused investors and led by an experienced team of entrepreneurial professionals and scientists from successful biopharmaceutical companies, Confo Therapeutics benefits from the rich scientific and innovative ecosystem in Belgium.
Patented VHH solution for VHH serum half-life extension
An anti-serum albumin VHH was developed with a good affinity for mouse, human, rat, cyno- and rhesus monkey serum albumin. It has excellent properties such as good expression yields, high solubility and stability and not interfering with the natural ligands of serum albumin. Available for licensing.