as she puts it, real-world impact requires more than technical solutions—it demands systems that understand, adapt, and connect.

In the latest edition of the Collaborator Spotlight, Liesbet discusses her career journey, her work with EHDEN and the Belgium National Node, what to expect from the 2025 Europe Symposium.

Can you discuss your background and career journey?

I have a Master in Bioengineering from KU Leuven (Belgium), with a major in gene technology and a minor in animal production. During my thesis, I studied the lysis mechanism of bacteriophages—how viruses kill bacteria—hoping those insights might one day help develop new types of antibiotics. My PhD focused on the genetic analysis of insect bite hypersensitivity in Belgian Warmblood horses, combining immunology, molecular and statistical genetics, and applied veterinary research. It was the start of my passion for bridging domains and working across disciplines.

After my PhD, I started a postdoc at Hasselt University, joining an immunology group to study a T-cell subset in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS). While the research was fascinating, I quickly ran into a practical challenge: accessing the data I needed was difficult and inefficient. So, I began writing code to improve the biobank’s data infrastructure. That initiative was well received, and in 2017 I received seed funding to “do something with MS data.” That moment marked a turning point. I reoriented myself fully toward real-world data science, building a research group from the ground up. Since 2020, I’ve been an assistant professor at Hasselt University, affiliated with both the Data Science Institute and the Biomedical Research Institute. My path hasn’t been linear, but it has always been driven by a clear mission: to use my talents to contribute to a healthier, more equitable world.

Your research focuses on using real-world data to impact healthcare on a personal level instead of a population level. How are you addressing some of the major obstacles you face in this research?

My research has shifted from proving that real-world data science is possible, to understanding what is needed to make it sustainable and scalable. In the past, I focused on demonstrating technical innovation—federated learning, automated feature extraction, explainable AI—often within multiple sclerosis use cases. These projects delivered promising results and showed the potential of technology when applied thoughtfully to real-world contexts.

Today, I see new challenges. Despite the rise of initiatives like EHDEN, DARWIN EU, ELIXIR and EBRAINS, many real-world data efforts still start from scratch—developing solutions that are not interoperable or reusable. My current focus is on identifying recurrent patterns across initiatives and helping align them—what I call “thinking at the level of networks of networks.” At the same time, I’m becoming increasingly invested in the sociological dimensions: what makes a system adopt or reject innovation? Through qualitative methods—focus groups, interviews—we explore what stakeholders really need, and what barriers stand in the way of broader implementation. Because real-world impact requires more than good code; it demands systems that are context-aware, adaptive, and trusted.

How did you first connect with OHDSI, and what has inspired you to become so active in the community?

I first came across the acronym “OHDSI” in 2017 during a conversation with Bart Vannieuwenhuyse (Janssen, industry lead for the European Medical Information Framework project). I was looking for support for the MS Data Alliance, and he mentioned a whole range of concepts I had never heard of—CDM, OMOP, OHDSI. I wrote everything down and spent the following days diving into the literature. The more I read, the more convinced I became: this was the way forward for real-world data reuse. I adapted the MS Data Alliance roadmap to align with OHDSI principles, hoping to serve as a bridge between the MS community and a more disease-agnostic data ecosystem.

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself very active, but the OHDSI community is something I return to often because I find it energising. Being a bridge-builder can be a lonely role—you often operate at the edge of multiple domains. But OHDSI has always felt like a welcoming place, where people think together, help each other, and genuinely care. It’s a source of support and inspiration in a world that can be complex and demanding.

You co-lead the OHDSI Belgium National Node. How important is it to build a research collaboration within your own country, and also be able to access similar nodes across Europe?

It’s absolutely crucial. I remember being very enthusiastic about the national node concept when I first heard about it. But I also remember thinking, “Yes, Belgium needs one—but I’m not going to be the one to start it.” I had so much on my plate already. Still, people from different parts of the Belgian ecosystem kept reaching out and asking when OHDSI Belgium would be launched. Eventually, Annelies Verbiest (University Hospital Antwerp) took the initiative to organise a first meeting, and I joined to support. That meeting set everything in motion. With the help of Ilse Vermeulen, our core group and the broader OHDSI Belgium community, we’ve grown organically into a strong and connected node.

What makes OHDSI Belgium special is that it’s truly bottom-up. I don’t feel like I have to constantly push it forward—there’s a shared sense of ownership and community. And the ability to connect with other nodes across Europe makes the work even more meaningful. We learn from each other, and we gain strength from being part of a bigger whole. In the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), that interconnectedness will only become more important.

You are leading the upcoming Europe Symposium at UHasselt in Belgium (July 5–7), which is titled “Join the Network: Advancing Real-World Evidence in Europe.” What do you hope people take away from the event, and why did you decide to take on this responsibility?

Above all, I hope people walk away with a sense of connection, inspiration, and joy. I want attendees to feel that the symposium was worth their time—not just intellectually, but also socially and emotionally. We’re putting effort into creating space for meaningful conversations, hands-on learning, and a bit of fun: good food, a city tour, and even a taste of our OHDSI Belgium beer.

From a content perspective, this year’s theme is all about collaboration across member states—especially timely given the recent adoption of the EHDS legislation. We believe the OHDSI community has a role to play in supporting EHDS implementation, and vice versa. I’m particularly excited about the National Nodes session and our newcomer track in the weekend, which offers a two-day bootcamp for people new to OHDSI. Hosting the symposium in Belgium was something I suggested last year, because I believe it’s important that the event travels. Empowering national nodes also means trusting them to lead. By hosting in Hasselt, we hope to inspire others to do the same—and to make OHDSI truly pan-European.

In your LinkedIn profile, you consider yourself an entrepreneur, and as somebody looking to find new ways to make the world better. Do you see that as a quality of the OHDSI community, considering it is a collection of volunteers collaborating towards better healthcare?

Absolutely. What makes OHDSI unique is the shared belief that better, more equitable healthcare is possible—and that we each have a role to play in making that happen. People contribute not because they have to, but because they want to. That entrepreneurial mindset, that sense of collective ambition, is what makes the community so powerful. It’s also why I feel so at home in it.

What are some of your hobbies, and what is one interesting thing that most community members might not know about you?

I have quite a few hobbies! I’m a proud mom of two children (12 and 10), and we share our home with two dogs—a Bernese Mountain Dog and a chihuahua—a Ragdoll cat, and a very supportive husband (he won’t mind that he comes last in this list). I’m passionate about movement and well-being: I run, swim, hike, cycle, and lift weights. I love to read—both fiction and non-fiction—and I listen to a wide variety of podcasts, on topics ranging from witchcraft and philosophy to art, personal growth, and leadership. And yes, I fully enjoy watching a bit of “nonsense TV” now and then—like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Married at First Sight Australia, or RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Self-care is something I consciously invest in, whether it’s through healthy cooking, protecting my sleep, meditating, or simply making space to create. I love drawing, painting, writing, and I even make flower pots from things I find on the street. One thing many people might not know about me: I’m fascinated by fairy tales, and I often visualize parts of my personality through symbolic, almost cartoon-like animals. For example, I see my creative side as a unicorn, my ability to do difficult-but-important tasks as a frog (hello, “eat the frog”), and my drive for personal growth as a butterfly. These characters pop up in my LinkedIn profile too—so if anyone ever wondered what they meant, now you know: I’m simply a woman with ‘many shades’.