Elsa Lauwers

Elsa Lauwers is a Belgian scientist trained as a molecular biologist at the University of Brussels (ULB). Her main research interests are protein homeostasis and membrane biology. After investigating the intracellular trafficking of amino acid transporters in the budding yeast, she joined the laboratory of Patrik Verstreken at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research (CBD) in 2009. There she combined genetics and biochemical assays to identify the machinery controlling the turnover of synaptic proteins. With her colleagues, she uncovered a novel role for chaperones in targeting synaptic proteins for lysosomal degradation or extracellular release via exosomes.

In 2018, Elsa established the Collaborative Research expertise unit at the CBD. In this position, she supported researchers with grant applications, fund raising, data management and bioethics. She also helped coordinate large working groups, for example in the context of the EU project “LifeTime Initiative” or in Mission Lucidity, a collaboration platform between VIB, KU Leuven, UZ Leuven and imec.

Elsa joined the start-up Paleo as Chief Scientific Officer in 2021. Paleo reverse-engineers high-value ingredients for meat and fish alternatives using microbial cell factories. With a growing R&D team of microbiologists, bioengineers, food scientists and regulatory scientists, Elsa is proud to contribute to developing safe, ethical, and sustainable food that meets the needs of future generations.