Functional neuroimaging serves as the primary tool for Steven Laureys to investigate the biological markers of consciousness. Born in 1968 in Leuven, Belgium, he established a specialized clinical and research practice focused on patients exhibiting altered states of awareness, including those in vegetative or minimally conscious states, as well as individuals experiencing locked-in syndrome.
Academic and Medical Training
Laureys completed his medical degree at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 1993. He achieved board certification in neurology in 1998, followed by a subsequent certification in end-of-life and palliative medicine in 2004. His transition into research began with an MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine in 1997, where he studied stroke and pain mechanisms using diffusion MRI and microdialysis. In 2000, he earned his PhD from the University of Liège, focusing his doctoral research on residual brain functions in vegetative state patients.
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Based at the Cyclotron Research Centre at the University of Liège, Laureys leads the Coma Science Group. His research team utilizes multimodal imaging techniques to measure neuronal plasticity and recovery in patients suffering from severe brain injuries. By integrating data from positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, structural MRI, electroencephalography, event-related potentials, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, he characterizes the architecture of human consciousness. These diagnostics assist in managing clinical challenges related to the prognosis and treatment of patients trapped in unresponsive states.
Professional Appointments and Recognition
Beyond his tenure as a clinical professor of neurology at Liège University Hospital, Laureys holds the position of Research Director at the National Fund for Scientific Research, a role held since 2012. He serves as an invited professor at the Royal Academy of Belgium and chairs research groups within the World Federation of Neurology and the European Neurological Society. His contributions to neuroscience have been acknowledged with the Francqui Prize in 2017, the title of honorary citizen of Liège in 2017, and the Generet Award in 2019.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, Leuven, Belgium
- Primary Field: Neurology of consciousness
- Education: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Liège
- Francqui Prize recipient: 2017
- Generet Award recipient: 2019
- Languages spoken: French, English, Dutch
- Research affiliation: Coma Science Group, University of Liège
- Specialization: Palliative care and neurology
Questions readers ask
What medical conditions does Steven Laureys study?
He researches altered states of consciousness, including coma, the vegetative state, the minimally conscious state, and locked-in syndrome.
What methods does his team use to study brain function?
The team employs multimodal imaging such as PET, fMRI, structural MRI, EEG, ERP, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Achievements
- Francqui Prize — 2017
- Held posts at University of Liège, Laval University and National Fund for Scientific Research
- Fields: neurology, consciousness and palliative care
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