Miikka Vikkula

Prof. Dr. Miikka Vikkula

de Duve Institute, UCLouvain, Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
orcid

Biography

Miikka Vikkula, MD, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in human and medical genetics, with more than 30 years of research at the intersection of molecular genetics, vascular biology, and rare diseases. He trained in molecular genetics at the University of Helsinki (MD–PhD), completed postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School, and later earned a second PhD at UCLouvain. In 1997, he founded his independent research group at the de Duve Institute in Brussels, where he has been a Full Member since 2004 and Full Professor of Human Genetics at UCLouvain since 2013. Professor Vikkula is a pioneer in uncovering the genetic and molecular bases of vascular and lymphatic anomalies. His discoveries identified causes of numerous inherited and sporadic vascular disorders, defined key disease entities, and clarified central pathogenic pathways, including PI3K–AKT–mTOR and RAS–MAPK signaling. A defining feature of his work is its clinical translation: his team developed disease models and contributed to multiple clinical trials, including the phase III VASE trial of sirolimus and precision-medicine studies for arteriovenous malformations. He has authored over 250 research articles, cited more than 31,000 times (H-index 88), and received major international awards. He is a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium and a Commander of the Order of Leopold.

Affiliations

UCLouvain

Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium

de Duve Institute

Honors and Awards

honor

Highly Ranked Scholar – Lifetime in the speciality of Birth Defects (2024&2025)

Scholar GPS

in recognition of exceptional productivity, noteworthy impact and quality of scholarly work in the top 0.05% of scholars in the Speciality worldwide

honor

The Black Pearl Scientific Award 2024

EURORDIS-Rare diseases Europe

award ceremony 24/2/2025 : to recognise the major achievements and outstanding commitment of scientists who strive to make a difference for the rare disease community

honor

Lifetime Achievement Award 2024

Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN)

at Gordon Research Conference on Lymphatics

honor

The Gustav R. Born Honorary Award for Research in Angiology/Vascular Medicine 2024

European Independent Foundation in Angiology / Vascular Medicine

with Prof. L. Boon

honor

The triennial international Gagna and Van Heck Prize for incurable diseases 2024

FNRS

for their contribution to a better understanding of orphan vascular diseases, and for the significant therapeutic advances they have made (with Prof. L.M. Boon)

honor

The Earl P. Benditt Award 2023

North American Vascular Biology Organisation (NAVBO), USA

recognizing an individual who has made an outstanding discovery or developed a concept that has been seminal to our understanding of vascular biology or pathology

honor

First Generet Prize 2018-2022

Fonds Roi Baudouin, Belgium

for the study of Rare Diseases

honor

rank of Commander of the Order of Leopold (2018)

by His Majesty the King Philippe of Belgium

honor

Prix du Concours ordinaire de la 1ère Section (Sciences Biomédicales) 2016

Académie Royale de Médecine

honor

INBEV-BAILLET LATOUR Clinical Research Prize 2013

Fonds Baillet Latour

with Prof. L. Boon

honor

The Lambertine-Lacroix Fundamental Sciences Prize in Cardiology 2010

FNRS

for the characterization of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vascular anomalies

honor

Eugène de Sommer Scientific Award 2006

University catholique de Louvain, Belgium

honor

Pfizer Scientific Award 2006

Pfizer, Belgium

Experience

Full Professor of Human Genetics

Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

01 Oct 2013 - present

Honorary Maître de recherche

Fund for Scientific Research, Brussels, Belgium

01 Oct 2008 - present

Member of the Directorate

de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium

01 Sep 2004 - present

Chargé de cours

Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

01 Oct 2000 - 01 Sep 2008

Associate Member

de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium

01 Apr 1997 - 01 Jan 2004

Research Associate, Department of Cell Biology

Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

01 Sep 1993 - 01 Jan 1997

MD/PhD student in Department of Human Molecular Genetics

National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

01 May 1987 - 01 Feb 1993