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.
UCLouvain
Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
de Duve Institute
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
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
Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN)
at Gordon Research Conference on Lymphatics
The Gustav R. Born Honorary Award for Research in Angiology/Vascular Medicine 2024
European Independent Foundation in Angiology / Vascular Medicine
with Prof. L. Boon
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)
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
First Generet Prize 2018-2022
Fonds Roi Baudouin, Belgium
for the study of Rare Diseases
rank of Commander of the Order of Leopold (2018)
by His Majesty the King Philippe of Belgium
Prix du Concours ordinaire de la 1ère Section (Sciences Biomédicales) 2016
Académie Royale de Médecine
INBEV-BAILLET LATOUR Clinical Research Prize 2013
Fonds Baillet Latour
with Prof. L. Boon
The Lambertine-Lacroix Fundamental Sciences Prize in Cardiology 2010
FNRS
for the characterization of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vascular anomalies
Eugène de Sommer Scientific Award 2006
University catholique de Louvain, Belgium
Pfizer Scientific Award 2006
Pfizer, Belgium
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