Latest news with #Leuven
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
The Belgian lab shaping modern soccer's data revolution
If you hope to grasp why modern soccer looks the way it does, or the long strides we've made recently in understanding how it actually functions, it helps to know about what's been happening at one of the world's oldest universities, in Belgium. That's where you'll find the Sports Analytics Lab at the Catholic University of Leuven, headed up by Jesse Davis, a Wisconsinite computer science professor. Davis grew up going to basketball and football games at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and didn't discover soccer until college, during the 2002 World Cup. When he was hired in Leuven in 2010 to research machine learning, data mining and artificial intelligence, a band of sports-besotted colleagues brought him back to soccer. Before long, Davis was supervising a stable of post-docs, PhD and master's students working on soccer data. The richness and complexity of the data lent itself well to the study of AI. The work they produced, and made available to anyone through open-source analytics tools, substantially advanced the science behind the sport, and changed the way some clubs thought about playing. It may also serve as an example of how funding university research can benefit the public, including the businesses working within the field being studied; a potential parable for the value of academia at a time when it is being squeezed from all sides. In the early days of the analytics movement in sports, it was broadly believed that soccer didn't lend itself very well to advanced statistical analysis because it was too fluid. Unlike baseball, or basketball, or gridiron football, it couldn't be broken down very easily into a series of discrete actions that could be counted and assigned some sort of value. Its most measurable action, shots, and therefore goals, make up a tiny fraction of the events in a given game, presenting a problem for quantifying each player's contributions – especially in the many positions where players tend not to shoot at all. But while soccer was slow to adapt and adopt analytics, it got there eventually. Most big clubs now have an extensive data department, and there's now a disproportionately large genre of (eminently readable) books on this fairly esoteric subject. The Sports Analytics Lab published its findings on the optimal areas for taking long shots or asking whether, in some situations, it's more efficient to boot the ball long and out of bounds than to build out of the back. Some of those papers carried inscrutably academic-y titles like 'A Bayesian Approach to In-Game Win Probability' or 'Analyzing Learned Markov Decision Processes Using Model Checking for Providing Tactical Advice in Professional Soccer.' Wisely, they also published a blog that broke all of it down in layperson's terms. This fresh research led to collaborations with data analysts at clubs such as Red Bull Leipzig, Club Brugge and the German and United States federations. The lab also worked with its local pro club, Oud-Heverlee Leuven and the Belgian federation. But what's curious is that a decade and a half on, Davis and his team, which numbers about 10 at any given time, are still doing industry-leading and paradigm-altering research, like its recent work fine-tuning how ball possession is valued. Now that the sport, at the top end, has fully embraced analytics and baked it into everything it does, you would expect it to outpace and then sideline the outsiders, as has happened in other sports. But it didn't. 'Elite sport, and not just soccer, has an intense focus on what comes next,' says Davis. 'This is particularly true because careers are so fleeting both for players and staff. Consequently, the fact that you may not be around tomorrow does not foster the desire to take risks on projects that, A, may or may not work out or, B, will yield something useful but not in the next six-to-nine months.' There is innovative work being done within soccer clubs that the outside world doesn't get to see, because what would be the point of sharing all that hard-won insight? The incentives of professional sports strains against the scientific process, which values taking risks and tinkering endlessly with the design of experiments, none of which might yield anything of use. What's more, it requires highly skilled practitioners, who can be tricky and pricey to recruit. The payoff of that investment may be limited. And if it arrives at all, the output of that work may not necessarily help a team win games, especially in the short term. Meanwhile, most of the low-hanging soccer analytics fruit – like shot value, or which types of passes produce the most danger – has already been picked. What remains are far more complicated problems like tracking data and how to make sense of it. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion You may find, for instance, that while expected goal models have become pretty good at quantifying and tabulating the chances a team created over the course of a game, they do not work well in putting a number on a certain striker's finishing ability because of biases in the training data. Yes. Sure. Great. But now what? What are Brentford (or his potential new club Manchester United) supposed to do with the knowledge that Bryan Mbeumo's Premier League-leading xG overperformance of +7.7 – that is, Mbeumo's expected goals from the quality of his scoring chances was 12.3, but he actually scored 20 times this past season – doesn't actually suggest that he was the best or most efficient finisher in the Premier League? What's more, when a club does turn up a useful tidbit, they have to find a way to not only implement that finding, but to track it over the long term. That means building some sort of system to accommodate it, which entails data engineering and software programming. On the club side, this kind of work can take up much, or most, of the labor in analytics work. 'For some of the deep learning models to work with tracking data takes months to code for exceptional programmers,' says Davis. 'Building and maintaining this is a big upfront cost that does not yield immediate wins. This is followed by a cost to maintain the infrastructure.' Academics, on the other hand, have less time pressure and can move on to some new idea if a project doesn't work out or there is simply no more new knowledge to be gained from it. 'I don't have to worry about setting up data pipelines, building interactive dashboards, processing things in real time, etc,' says Davis. The research itself is the point. The understanding that issues from it is the end, not the means. And then everybody else benefits from this intellectual progress. There may be a useful lesson in this for how a federal government, say, may consider the value of investing in scientific inquiry. Leander Schaerlaeckens is at work on a book about the United States men's national soccer team, out in 2026. He teaches at Marist University.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Augustine Therapeutics announces first patient dosed in Phase I clinical trial evaluating lead candidate AGT-100216 for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
AGT-100216 is the first HDAC6 inhibitor from Augustine's pipeline to enter clinical trials LEUVEN, Belgium – 27 May 2025– Augustine Therapeutics NV ('Augustine' or 'the Company'), a biotechnology company focused on developing new therapies for neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through the inhibition of the cytosolic Histone DeACetylase 6 (HDAC6) enzyme, today announces it has dosed the first patient in its Phase I clinical trial evaluating lead candidate AGT-100216, the first peripherally-restricted, selective HDAC6 inhibitor (HDAC6i) for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The Phase I trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human trial, designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and exploratory pharmacodynamics of oral AGT-100216 in healthy adult volunteers. The trial is a combined two-part study evaluating single ascending and multiple ascending doses of AGT-100216. Gerhard Koenig, PhD, CEO of Augustine, said: 'The initiation of our first clinical trial is a major milestone for Augustine. Decades of research have validated the therapeutic potential of HDAC6 as a target but efforts to drug it to date have been sub-optimal. Augustine is developing a new generation of HDAC6 inhibitors, like AGT-100216, with a unique mechanism of action shown to be selective, safe and effective in pre-clinical trials. Having recently raised EUR 78 million / USD 85 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing round, and with a strengthened management team, the Company is entering a new stage of growth. We are well positioned to progress AGT-100216 through clinical development for CMT and to also advance our pipeline of next-generation HDAC6 inhibitors in significant cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.' Media Contacts: Augustine TherapeuticsGerhard Koenig, CEOE-mail: info@ ICR Healthcare Amber Fennell, Ashley TappE-mail: augustinetx@ About Augustine Therapeutics Augustine Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through its next-generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6. Augustine's HDAC6 inhibitors have been purposefully designed to selectively inhibit HDAC6 while preserving its beneficial non-catalytic functions. Augustine's lead program, AGT-100216, is the first selective HDAC6 inhibitor for long-term treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. With its novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype, Augustine's HDAC6 approach is selective, avoids the limitations of other chemotypes, and built for chronic diseases. With this novel approach, the Company will also be targeting diseases beyond CMT, including neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases. Augustine Therapeutics was founded on the ground-breaking research of Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven in Belgium. The Company raised an oversubscribed EUR 78 million / USD 85 million Series A financing round in March 2025, led by Novo Holdings and Jeito Capital and supported by Asabys Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, AdBio partners, V-Bio Ventures, PMV, VIB, Gemma Frisius Fund, the US-based Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation and Newton Biocapital. For more information visit About Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseaseCharcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary peripheral neuropathies characterized by progressive distal nerve damage, primarily affecting the feet, legs, hands, and arms. The disorder damages peripheral nerves, causing muscle weakness, loss of sensation and other disabling symptoms. CMT is the most common inherited neuromuscular disorder with an estimated frequency of 1 in 2,500 people worldwide and there are currently no approved cures while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Augustine Therapeutics announces first patient dosed in Phase I clinical trial evaluating lead candidate AGT-100216 for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
AGT-100216 is the first HDAC6 inhibitor from Augustine's pipeline to enter clinical trials LEUVEN, Belgium – 27 May 2025– Augustine Therapeutics NV ('Augustine' or 'the Company'), a biotechnology company focused on developing new therapies for neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through the inhibition of the cytosolic Histone DeACetylase 6 (HDAC6) enzyme, today announces it has dosed the first patient in its Phase I clinical trial evaluating lead candidate AGT-100216, the first peripherally-restricted, selective HDAC6 inhibitor (HDAC6i) for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The Phase I trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human trial, designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and exploratory pharmacodynamics of oral AGT-100216 in healthy adult volunteers. The trial is a combined two-part study evaluating single ascending and multiple ascending doses of AGT-100216. Gerhard Koenig, PhD, CEO of Augustine, said: 'The initiation of our first clinical trial is a major milestone for Augustine. Decades of research have validated the therapeutic potential of HDAC6 as a target but efforts to drug it to date have been sub-optimal. Augustine is developing a new generation of HDAC6 inhibitors, like AGT-100216, with a unique mechanism of action shown to be selective, safe and effective in pre-clinical trials. Having recently raised EUR 78 million / USD 85 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing round, and with a strengthened management team, the Company is entering a new stage of growth. We are well positioned to progress AGT-100216 through clinical development for CMT and to also advance our pipeline of next-generation HDAC6 inhibitors in significant cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.' Media Contacts: Augustine TherapeuticsGerhard Koenig, CEOE-mail: info@ ICR Healthcare Amber Fennell, Ashley TappE-mail: augustinetx@ About Augustine Therapeutics Augustine Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through its next-generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6. Augustine's HDAC6 inhibitors have been purposefully designed to selectively inhibit HDAC6 while preserving its beneficial non-catalytic functions. Augustine's lead program, AGT-100216, is the first selective HDAC6 inhibitor for long-term treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. With its novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype, Augustine's HDAC6 approach is selective, avoids the limitations of other chemotypes, and built for chronic diseases. With this novel approach, the Company will also be targeting diseases beyond CMT, including neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases. Augustine Therapeutics was founded on the ground-breaking research of Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven in Belgium. The Company raised an oversubscribed EUR 78 million / USD 85 million Series A financing round in March 2025, led by Novo Holdings and Jeito Capital and supported by Asabys Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, AdBio partners, V-Bio Ventures, PMV, VIB, Gemma Frisius Fund, the US-based Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation and Newton Biocapital. For more information visit About Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseaseCharcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary peripheral neuropathies characterized by progressive distal nerve damage, primarily affecting the feet, legs, hands, and arms. The disorder damages peripheral nerves, causing muscle weakness, loss of sensation and other disabling symptoms. CMT is the most common inherited neuromuscular disorder with an estimated frequency of 1 in 2,500 people worldwide and there are currently no approved cures available.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Daily Mail
I fled California and now live on $1,100 a month in quaint European city... it's the best decision I've made
A young American has revealed how he escaped California's crippling cost of living to build a new life in a quaint European city - where he now lives comfortably on just $1,100 a month. Colby Grey, 24, grew up in rural San Luis Obispo, California, where international travel was so rare that 'not many people in my town had passports,' he told CNBC Make It. 'You didn't really travel much and you didn't go to school very far either,' he told the outlet. 'I was one of the ones that went further and then when I studied abroad, I was one of the first to leave the country.' Now the university graduate has left the Golden State's astronomical rents and education costs for an idyllic European lifestyle in Leuven, Belgium. Leuven comes with affordable housing, universal healthcare, and the freedom to explore nearby countries on a whim. 'As a student, though, there is no better cost of living,' he said. 'There is nothing better economically than being in Europe. There's no reason to go into debt here, so it just makes sense at this stage in my life.' Grey's journey began when he left his hometown to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz - a two-hour drive that at the time was the furthest he'd ever traveled at that point. The COVID-19 pandemic forced him to go back to his parents' home during college before he finally got an opportunity to study abroad in Copenhagen. A young American has revealed how he escaped California's crippling cost of living to build a new life in a quaint European city - where he now lives comfortably on just $1,100 a month Now the university graduate has left the Golden State's astronomical rents and education costs for an idyllic European lifestyle in Leuven, Belgium (Pictured: View of the city of Leuven) ″[Denmark] managed the pandemic really well and had a very high vaccination rate,' he said. 'I fell in love with it and decided I wanted to do more. Those six months in Denmark ultimately changed the trajectory of his life. When he arrived back in Santa Cruz after traveling, Grey experienced what he described as 'reverse culture shock' - along with a brutal housing market. He was left to share a two-bedroom apartment with three roommates at $1,340 per month for his portion alone. But the final straw came when he realized the staggering cost of his education wasn't worth the price. The average annual cost of in-state tuition at UC Santa Cruz was $44,160 for the 2024-2025 academic year and many of the classes had gone entirely online. 'It just didn't seem like I was getting what I paid for even with a ton of federal and state funding,' Grey said. 'I knew there had to be a better system and a better way to get an education. Through my study abroad job, I realized I could just get a visa and study as an international student for a sixth of the price.' 'I wanted to continue my education, but I wanted to use that as a pathway towards residency.' Grey found out that he could pursue a master's degree in Europe 'for a sixth of the price' while using it as a pathway to residency. Colby Grey, 24, grew up in rural San Luis Obispo, California, where international travel was so rare that 'not many people in my town had passports,' he told CNBC Make It Grey's journey began when he left his hometown to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz - a two-hour drive that at the time was the furthest he'd ever traveled at that point (Pictured: San Luis Obispo, California) He decided on Belgium's KU Leuven university, where annual tuition runs approximately €3,800 ($4,310) - less than 10 percent of what he'd pay in California. Grey arrived in Belgium with just two checked bags and a backpack. He settled into a four-bedroom house with three housemates for just €500 ($567) monthly - 'a third of the price' he paid in California. 'It was fantastic. I mean I was paying a third of the price to get my own room. 'When I first got here, it was daunting. I was aware of the fact that I had no friends here and I was totally on my own,' he continued. 'I think that was the first time I ever felt like that in my life. I worked really hard to make friends and make a community here.' After graduating last summer, he moved to an even more affordable home just outside the city center, where he now pays just €420 ($477) monthly including utilities, with some toiletries and food included. His total monthly expenses come to approximately €998 ($1,132), allowing him a comfortable lifestyle that includes regular dining out, gym membership, and wellness activities. Grey emphasized his love for Leuven's car-free city center with '15-minute city' design, where most daily necessities can be reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. 'That was one of the things that I loved about living in Europe, I never felt like I needed a car to live,' he said, adding that Belgium's central location means 'there are four different countries around me within a three-hour train ride.' Grey emphasized his love for Leuven's car-free city center with '15-minute city' design, where most daily necessities can be reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride Since first visiting Europe in 2021 and relocating in 2023, Grey has traveled to 20 different countries, while hosting visits from family and friends He also expressed his fondness over the city's work-life balance and easy access to other countries. Since first visiting Europe in 2021 and relocating in 2023, Grey has traveled to 20 different countries, while hosting visits from family and friends. 'The community feels so strong here and I have a really great balance between my work life and my home life,' he said. 'It's such a slower pace of life here and it's really beautiful.'
Washington Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Anheuser-Busch Inbev: Q1 Earnings Snapshot
LEUVEN, Belgium — LEUVEN, Belgium — Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (BUD) on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $2.15 billion. The Leuven, Belgium-based company said it had net income of $1.08 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 81 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 77 cents per share.
