494 people donated their bodies to science in 2024 according to a survey of Flemish universities conducted by news agency Belga. Leuven University KU Leuven received most donations followed by UGent and UAntwerp, the universities of Ghent and Antwerp.
KU Leuven is the biggest recipient with 161 donations, 17 more than the previous year. UAntwerpen also noted an increase. ‘In 2022 we received 85 bodies, in 2023 97, in 2024 there were 116,’ says Peter De Meyer, spokesman for Antwerp university. The university struggles to find an explanation for the increase.
At UGent, there were 128 donations, a similar number to previous years. ‘That figure remains stabl. There are usually around a hundred or so donations,’ the university noted.
Hasselt University UHasselt received 26 bodies in 2024, a similar number to previous years. This university has noticed an increase in the number of people applying for the procedure. UHasselt also finds it difficult to give a cause for the increase, but points to increased attention to body donation in the media.
Conditions apply
The Flemish Free University of Brussels also sees the figure remaining stable. In 2024, there were 63 bodies, the same number as the previous year. ‘The number of donations we now receive means we can guarantee operations for our students,’ says Professor of Anatomy Steven Provyn. ‘But for scientific research, it never hurts to get more donations’.
‘Anyone who has died a natural death can be considered. Even people with hip replacements or who have been seriously ill. People who have died of infectious diseases like COVID-19, unfortunately, we cannot accept.’
People who wish to make their bodies available to science after their death should have this included in their last will and testament and do well to contact the university of their choice in advance.