Frank Verdonck

Head of Unit Biological Hazards & Animal Health and Welfare (BIOHAW) at European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

About

Experienced risk assessor with a demonstrated history of science-based advice to risk managers of the European Commission and EU member states. Collaboration-oriented professional skilled in Risk Assessment, Animal Health, Feed additives, Vaccination, Biotechnology, Virology and Drug Discovery.

Experience

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (13 yrs 1 mo)
    • Head of Unit Biological Hazards & Animal Health and Welfare (BIOAHW)
      Sep 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

    • Team Leader FEED
      Jan 2022 - Sep 2022 · 9 mos

    • ad interim Head of the Feed Unit
      Jan 2019 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs

  • Trainee at EFSA, European Food Safety Agency
    May 2012 - Apr 2013 · 1 yr

    Carry out risk assessments in order to produce scientific opinions and advice for risk managers in the field of animal health and animal welfare.

  • Visiting scientist at Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Milan
    Feb 2012 - May 2012 · 4 mos

    Generation of scientific documents aimed to collect data on the risk correlated with oral intake of the additives via food/feed. Special attention was paid to describe possible molecular mechanisms involved in cytotoxic, genotoxic or carcinogenic effects.

  • Team leader, Senior Scientist at Ablynx
    Nov 2007 - Dec 2011 · 4 yrs 2 mos

    • Scientific coordination of different research projects in the fields of cancer, immunogenic diseases and infection diseases, involving different teams and collaborations with contract research organizations, pharmaceutical companies and/or academic institutes. • Management of cell based screening team

  • Laboratory of Immunology, Ghent University (9 yrs 2 mos)
    • Post-doc
      Jul 2004 - Nov 2007 · 3 yrs 5 mos

      * Antigen targeting to intestinal dendritic cells to induce protective immune responses * Immune responses induced by E coli O157:H7 * Fimbriae as virulence factors of enterotoxigenic and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC and VTEC)

    • academic assistent, PhD-student
      Oct 1998 - Jun 2004 · 5 yrs 9 mos