Antwerp Metropolitan Area
Innovation is a passion somewhere at the fringe between art and science. There is nothing more rewarding than finding an elegant solution to a complex problem. The next step then is to include this solution into user friendly information systems. Sounds familiar? Also interested in bridging the gap between research and decision making? Happy to link-up! Specialties: Disease information systems, mapping and spatial modeling using multivariate analysis and high temporal resolution remote sensing eco-climatic variables; Spatial epidemiology: people, the environment, livestock, vectors of disease and pathogens; Spatial disease management and risk assessment: vector borne and emerging diseases; Multidisciplinary research management.
www.avia-gis.com Avia-GIS "Agriculture and Veterinary Information and Analysis" is a Belgian company founded in 2001 by that specializes in the collection, processing and analysis of spatial information as a basis for the development of data driven space-time information systems (STIS) applied to veterinary and public health in general and emerging vector-borne diseases (VBD) in particular. The company focuses on the application of state of the art techniques that broaden the scope of conventional analyses and help bridge the gap between research and decision-making, including geographical information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, geostatistics, and earth observation. Avia-GIS offers a range of services within its field of expertise to research teams, governments and private companies. These include in addition to research and technical development (RTD), consulting, software development and capacity building services through distance learning platforms. Preferred RTD topics are: spatial distribution models, the development of cost-effective spatial sampling strategies, the issue of false-negative trap results and the assessment of spatial uncertainty, related to: VBDs, denominator data (i.e. mapping the population at risk), and wind dispersal models for arthropod vectors of disease and agricultural pests. Obtained model outputs are embedded in spatial information systems for further epidemiological analysis and decision support. In 2004 a European Economic Interest Grouping, Euro-AEGIS EEIG, was established with The Environmental research Group Oxford Ltd (ERGO, UK). This is a strategic alliance which formalized prior collaborations and aims at jointly bid for and develop spatial disease information systems.
www.fao.org As an FAO expert Guy has completed a series of long-term assignments at increasing levels of responsibility in tsetse control projects in Tanzania (Junior expert – December 1988 to April 1991), Togo (Junior Expert – May 1991 to December 1992; Expert January 1993 to December 1997) and Burkina Faso (Chief Technical Advisor – January 1998 to March 2000) were he conducted both research and development activities. His main research activity was the development and implementation of country wide Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applied to integrated vector borne disease control. In 1997 he was laureate of the National Academy of Overseas Sciences, Brussels, Belgium, with a dissertation on this topic. In 1999 he obtained his PhD on the design of a georeferenced decision support methodology towards trypanosomiasis management in West Africa. This work included the use of remote sensing to model vector, pathogen and disease, and the use of decision support trees in GIS. Obtained results allowed to gain novel insights on the spatial epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and its impact on the integration of livestock and crop-agriculture. As project manager and chief technical advisor he was leading a multidisciplinary team involved with technology transfer, training and extension work. Particular emphasis was given to the role of private rural veterinary practitioners as a key element towards sustainable disease management.
www.vvob.be In charge of the veterinary clinic and practical training of the students of the Agro-Veterinary school, (EAVK) in Butare, Rwanda. Specific theoretical courses: pathology, epidemiology and diagnosis for middle level veterinary field staff. Part time volunteer researcher at CURPHAMETRA (University Centre for Research on Phar¬macopoeia and Traditional Medicine, Butare, Rwanda), (1 year). Subject : medicinal plants for the treatment of scabies. Developed methodology for in vitro testing of plant extracts against scabies.