Brussels Metropolitan Area
As Scientific Director of the Directorate of Infectious Diseases in Humans at Sciensano, Brussels (Belgian national research institute of human and animal health), I leverage my experience in public health surveillance, epidemiology, microbiology and virology to lead and innovate in our fight against infectious diseases. My commitment to the Global and One Health approaches drives my work, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. I am dedicated to enhancing public health through science communication and providing actionable advice to government bodies. My department integrates several national reference laboratories for medical microbiology and food-borne pathogens, platforms for immunology and interventional studies, as well as a biobank and extensive biosafety level 3 laboratory facilities. Since early 2020, I have also served as government advisor and the national spokesperson on the COVID-19 crisis. In 2012, I was nominated as the Belgian National Microbiology Focal Point for ECDC (Stockholm). Since 2014, I am appointed as a visiting professor at Ghent University.
The Belgian Society for Virology (BELVIR) promotes exchange of information, stimulates discussion and collaboration among virologists and wants to provide a forum for scientists active in all aspects of Virology.
Study of the pathogenesis of respiratory viruses in swine, including PRRSV and coronavirus