Bibliography Lecturers
Prof. Dr. Sofie Goormachtig
Sofie Goormachtig obtained a PhD at the Laboratorium of Genetics, Gent University in 1997, after which she continued to do postdoc research at the Institute of Plant Sciences, ETH Zürich, Switzerland (1998-1999)
and the Department of Molecular Genetics (1999-2002). She has been Professor at the dpt of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics since 2005 where she teaches courses on molecular genetics.
She is a VIB Group Leader since 2009 where she leads the Rhizosphere Group with interest in signaling mechanisms that rule the interactions of roots with the rhizosphere in order to adapt plant growth to nutrient availability. The group particularly focuses on factors that influence lateral root development as well as nodulation, the latter being the outcome of a mutualistic nitrogen fixing interaction of legume plants with rhizobia bacteria.
Dr. Ine Pertry
Ine Pertry obtained a PhD in Biotechnology Sciences in 2009 at Ghent University by performing research on the plantpathogenic bacterium Rhodococcus fascians. After that she joined International Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO) where she was responsible for the coordination of the Flanders-UNIDO Risk Assessment Research Network (FURARN) and the development of a GM crop risk assessment support software tool. In 2010 she obtained a postgraduate degree on Biosafety in Plant biotechnology and since October 2010 she teaches Applications of Plant Biotechnology in this course and has been responsible for training scientist from the SASHA project (Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa) in biosafety and molecular techniques. As from May 2014 she is involved in a policy project working on a multidisciplinary approach to stimulate plant biotechnology applications here and in the South.
Prof. Patrick Rüdelsheim
Patrick Rüdelsheim is an expert in biosafety management, regulatory approvals and compliance for biotechnology projects and stewardship in plant biotechnology. While his service company, Perseus, is based in Europe, he supports projects around the globe. He is very familiar with addressing regulatory and operational challenges of research and development projects.
After obtaining his PhD in biology/botany at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, he started his career in D.J. Vanderhave B.V., a Dutch Seed company where he was involved in the application of plant cell biology in classical breeding. He then joined Plant Genetic Systems N.V., Ghent, Belgium as Field Trial Supervisor. After being in charge of Product Development and Registration, he was appointed Director Regulatory Affairs and Member of the PGS Board. In 1996, following the acquisition of PGS by AgrEvo, he became Global Head of Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs for the AgrEvo group. In this function, he ensured the scientific argumentation for Product Safety and Quality as well as the compliance with all regulatory acquirements related to genetic engineering. After the creation of Aventis S.A. due to the merger of Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc, he became Global Head Regulatory Affairs BioScience of Aventis CropScience and following the acquisition of Aventis CropScience by Bayer in 2002, he was confirmed in that position for Bayer CropScience.
In 2003, he founded and became General Partner of Perseus BVBA, a service company focused on bio-safety and related regulatory requirements.
He is active in diverse associations (the “International Society for Biosafety Research”; the “European BioSafety Association”, the “Belgian Biosafety Professionals”, and the European Federation of Biotechnology,). His engagement in the biosafety community is further illustrated by a large number of publications, conferences and meetings.
He lectures at the University of Antwerp (Bioethics) and at the University of Ghent (Biosafety).
Prof. Piet van der Meer
Piet van der Meer is trained as a biologist and a lawyer at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, with specialisations in microbiology and ecology, as well as in environmental and international law.
From 1986 until 1999, he was in charge of biosafety regulation in the Netherlands, heading a team of legal and scientific professionals that handled requests for contained use, field trials and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms. During this time he was closely involved in the development of the EC Directives on GMOs, and he participated on behalf of the Netherlands in many international fora, such as the OECD, Council of Europe, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Biological Weapons Convention, and acted as chair in many of these fora. He also provided frequent training on the legal and scientific aspects of biosafety regulations and risk assessment in many developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
From 1999 to 2002, Piet van der Meer managed the capacity building project “Implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks of the pre-accession countries in Central and Eastern Europe”, aimed at laying a firm foundation for the development of national biosafety frameworks consistent international and EU obligations.
From December 2002 to May 2004 he served as programme manager of the UNEP-GEF projects on Implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks, aimed at assisting participating countries in establishing and implementing workable and transparent national biosafety systems.
Since August 2004 Piet van der Meer operates as an independent consultant, offering consulting and management services in the fields of international and national environmental policies and regulations, with a particular specialisation on biotechnology regulation. His main clients are Governments and international organisations.
Since of 2006 he is a guest professor at Ghent University, Belgium, and as of 2014 he is a guest professor at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Over the years, Piet van der Meer has provided scientific and regulatory support for biotechnology regulation in over 50 countries and to over many national and international organisations.
Prof. Kathy Messens
Kathy Messens is head of the DNA fingerprinting Laboratory AgriFing at Ghent University. This research unit focuses on the application of different DNA fingerprinting technologies on biological materials and derived products, such as identification and quantification of GMOs and allergens, the identification of micro-organisms and mycotoxin producing moulds and several food authenticity issues. She has been involved in a number of national projects regarding these research topics.
Kathy Messens obtained the degree of bio engineer at the Faculty of Bioengineering in 1992, Ghent University, where she also got a PhD degree in Applied Biological Sciences in 1998. She became a fulltime professor in Agro and Food Biotechnology at the Department of Biosciences and Landscape Architecture, Ghent University College since 1999, now Dpt of Applied Biosciences Ghent University; where she teaches several courses e.g. nutrition, microbiology, molecular identification techniques, applied biotechnology and biochemical and enzymatic applications. She also teaches in the field of Food and Feed Safety for the IPBO/UNIDO course on Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology since 2006.
Prior to that she has been a scientific co-worker at the Lab of Biochemistry and Molecular Cytology where she obtained her PhD in 1998. Hereafter she shortly worked as a scientific researcher at the Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis (Ghent University) and the Department of Animal Product Quality and Transformation Technology (Ministry of the Flemish Community). This was followed by the EC project “Development of methods to identify Foods by means of genetic engineering” at the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (Ghent University) and the Department of Plant Genetics and breeding (Ministery of the Flemish Community).
Prof. Marc De Loose
Marc De Loose is Scientific Director of the ILVO research group on product quality and innovation, being part of the Technology and Food research unit of the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO).He has been working over more than ten years in the domain of GMO detection, characterization, identification and quantification. He has been has been a member the EFSA GMO Panel and is currently involved in discussions on safety of GMO within the Belgian Biosafety Council. He is member of the European Network for GMO Laboratories.
ILVO has a broad expertise in authenticity testing (e.g. GMO and food ingredients in general). Since 2004 the laboratory is accredited for GMO testing according ISO17025 (BELAC Accreditation Certificate No. 033-TEST). In 2015 we will apply for an extension of the scope in function of ingredient detection in food, including allergen detection. As a member of NRLGMO, European Network of GMO laboratories and the EURL GMO, we have experience in interpretation of legislation in function of the development of analytical tools that need to be applied in real live in function of enforcement. As there is a parallel between the legislation on labeling of GMOs and labeling of ingredients (food allergens), the experience in the domain of GMO can be of use in function of the development and implementation of analytical strategies and in function of the implementation of the legislation on labeling of ingredients.
ILVO has been involved EU projects on GMO detection in the 5th, 6th and 7th EU framework programs.
The ILVO Food Pilot unit offers tailor-made services to the food industry. There is a long history of working together with and servicing the food industry. Recently the infrastructure has been completely updated in order to fulfill the current needs of the food industry. Stakeholder interaction in function of problem solving and developing innovative opportunities is a key activity.
Dr. Sylvie De Buck
Sylvie De Buck obtained her PhD in Plant Biotechnoloy in 2000 at University Ghent in the Genetics department of Prof. Marc Van Montagu. As a PhD student in the gene expression and gene regulation group of Prof. Ann Depicker, she analyzed the origin of complex T-DNA loci’s after Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation and investigated the correlation between complex T-DNA loci and transgene silencing. As post-doc and later as a doctor-assistant in the Plant Systems Department of VIB-UGent, she was involved in research on Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation, gene silencing, regulation of gene expression and molecular pharming. She guided several PhD and master students during their research and had some teaching duties. Since 2013, she joined the International Plant Biotechnology Outreach team (IPBO/VIB-UGent) to promote transfer and access of the latest technological developments and knowledge to developing countries.
Prof. Marc Van Montagu
Em. Prof. Marc Van Montagu is a pioneer in plant molecular biology. He is well known (with J. Schell) as the discoverer of the Ti-plasmid and the inventor of Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation technology, now used worldwide to produce genetically engineered plants. He was Founding Member and Member of the Board of Directors of two Belgian biotech companies, spin-offs from his laboratory, Plant Genetic System (PGS) and CropDesign. At PGS he drove front-line innovations for biotech agriculture, such as plants resistant to insects or tolerant to more environmentally friendly herbicides. He has won numerous prizes amongst which the Japan prize and the World Food Prize (2013). He is a member of several academies. In November 2014, he became UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador for Agribusiness. Due to his accomplishments he received in 1990 the title of Baron from the King of Belgians. Currently he is President of the European Federation of Biotechnology and of the Public Research and Regulation Initiative, and Chairman of IPBO (International Plant Biotechnology Outreach). Marc Van Montagu holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry/ Biochemistry and a BA in Chemistry from Ghent University.
Prof. Geert Haeseart
Junior scientific researcher Monsanto Europe, Department of crop protection and growth regulation, Louvain-La-Neuve (1982-1984); Assistant Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience and Landscape Architecture University College Ghent (1984-1988); Assistant Professor Plant Production, -Breeding and -Protection; Faculty of Bioscience and Landscape Architecture, University College Ghent (1988-2000); Full Professor Plant Production, -Breeding and -Protection; Faculty of Bioscience and Landscape Architecture, University College Ghent (2000-2013); Head of the experimental farm, Faculty of Biosciences engineering, University Ghent (Bottelare) (1996-present); Dean of faculty Applied Biosciences Engineering, University College Ghent (2011-2013); Full professor UGent, faculty of Bioscience engineering and head of Department of Applied Biosciences (including food and brewery technology) (2013-present). Currently, Geert Haeseart is titularis of several courses at UGent including Plant Producton and Ecophysiology, Crop Protection, Plant Physiology, Plant & Crop Sciences, Applied Plant Breeding and Disease, Pest & Weed Control in Crops.
Dr. Harry A. Kuiper
Harry A. Kuiper is a retired scientist and was till November 2006 employed as Head of the Deparetment Food Safety & Health and subsequently asInternational Account Manager and Programme Leader at RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University & Research Centre, The Netherlands.
He received his training at the Agricultural University Wageningen in food science, and completed in 1976 a PhD-study at the State University of Groningen, on the structure and function of hemocyanins and hemoglobins, and worked from 1976-1980 at the University of Rome at the Faculty of Medicine as a postdoc fellow.
Expertise: food toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, risk assessment of foods/feed
He is involved in safety assessment of residues of agrochemicals in food, of health protecting compounds and of genetically modified foods. He was leader of various national and EU-financed projects concerning food safety.
He served as member of the EU Scientific Committee on Plants from 1997- 2003, and chaired the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). He has been co-ordinator of the European Network on the Safety Assessment, Detection and Traceability, and Societal Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods (ENTRANSFOOD), 2000 -2004, and was co-ordinator of the EU Integrated Project ‘Promoting Food Safety through a New Integrated Risk Analysis Approach for Foods’ (SAFE FOODS), funded under the EU 6-th Framework Programme. He chaired various FAO/WHO Expert Consultations on the Safety of Foods produced by modern biotechnology. He is (co) author of approximately 250 contributions in scientific journals, proceedings and scientific reports.