Mark Van Der Giezen

Dr. Mark van der Giezen is a Professor of Biological Chemistry at the Centre for Organelle Research, University of Stavanger, Norway, with affiliations at the Academic Hospital in Stavanger and the University of Exeter (Honorary Professor). His research focuses on microbial interactions with hosts, particularly gut microbiome roles in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), food security pathogens (e.g., Aphanomyces, Fasciola hepatica), and Alzheimer's disease, using molecular biology, bioinformatics, and NGS techniques.

Education:

• PhD in Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Groningen (1992-1997)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Queen Mary University of London (2007)

Research Interests: His work bridges mitochondrial biochemistry in anaerobic eukaryotes, drug target discovery in pathogens, and microbiome dynamics in health (gut, oral, and lobster microbiomes). Recent projects include AI-driven dementia prediction via oral microbiome analysis and biochemical studies of Blastocystis and Entamoeba.

Scientific Contributions: Key publications in Nature, Current Biology, and PLoS Biology explore anaerobic parasite adaptations, mitochondrial evolution, and microbiome impacts on cognition. His lab's 15 most recent articles (2020-2025) span parasitology, structural biology, and microbiome research, with a focus on therapeutic applications and ecological modeling.

Awards:

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2018)
• Fellow, Linnean Society (2014)
• EMBO Fellowship (1998)

Collaborations: Partnerships with University Hospital Stavanger, University of Exeter, and National Lobster Hatchery underpin his interdisciplinary work on gut microbiome, oral nitrate metabolism, and lobster pathogen discovery.