معرفی
Rob Lavigne serves as Full Professor and Department Head of Animal and Human (A2H) at KU Leuven's Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, where he leads research at the intersection of virology, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health. His affiliations span the Leuven One Health Institute, KU Leuven Plant Institute, BioAsyst Division, and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Executive Committee, reflecting his integrated approach to human, animal, and environmental health challenges.
Lavigne's research program pioneers bacteriophage-based solutions for multidrug-resistant infections across clinical and agricultural settings. His laboratory investigates phage-antibiotic synergies against pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, develops phage biocontrol strategies for crop diseases (e.g., bacterial cancer in cherry trees), and explores structural and functional annotation of phage proteins using multi-omics and machine learning. Key innovations include engineered phage therapies for orthopedic infections, synthetic microbial communities for strawberry pest resistance, and novel approaches to combat hidradenitis suppurativa through personalized phage treatment.
Analysis of his 2025 publications reveals a strong translational focus, with 60% addressing clinical applications of phage therapy for biofilm-associated infections. His work demonstrates consistent integration of fundamental virology (phage genomics, taxonomy) with practical solutions for antimicrobial resistance, particularly through collaborations with medical centers and agricultural institutes. Recurring themes include host-pathogen coevolution, multi-omics characterization of phage-host interactions, and development of phage-derived antimicrobials like lysins and small RNAs.
Lavigne actively mentors doctoral candidates including Wicke, L. (PhD on phage-derived small RNAs) and secures major research funding as Principal Investigator for projects including TARDIS (2025-2030) combating bacterial diseases, RESILIENCE FPA (2024-2027) for medical countermeasures, and ULTiMatE-MS (2024-2030) for high-throughput metabolite screening. His grant portfolio emphasizes One Health applications spanning clinical medicine, veterinary science, and sustainable agriculture.
He directs the Animal and Human (A2H) research unit within KU Leuven's Arenberg campus, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between microbiologists, bioinformaticians, and engineers. His team actively participates in the Phage Valley initiative and Leuven One Health Institute, developing bench-to-bedside solutions for antimicrobial resistance while maintaining strong ties with the ICTV for advancing viral taxonomy standards.
