Steven Van Gucht

Dr. Steven Van Gucht serves as Scientific Director of Infectious Diseases in Humans at Sciensano, Belgium's national public health institute, and has held a position as Visiting Professor at the Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University since 2014. With nearly 20 years of experience in virology and infectious disease research, his career spans multiple critical public health domains from his initial role as Scientific Co-worker at the National Reference Laboratory of Rabies starting in December 2005.

Dr. Van Gucht's research expertise encompasses viral pathogens of significant public health importance, with particular focus on tick-borne encephalitis, influenza, rabies, hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, and E), human papillomavirus (HPV), measles, mumps, and rubella. His work uniquely bridges veterinary and human medicine, applying a One Health perspective to understand transmission dynamics, assess cross-species transmission risks, and develop effective surveillance systems for emerging viral threats.

His recent publication record demonstrates active research across multiple critical areas of viral disease control, with particular emphasis on wastewater-based epidemiological monitoring systems, genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants through hospital networks, risk assessment for zoonotic influenza transmission, and innovative approaches to studying hepatitis viruses. This research directly informs public health policy and intervention strategies in Belgium and contributes to the global understanding of viral disease dynamics and pandemic preparedness.

Dr. Van Gucht leads or contributes to numerous significant research initiatives including COVICO (SARS-CoV-2 immunity studies in immunocompromised populations), ZOOIS (active surveillance for zoonotic influenza transmission), and Rabyd-Vax (development of next-generation rabies vaccines). His leadership in these projects demonstrates his commitment to addressing both current and emerging infectious disease threats through multidisciplinary collaboration and innovative scientific approaches.