Geert Leroux-Roels

Geert Leroux-Roels obtained the MD degree from the Ghent University in 1976. He completed a specialty training in internal medicine and conducted doctoral research in clinical pathology and immunology. In 1981 he was board certified in internal medicine and a obtained a PhD degree in biomedical sciences. Thereafter he did postdoctoral research in the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California and in the Laboratory of molecular biology at the Ghent University. He was appointed professor of medicine and director of the laboratory of clinical pathology in 1989.

Geert Leroux-Roels and his team have studied the human immune response to HBV, HCV, HIV and influenza. A small animal model (human liver in uPA-SCID mouse) was developed that allowed for the in vivo study of hepatotropic pathogens like HBV, HCV, HEV and Plasmodium falciparum (malaria).

He founded the Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC - Ghent University and University Hospital) and directed this unit for three decades. During this period, he supervised more than 275 clinical vaccine trials that evaluated the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of numerous candidate vaccines (HAV, HBV, [HAV+HBV], HSV, HPV, HIV, TB, malaria, influenza, ..) and several new adjuvants.

Geert Leroux-Roels is author and co-author of over 300 peer-reviewed articles and member of several international societies and scientific advisory boards.

On 1 October 2017 he reached the emeritus status but remains active in the field of vaccinology and applied immunology as a study physician and co-investigator at CEVAC and as an independent consultant in vaccines.