Geert-Leroux Roels

Geert Leroux-Roels obtained the MD degree from the Ghent University in 1976. During his medical studies and the specialty training in internal medicine he conducted doctoral research in clinical pathology and immunology. After obtaining a board certification in internal medicine and a PhD degree in biomedical sciences, he carried out 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.

Over the past 30 years, 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).

Geert Leroux-Roels has founded the Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC - Ghent University and University Hospital) and directed this unit for three decades. During this period, more than 275 clinical vaccine trials have been conducted. Numerous candidate vaccines (HAV, HBV, [HAV+HBV], HSV, HPV, HIV, TB, malaria) and a series of new adjuvant systems have been clinically evaluated.

Geert Leroux-Roels is author and co-author of over 290 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 a private consultant.