About our society...
The Belgian Society for Parasitology (established on 10 February 1962 in Antwerp) and the Belgian Society of Protozoology merged on 19 February 2013 to form the Belgian Society for Parasitology and Protistology (BSPP). Since then, the aim of the society is to promote collaboration between researchers in Parasitology and Protistology at national and international level and support young scientists in the development of their career.
A key activity of the BSPP is the annual scientific meeting which is an opportunity to share research results and network with members of the Belgian parasitology and protistology community. Postgraduate research students are especially encouraged to present their work and an award is given annually for the best student presentation.
BSPP Board of directors
President Carl De Trez (VUB)
Vice-chair Sarah Hendrickx (UA)
Secretary Linda De Vooght (UA)
Treasurer Johannes Charlier (Kreavet)
Members Benjamin Dewals (ULiège)
Sarah Gabriël (UGent)
Philippe Van den Steen (KULeuven)
Announcements
In 2025 the term of office of the Board of directors of our society comes to an end. During our annual meeting in December the society members should approve the composition of the new Board of directors.
Society members that have an interest in joining the Board can send a mail to sarah.hendrickx@uantwerpen.be.
The BSPP is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. Vijay Shankar Pandey, who faithfully served for many years as the dedicated secretary of our society. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
Born in Bariarpur, India, Dr. Pandey was a distinguished scholar and Professor Emeritus at the University of Patna (India), the Université Nationale du Zaïre (Democratic Republic of Congo), the Université Hassan II (Morocco), the University of Zimbabwe, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium). He served for many years as a board member of scientific organizations and as an international expert to a multitude of institutions including the United Nations (FAO) and the European Commission.
Frederik Van den Broeck from the Institute of Tropical Medicine receives Boehringer-Ingelheim Parasitology award 2023
Genetic Crossroads: Unravelling Sexual Reproduction in Parasites
Frederik Van den Broeck, a biologist from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp and the Rega Institute for Medical Research (KU Leuven) receives the Boehringer-Ingelheim prize for his research on the genomics of parasites causing infectious tropical diseases. His work involves collecting data on the genetic variation of these parasites to better understand their biology and evolution.
Climate change, human migration and global trade are leading to more genetic exchange among various parasites. This mingling of genes makes them more resilient. Understanding and monitoring genetic exchange in natural parasite populations is thus crucial for developing and evaluating effective control strategies. Through his research, Van den Broeck has made significant contributions to understanding the details of sexual reproduction in parasites. His work sheds light on the broad and epidemiologically significant impact of genetic exchange in key parasites responsible for severe illnesses, such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
“In my current research, I aim to map the genetic variation of major disease-causing parasites in South America and sub-Saharan Africa”, says Van den Broeck. “My goal is to understand how human-induced changes and the history of human displacement have influenced the spread and epidemiology of vector-borne diseases.” He adds: “I am also committed to delving deeper into the viral diversity within parasites, aiming to gain insights into the emergence of endosymbiotic viruses and their connections to human diseases.” Van den Broeck concludes, “Ultimately, I hope that a detailed understanding of different parasite lineages and their viruses will contribute to monitoring tropical infectious diseases through genomic surveillance.
Neglected Tropical Diseases affect over a sixth of the world
Van den Broeck’s research mainly focuses on neglected tropical diseases, which affect over a sixth of the world’s population and their livestock. Despite their widespread impact, these diseases receive disproportionately less scientific attention compared to HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and COVID-19. By studying various organisms, Van den Broeck’s has made significant strides in understanding the natural diversity and evolution of parasites that harm human and animals. His genome diversity studies have also provided crucial data for tracking parasites, as a vital aspect of disease elimination efforts.
https://frebio.github.io/Pubs/