Andreja Rajković

Prof. Dr. Andreja Rajković is a Full Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology at Ghent University and holds a part-time appointment at the University of Belgrade. His research spans the interface of food microbiology, host–pathogen interactions, toxicology, and exposure science, with a particular focus on microbial hazards, toxin-mediated disease, and emerging challenges in food safety. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to understanding the biology and pathogenicity of the Bacillus cereus group, including toxin production, virulence mechanisms, and mechanism-based risk assessment. His work increasingly explores complex interactions between microorganisms, microbial toxins, and emerging contaminants such as micro- and nanoplastics across the food chain. Prof. Rajković leads an interdisciplinary research group that integrates advanced microbiology, multi-omics technologies, and innovative in vitro models to investigate microbial virulence, toxicological mechanisms, and realistic exposure scenarios relevant to public health.,He currently serves as President of the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) and acts as an expert at International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), a member of the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), former director of postdoc school of Federation of European Microbiological Societies, member of Board of Directors of Belgian Society of Food Microbiology, and is actively engaged in shaping European and international research and policy initiatives in food safety and public health.

Tentative Title:

From Genome to Gut: Understanding Bacillus cereus Virulence Through Toxins, Adaptation, and Host Response

Pillars Topic/Subtopic:

PILLAR 1: FRONTIERS HEALTH & CLINICAL INNOVATIONS TOPIC

1.4: Microbiome Breakthrough

Sub-topic 1.4c: Host-Pathogen Interactions and Microbial Pathogenesis in Human and Animal Systems