Kathy Messens
From BINAS
Prof. Dr. Ir. Kathy Messens (Belgium)
Expertise:
- Rapid methods
- GMO detection, identification and quantification in plants and derived products
- Detection of allergens and authenticity
- Microbiology, Food Technology and Nutrition
- Cell and Gene Technology
- DNA fingerprinting
- Biochemical and Enzymatic Applications in Industry
Current Affiliation:
- Department of Biosciences and Landscape Architecture, University College Ghent, Ghent University Association, Ghent, Belgium.
Research Area:
Prof. Dr. Ir. Kathy Messens obtained a PhD degree in Applied Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Bioengineering Sciences at Ghent University. Subsequently she has been a scientific co-worker at the Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis (Ghent University), at the Technology and Food Unit at the Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research (ILVO) and the Department of Food safety and Food Quality (Ghent University). Since 1999 she is professor Agro and Food Biotechnology at the Ghent University College (Ghent University Association), where she is heading the GMO Laboratory AgriFing. The laboratory is a research consortium between the Ghent University College (Department of Biosciences and Landscape architecture), the Ghent University (Laboratory of Food Technology and Food Processing) and the Technology and Food Unit at the Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research. This research unit focuses on the application of different DNA printing technologies on biological materials and derived products, e.g. (theoretical and analytical) traceability, identification and quantification of GMOs; the influence of different technological unit operations on the detection and traceability of DNA, the identification of micro-organisms, the detection of food allergens with PCR, immunological methods and related authenticity topics. The group has published several international and national papers.
