Ghent University awards honorary doctorate to Jaap Wagenaar
Ghent University is awarding an honorary doctorate to professor of Clinical Infectiology Jaap Wagenaar for his achievements in the field of One Health and antibiotic resistance.
The 'One Health' approach implies that human, animal and environmental health are closely interrelated, and therefore require an integrated approach. Wagenaar applies this and investigates, among other things, how micro-organisms move between humans and animals. He also studies how to reduce the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. Ghent University calls Wagenaar an important researcher in the field of One Health and praises his pioneering role within the field of antibiotic resistance and the research on Campylobacter bacteria, where he has had "a very big impact on reducing antibiotic use", according to the university.
Wagenaar is very honoured. "It is great recognition of the work we do as a research group within Clinical Infectiology. Besides, research into One Health is by definition done in a broad context, and that is possible at Veterinary Medicine and with UMC Utrecht as neighbours."
This is a great recognition of the work we do as a research group within Clinical Infectiology.
Smarter than bacteria
Animals and humans are constantly besieged by microorganisms, which can multiply and spread rapidly. They evolve and can become resistant to drugs in the process. So there is a constant race going on. ''Bacteria have the advantage of multiplying and adapting to their environment much faster than humans," Wagenaar said. ''We assume that we are smarter than bacteria and that this works in humans' favour to guard against infections.'' Wagenaar is looking for ways to stay one step ahead of diseases.
Fighting infectious diseases
Infectious diseases cause social, economic and public health problems, and increasing antibiotic resistance threatens to make diseases untreatable. The results of Wagenaar's research contribute to treatments and methods to combat infectious diseases. For this, cooperation between veterinary and human medicine is very important. Partly for this reason, Wagenaar says the cooperation of Utrecht University with the University Medical Centre Utrecht is crucial and the Netherlands Centre for One Health (NCOH) is an important platform where forces are combined.
The honorary doctorate will be awarded during UGhent's Dies Natalis, Friday 25 March, at 3.30pm.
The ceremony can be followed via a livestream.