The Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health (CEMPH, Prof. S. De Saeger ) of the Department of Bioanalysis at Ghent University is specialized in the development of analytical methodologies for the detection and quantification of small molecules, with a major focus on mycotoxins, which are highly prevalent toxic fungal-derived dietary contaminants. For more than 25 years, a comprehensive mycotoxin analytical platform has been built which consists of liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for targeted multi-mycotoxin analysis in diverse matrices (raw food and feed ingredients, processed food and feed, fungal culture media, indoor environments and building materials, human urine, faeces and blood); liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry-based (LC-HRMS) methods for untargeted analysis of fungal secondary metabolites (including mycotoxins) in fungal culture media and human biological fluids as well as rapid immunoassay-based screening methods making use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) and capacitive biosensors making use of enzyme, gold nanoparticle and quantum dots labels.

One of the fast-growing research lines at the CEMPH is related to mycotoxins & human health in which human biomonitoring, human toxicokinetics, as well as exposomics studies in relation to health outcomes are ongoing. 

The requested basic funding will be used to finance this fast developing research line through personnel, consumables and/or infrastructure according to the major needs.