Andrea Gobbo | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Andrea Gobbo | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Research scientist | Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics | Belgium

Ms. Andrea Gobbo, is a molecular biologist and research scientist specializing in molecular biology, genomics, and food safety within the framework of One Health. His expertise lies in the development and validation of advanced molecular detection methods, including qPCR and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), for the identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMO/GMM), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, and microbial contaminants across diverse biological and environmental matrices. At Sciensano, he has contributed to numerous multidisciplinary national and international projects such as NAP-AMR, CoVWWSurv, ENSURED, METAMORPHOSE, and DARWIN, focusing on food safety, microbial contamination, and environmental health surveillance. His research supports global efforts to strengthen food authenticity, ensure product safety, and enhance AMR monitoring in environmental systems. He is also actively involved in mentoring university students, laboratory coordination, and scientific communication through peer-reviewed publications and international conference presentations. Andrea Gobbo’s scholarly achievements demonstrate a strong commitment to scientific innovation and public health protection. His contributions include the development of reliable molecular assays for environmental biosurveillance and genomic characterization of microorganisms relevant to food and health safety. His publications, appearing in respected international journals such as Food Research International, Frontiers in Microbiology, Water Environment Research, and Heliyon, highlight his role in bridging molecular biology with applied public health research. Andrea Gobbo’s academic impact is evidenced by 34 citations by 27 documents, 10 publications, and an h-index of 3, underscoring his growing influence in molecular diagnostics and genomic surveillance. His collaborative work continues to advance the integration of molecular tools in One Health initiatives, promoting sustainable and science-driven solutions for global biosecurity and environmental safety.

  1. Fraiture, M.-A., Gobbo, A., Marchesi, U., Verginelli, D., Papazova, N., & Roosens, N. H. C. (2021). Development of a real-time PCR marker targeting a new unauthorized genetically modified microorganism producing protease identified by DNA walking. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 354, 109330. Citations: 13

  2. Fraiture, M.-A., Gobbo, A., Papazova, N., & Roosens, N. H. C. (2022). Development of a taxon-specific real-time PCR method targeting the Bacillus subtilis group to strengthen the control of genetically modified bacteria in fermentation products. Fermentation, 8(2), 78. Citations: 8

  3. Van Poelvoorde, L. A. E., Picalausa, C., Gobbo, A., Verhaegen, B., Lesenfants, M., Herman, P., Van Hoorde, K., & Roosens, N. H. C. (2023). Development of a droplet digital PCR to monitor SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant BA.2 in wastewater samples. Microorganisms, 11(3), 729. Citations: 7

  4. Gobbo, A., Fraiture, M.-A., Van Poelvoorde, L. A. E., De Keersmaecker, S. C. J., Garcia-Graells, C., Van Hoorde, K., Verhaegen, B., Huwaert, A., Maloux, H., Hutse, V., Ceyssens, P.-J., & Roosens, N. H. C. (2024). Strategy to develop and validate digital droplet PCR methods for global antimicrobial resistance wastewater surveillance. Water Environment Research, 96(11), e11145. Citations: 4

  5. Fraiture, M.-A., Gobbo, A., Guillitte, C., Marchesi, U., Verginelli, D., De Greve, J., D’aes, J., Vanneste, K., Papazova, N., & Roosens, N. H. C. (2024). Pilot market surveillance of GMM contaminations in alpha-amylase food enzyme products: A detection strategy strengthened by a newly developed qPCR method targeting a GM Bacillus licheniformis producing alpha-amylase. Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences, 8, 100186. Citations: 3