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.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate

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
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
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
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
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

Prof. Dr. ChangLong Wen | Molecular Biology | Best Scholar Award

Director | Beijing Agriculture And Forestry Academy Of Sciences | China

Dr. Changlong Wen is a distinguished Professor and Director at the Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), specializing in vegetable molecular breeding, genomics, and biotechnology. His research has significantly advanced the molecular breeding and improvement of key horticultural crops such as cucumber, watermelon, hot pepper, and zucchini, focusing on traits like yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Dr. Wen’s scientific excellence is reflected in his 2,249 citations, 66 peer-reviewed publications, and an h-index of 29, underscoring his influential contributions to plant science and agricultural biotechnology. He has published in prestigious journals including Nature Communications, Plant Physiology, Plant Biotechnology Journal, and Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. His work on molecular regulation of plant growth and genome-wide gene mining has provided critical insights into crop improvement strategies at both national and international levels. A recipient of numerous national and provincial science awards, Dr. Wen has been honored with distinctions such as the ShenNong Scholar Young Talent (2024), Beijing Scholar Young Talent (2024), and National Talent Program Young Talent (2021). His leadership has contributed to several major Science and Technology Progress Awards, reflecting innovation in genomic breeding technologies and the successful development of high-quality crop varieties. Through his extensive collaborations and translational research, Dr. Wen continues to drive advancements in sustainable agriculture and food security, bridging fundamental plant genomics with applied breeding technologies to benefit both scientific communities and society at large.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID |ResearchGate

Featured Publications

Zhang, X., … Wen, C. L.* (2025). The natural Msc-4 allele confers genic male sterility via conserved and divergent gene regulatory mechanisms in pepper. Plant Physiology.
Xia, C. X., … Wen, C. L.* (2025). The silicon efflux transporter BEC1 is essential for bloom formation and stress tolerance in cucumber. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology.
Li, Y., … Wen, C. L.* (2025). CAD1 enhances antioxidant activity to facilitate cold storage by regulating flavonoid synthesis in cucumber. Agriculture Communications. (5 citations)
Liu, H., … Wen, C. L.* (2025). Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) promotes gene fine localization of the green stripe (GS) in pericarp. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
Zhou, P., … Wen, C. L.* (2024). Identification of powdery mildew resistance-related genes in butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. (3 citations)