Author: masterAdministrator

Introducing Natasja Cox– IMAQUA’s Phd candidate under Baekeland Mandate, granted by VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship organisation)

Natasja obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Ghent University in 2018, specializing in research, livestock and aquatic animals. Her master thesis on necrotic enteritis in poultry was completed at the Laboratory of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Subsequently, she was admitted to the Vlerick Business School and graduated from the Master’s in General Management programme in 2019. She went on to co-found and work at Ziphius Therapeutics.

In 2020, Natasja joined IMAQUA as a PhD candidate. For the upcoming 4 years, she will be working alongside IMAQUA’s and UGent’s scientists on the PhD research project “Development of innovative experimental infection models for economically devastating microbial infections in shrimp”.

This project aims at expanding IMAQUA’s service portfolio to a wider range of microbial infection models as well as contributing to advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Mathias Corteel, a veterinarian specialised in shrimp diseases, has joined IMAQUA’s research team as Senior project manager, after a 4-year stay in the United States where he worked for BASF animal nutrition. 

“Joining IMAQUA is like coming home,” says Mathias Corteel. “Managing director of IMAQUA, João Lima and I did our Ph.D.’s together and we were a good team back then. I admire what João and the IMAQUA team have already achieved in only 5 years, and look forward very much to contributing to the further development of the company!”

Dr. Mathias Corteel obtained his degree in veterinary medicine in 2005, specializing in research and aquaculture. Since then, he has been hooked on research into diseases of shrimp and fish, first during his Ph.D. at the faculty of veterinary medicine, Ghent University, later working for INVE Aquaculture. Most of his research has focused on the pathogenesis of White Spot Syndrome Virus, namely how the virus gains entry to its hosts and what measures can be taken to control infection and disease. He (co)authored 12 publications, 2 book chapters and several trade magazine articles.

Since July 2020 IMAQUA is moving from the premises of Gent University to the new private site at SME zone Lozen Boer in Lochristi, Belgium. Here IMAQUA is building its new state of the art testing facilities and laboratory… (to be continued)

IMAQUA is present at the Aquaculture Europe conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. You are welcome to visit us at the booth 69 in the conference’s trade show.

IMAQUA launches a state of the art feeding trial facility composed of 24 custom-made tanks. Each tank has a capacity of 290 L and an individual complete water filtration system. This facility was designed for delivering the highest quality scientific results.