About
Veterinary epidemiologist (MSc, DVM), Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH), specializing in Population Medicine with an interest in dynamics of infectious diseases, biosecurity, and antimicrobial use and resistance, with a diverse and international career at the intersection of veterinary public health and sustainable livestock production. Helena has been involved in cross-disciplinary collaborations under the One Health framework, striving for innovative, practical solutions that support more sustainable and responsible animal agriculture, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Currently holding a Lecturer position in Veterinary Public health, has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and at Ghent University, in Belgium. She played central roles in several EU-funded projects, coordinating the Horizon Europe project SPARC and the H2020 DISARM initiative on antimicrobial stewardship, and contributing to ROADMAP (antimicrobial use), NETPOULSAFE (poultry biosecurity), and BOVINE (innovation in cattle farming). Helena has also been an active member of COST actions BETTER and ENOVAT. Her industry experience includes working as a senior expert in pig health at IDT Biologika in Germany and as an R&D scientist in swine immunology at GD Animal Health in the Netherlands. Earlier in her career, Helena conducted postdoctoral research on transboundary animal diseases at Plum Island Animal Disease Center (USA), following a PhD at the Central Veterinary Institute (Netherlands) on African swine fever, diagnostics, and molecular biology.