Presenters' biography
Speaker 1 - René S. Hendriksen (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark)
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| | Professor René S. Hendriksen is a distinguished researcher and academic at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where he serves as the Head of the Research Group for Global Capacity Building at the National Food Institute. His career has been marked by significant contributions to the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and foodborne pathogens. He has played a pivotal role in establishing DTU’s international reference centers in AMR. Professor Hendriksen is the director of the reference centres for AMR and Genomics: WHO CC, FAO RC, and EURL in feed, food, animal health as well as in public health to whom he also provides advisory service in addition to EFSA, ECDC, IAEA and Danish Veterinary and Food Administration in the areas of One Health surveillance of AMR and infectious disease. Professor Hendriksen's work extends globally, and his efforts in building laboratory capacity have had a profound impact on global health initiatives, conducting more than 50 international laboratory training courses, and training more than 800 scientists from more than 70 countries, primarily in LMIC. Professor Hendriksen's dedication to combating AMR and improving food safety continues to inspire and drive advancements in public health. |
Speaker 2 - Niamh Lacy-Roberts (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark)
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| | I hold a BSc in Biomedical Science from Edinburgh Napier University and an MSc in Bioinformatics from the University of Copenhagen. I am passionate about combining my laboratory experience and bioinformatics skills to support antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and strengthen whole-genome sequencing (WGS) capacity. I specialize in Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing, with hands-on experience in both laboratory work and data analysis. As a research assistant in the Global Capacity Building Group at the Technical University of Denmark, I work on the Fleming Fund Regional Grant project, SEQAFRICA. My role involves developing ONT sequencing protocols and delivering bioinformatics training as part of the SEQAFRICA initiative. |
Speaker 3 - Joana Mourão (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark)
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| | Dr Joana Mourão is a microbiologist and bioinformatician at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), supporting multidisciplinary disease surveillance and capacity-building initiatives. With 15 years of experience in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, she works at the intersection of microbial genomics and data science to advance global AMR monitoring systems. Her work and experience integrate wet-lab and computational approaches to investigate resistance genotypes, understand bacterial adaptation, and enable early detection of emerging threats. She applies whole-genome sequencing (WGS), machine learning, and high-performance computing to characterize clinically relevant microorganisms. She has contributed to international projects across Europe, the USA, and Africa, co-authoring several scientific publications and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to strengthen global AMR surveillance. At DTU, she actively contributes to the WHO Collaborating Centre, the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL), and the FAO Reference Laboratory for AMR, advising global partners on genomic epidemiology and integrated AMR monitoring strategies. Her current focus includes integrating genomic tools and artificial intelligence for AMR surveillance and early-warning systems. She also supports the development of training programs and genomic proficiency tests to enhance AMR data analysis capacity worldwide. |
Speaker 4 - Carmen Espinosa Gongora (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark)
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| | I am a microbiologist and epidemiologist specialised in infectious diseases. I have a veterinary background (DVM), a PhD in One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and have completed the ECDC European Public Health Microbiology (EUPHEM) fellowship. My expertise includes basic and applied research, with a strong focus on preventing AMR transmission and developing innovative One Health interventions. Additionally, my operational public health experience includes outbreak management, surveillance, the development of public health strategies, and strengthening surveillance capacity in Europe and LMICs. |
Last modified: Friday, 22 August 2025, 7:01 PM