prof. Andreja Rajkovic (PhD)

My research focuses on understanding how biological and chemical hazards in our environment and food chain affect human health at the cellular and molecular level. I study pathogenic microorganisms (such as foodborne bacteria and viruses), their toxins, and emerging contaminants including microplastics and nanoplastics. While these hazards are traditionally studied separately, my work deliberately integrates them, because real-life human exposure almost always involves complex mixtures rather than single agents.

The core aim of my research is to identify how these hazards interact with human cells, disrupt biological processes, and contribute to disease risk. Using advanced in vitro models, including human cell lines, 3D cell cultures, and organoid-based systems, my team investigates mechanisms such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier disruption, and altered gene expression. These cellular pathways are highly relevant not only for acute toxicity, but also for chronic disease development.

This research is important for society because it supports evidence-based risk assessment and prevention strategies, helping to protect vulnerable populations such as infants, patients, and individuals with compromised health. For other researchers, it provides mechanistic insight into how environmental and microbial stressors affect fundamental cellular functions.

Within multidisciplinary cancer research, my work contributes by improving understanding of how long-term, low-dose exposure to toxins, pathogens, and particulate contaminants can create pro-inflammatory and metabolically altered cellular environments. Such environments are increasingly recognized as enabling factors in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and therapy response. By linking exposure science, toxicology, microbiology, and advanced cell biology, my research helps bridge environmental health and cancer biology, supporting a more holistic view of disease causation and prevention.
 

Prof. Dr. Andreja Rajković is a Full Professor in the field of Food Safety at Ghent University (Faculty of Bioscience Engineering). He leads a multidisciplinary research team working at the interface of microbiology, toxicology, exposure science, and human health, with a strong focus on pathogen- and toxin-driven cellular effects and emerging contaminants such as micro- and nanoplastics.

He has coordinated and contributed to numerous national and European research projects addressing foodborne hazards, environmental exposures, and advanced in vitro testing strategies. His work integrates human cell models, 3D cultures, organoid-based systems, and metabolic profiling to unravel mechanisms of cellular stress, inflammation, and bioenergetic disruption relevant to chronic disease development.

Prof. Rajković is President of the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) and is actively involved in international scientific governance, expert panels, and advisory activities related to food safety and public health. He serves on editorial boards of international peer-reviewed journals and regularly contributes as an expert to risk assessment and policy-oriented discussions at national and European levels.

Through his academic leadership, editorial work, and international collaborations, he actively promotes interdisciplinary approaches that connect exposure science, cellular biology, and disease-oriented research, including pathways relevant to cancer initiation, progression, and prevention.
 

• dr. Maaike Vercauteren (PhD) - postdoctoral researcher (Adverse Outcome Pathways, toxicologist)
• dr. Charlotte Grootaert (PhD) - postdoctoral researcher (in vitro specialist)
• dr. Elien Alderweireldt (PhD) - postdoctoral researcher (in vitro (organoids) specialist)
• Bram Jacobs - doctoral fellow (pathogens and microbial toxins specialist)
   

• Lab address: Coupure links 653, B-9000 Gent
• LinkedIn  
• Google Scholar
• Prof. Rajkovic can provide specific platforms or services for other researchers
  - Seahorse extracellular flux analyzes (Seahorse XFe96, Seahorse Flex 24)
  - Live cell imaging with Incucyte SX5
  - Oxford nanopore sequencing
• Prof. Rajkovic is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks