dr. Tess Goessens (PhD)

Dr. Tess Goessens leads translational research on the role of environmental exposures in cancer development, with a particular focus on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Her research combines exposome science, analytical chemistry, epidemiology, human-derived organoid models, and animal studies to identify environmental risk factors for cancer and unravel the molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis.
Dr. Goessens is the principal investigator of AquaGlance, a population-based exposome research project embedded within the Gezondheidsmonitor prospective Belgian cohort, combined by a FWO postdoctoral mandate and a Fight Against Cancer prevention project (Kom op Tegen Kanker), also in collaboration with INRAE (National Research Institute of France), de Gezindsbond, Burgerplicht and AquaFlanders. The project investigates exposure to EDCs in tap and bottled drinking water across diverse environmental and socioeconomic settings and evaluates their potential contribution to cancer risk. By integrating advanced chemical analyses, exposure assessment, geospatial analyses, and risk evaluation, AquaGlance aims to identify exposure hotspots, inform evidence-based public health interventions, and support future water quality regulations. 
Additionally, Dr. Goessens coordinates three complementary, causality-driven research projects that investigate how environmental exposures influence cancer initiation and progression using mechanistic model systems: (i) the MyColon FWO-funded project on the role of mycotoxin exposure in colorectal cancer, using animal models and patient-derived organoids; (ii) the Brexpogen project (FWO-requested) examining the impact of EDCs on breast cancer initiation; and (iii) functional analyses of endocrine disruptor effects on breast organoids, focusing on morphology, growth dynamics, apoptosis, DNA damage responses, and early tumorigenic changes.
Dr. Goessens is also a co-investigator in the Flemish Environment and Health Studies (FLEHS5), where she contributes to human mycotoxin biomonitoring. Within this Flemish Government–funded exposome research program, she investigates environmental exposure patterns in adolescents to better understand how combined lifetime exposures may impact health.
 

• Master in Veterinary Sciences, 2015, Ghent University 
• Top Student Certificate - 2012 
• Clinical Internist Small Animal Medicine, 2016, Ghent University
• Doctor in Veterinary Sciences, 2021, Ghent University    
  (Screening of chemicals in fresh water ecosystems and organ-specific bioaccumulation and elimination of fungicides in the Japanese red-bellied newt)
• Scientific Writer, 2021, TRIUM Clinical Consulting, Belgium
• Postdoctoral assistant (2022-2023), Ghent University: coordinator of the ERC-funded HUMYCO project within the Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health 
• Postdoctoral researcher (2024-to date), Ghent University: FWO post-doctoral mandate working on AquaGlance: unravelling endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water
• Fight Against Cancer Award for most impactful prevention project on cancer risk of endocrine disruptors in drinking water (2024)
• Fight Against Cancer Prevention Project (2024-to date)
• Promotor MyColon (2024 – to date)
• Co-investigator FLEHS-5 (2024-to date)
   

• Emma Bruggeman - doctoral fellow
• Febe Vertriest - doctoral fellow 
   

• Lab address: Campus Heymans, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Gent
• MyTox 
• MyToxSouth 
• Food2Know 
• LinkedIn 
• Biblio UGent 
• ORCID 
• ERC HUMYCO 
• Onderzoek naar hormoon verstorende stoffen in drinkwater
• Nieuw project onderzoekt PFAS in drinkwater: gezamenlijke aanpak voor een gezonder Vlaanderen
• Vier op de vijf gezinnen in Vlaanderen vertrouwen kraanwater
• Flemish Environment and Health Studies (FLEHS)
• Tess Goessens is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks