Introduction
The Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp is a leading independent academic centre for research and innovation, education, and clinical services in public health, global health and tropical medicine. Founded in 1906, ITM’s research today focuses on Disease Prevention, Control and Elimination, Emerging Infections and Outbreaks, and Sustainable and Equitable Health Systems, with antimicrobial resistance embedded across all research themes.
One of ITM’s key areas of expertise is Mpox and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Since 2020, the research group of Laurens Liesenborghs has been studying mpox and its clinical and epidemiological impact. In close partnership with Congolese and international collaborators, the group launched a large research program on mpox transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): the mpox Biology, Outcome, Transmission and Epidemiology (MBOTE) Project (Mbote means “hello” in Lingala, one of the local languages in the DRC). Have a closer look at the project: www.mbote-mpox.com.
The MBOTE consortium has led several studies on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, prevention, and treatment of mpox in both Europe and Africa. A major milestone was the discovery and clinical characterization of the novel Clade Ib variant in the DRC, which drove the 2024 global mpox outbreak. In parallel, the group has initiated multiple studies on mpox in Belgium.
Since May 2026, the group has been heavily involved in the response to the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC. In collaboration with Congolese colleagues, the unit is actively researching the clinical presentation of the Bundibugyo virus and supporting a clinical treatment trial.
The unit of Laurens Liesenborghs specializes in multidisciplinary outbreak research, clinical epidemiology and clinical trials. They are now looking for a biostatistician or epidemiologist to join a multidisciplinary team of 3 clinicians, a biologist, an epidemiologist, and a lab specialist.
