Projects per year
Personal profile
Research expertise
Laurens Liesenborghs is an infectious disease specialist and researcher specialized in emerging infectious disease and humanitarian medicine. He has a broad scientific background and experience in several key domains of emerging infectious disease research, including animal models, preclinical drug development, virology, vaccinology, microbiology, clinical trials, and epidemiology.
During his PhD he developed a new preclinical mouse model to study the pathophysiology of infective endocarditis. Afterwards, he specialized in emerging viruses. First, by working for Doctors without Borders in a Lassa Fever project in Sierra Leone. Next, by conducting postdoctoral research in the BSL3+ lab of the University of Leuven. There, he helped to develop a hamster model of COVID-19 and worked on testing antivirals and a vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2.
Currently, he is an assistant professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) and a member of ITM’s multidisciplinary Outbreak Research Team. His current research interest mainly concerns Monkeypox. Already before the global outbreak started, he was leading a ‘one-health’ project on MPXV transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, he is currently conducting several research projects on MPX in Belgium, including a study on asymptomatic presentation, a close follow-up of high-risk contacts and several studies on MPXV diagnostics. He is also involved in a large European platform trial on MPX therapeutics.
Besides monkeypox, his main research topics include outbreak research, COVID-19 and viral hemorrhagic fevers, with ongoing projects in Belgium, DRC, Burundi, Guinea, Ghana and Ethiopia.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, MD
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Multidisciplinary investigations of mpox outbreaks in Cameroon
Bangwen, E., Liesenborghs, L., Vercauteren, K., Van Dijck, C. & Netongo, P. M.
14/11/24 → …
Project: PhD-project
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MBOTE-SK (EPIC): Tackling and investigating the South-Kivu mpox outbreak
Liesenborghs, L. & Liesenborghs, L.
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
1/08/24 → 31/01/27
Project: Research Project
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Improving the clinical management and facility-based surveillance of febrile illness in rural Guinea: a multidisciplinary approach
Kourouma, K., Bottieau, E., Vercauteren, K., Liesenborghs, L., Vlieghe, E. & Delamou, A.
1/01/23 → …
Project: PhD-project
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ALERRT: African CoaLition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training
van Griensven, J., Sy, H., van Griensven, J., Liesenborghs, L. & Houben, S.
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
1/12/17 → 30/11/25
Project: Research Project
Research output
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Clade I mpox virus genomic diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024: Predominance of zoonotic transmission
Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Amuri-Aziza, A., Fernandez-Nuñez, N., Makangara-Cigolo, JC., Pratt, C., Vakaniaki, EH., Hoff, NA., Luakanda-Ndelemo, G., Akil-Bandali, P., Nundu, SS., Mulopo-Mukanya, N., Ngimba, M., Modadra-Madakpa, B., Diavita, R., Paku-Tshambu, P., Pukuta-Simbu, E., Merritt, S., O'Toole, A., Low, N., Nkuba-Ndaye, A., & 19 others, 2025, In: Cell. 188, 1, 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review
Open Access -
Epidemiological and clinical features of mpox during the clade Ib outbreak in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a prospective cohort study
Brosius, I., Vakaniaki, EH., Mukari, G., Munganga, P., Tshomba, JC., De Vos, E., Bangwen, E., Mujula, Y., Tsoumanis, A., Van Dijck, C., Alengo, A., Mutimbwa-Mambo, L., Kumbana, FM., Munga, JB., Mambo, DM., Zangilwa, JW., Kitwanda, SB., Houben, S., Hoff, NA., Makangara-Cigolo, JC., & 20 others, 2025, In: Lancet. 405, 10478, p. 547-559 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review
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Establishment of a regional Mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: shared experiences in an endemic region
Vakaniaki, EH., Merritt, S., Linsuke, S., Malembi, E., Muyembe, F., Lunyanga, L., Mayuma, A., Kwete, P., Kalonji, T., Madinga, J., Lebreton, M., Nakoune, E., Kalthan, E., Shang, SVD., Nwobegahay, J., Ehiakhamen, O., Dibongue, E., Kankou, JM., Erima, B., Byarugaba, DK., & 17 others, 2025, In: Global Health Research and Policy. 10, 1, 5 p., 14.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open Access -
Suspected and confirmed mpox cases in DR Congo: a retrospective analysis of national epidemiological and laboratory surveillance data, 2010-23
Bangwen, E., Diavita, R., De Vos, E., Vakaniaki, EH., Nundu, SS., Mutombo, A., Mulangu, F., Abedi, AA., Malembi, E., Kalonji, T., Kacita, C., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Wawina-Bokalanga, T., Kremer, C., Brosius, I., Van Dijck, C., Bottieau, E., Vercauteren, K., Amuri-Aziza, A., Makangara-Cigolo, JC., & 20 others, 2025, In: Lancet. 405, 10476, p. 408-419 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review
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Africa should research the long-term sequelae of mpox
Komakech, A., Ajong, BN., Kalala, D., Efire, N., Kacita, C., Vakaniaki, EH., Izudi, J., Liesenborghs, L. & Ndembi, N., 2024, In: Lancet Global Health. 12, 10, p. e1580-e1581 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial
Open Access