Piet Cools

Academic and Researcher | Women's Health Advocate | Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance Expert Prof. Dr. Piet Cools is an esteemed academic and researcher affiliated with Ghent University, Belgium. With over a decade of experience, his work focuses on advancing women’s health through groundbreaking research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), vaginal microbiota, and innovative diagnostic tools. Driven by a passion for improving reproductive health outcomes, Dr. Cools has played a pivotal role in projects like MAMAcure, which aims to tackle bacterial vaginosis and other genital tract infections in sub-Saharan Africa through molecular diagnostics and community-focused interventions. Dr. Cools' expertise lies in studying the vaginal microbiome, with a particular interest in the role of Lactobacillus iners and Gardnerella species in bacterial vaginosis. He is committed to developing new methods for culturing "unculturable" BV-associated species and validating rapid diagnostics to address clinical challenges in vaginitis. Additionally, he leads efforts to understand resistance at both the isolate/species and microbiome levels. As a dedicated advocate for global health, Dr. Cools has been instrumental in building capacity in low-resource settings, fostering collaborations with African institutions, and mentoring the next generation of researchers. His initiatives include integrating PhD programs for African partners into European universities, advancing sustainable data management, and establishing biobanks to support cutting-edge research. Dr. Cools is a prolific contributor to peer-reviewed literature and a sought-after speaker at international conferences. His work is characterized by a commitment to translating scientific knowledge into real-world solutions, ensuring equitable access to healthcare innovations for underserved populations. Expertise: vaginitis, vaginale gezondheid, vaginale infecties, HPV, bacteriële vaginose, vaginale candidiasis, microbioom, diagnostiek, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomonas, moleculaire testen, PCR, sequencing, Afrika