Joris Vermeesch

Joris VermeeschProf. Joris Vermeesch is a professor of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Research at KU Leuven. He serves as the coordinator for the Genomics Core, Leuven, and as the head of the Constitutional Cytogenetics unit at the Center for Human Genetics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1993 with studies on telomere biochemistry. He is on the board of directors for the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis as well as a member of the European Cytogenetics Association's Scientific Program Committee. He is also the president-elect of the International Society of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. He previously served as president of the Belgian Society of Human Genetics from 2008 to 2010. His research entails the development of novel genomic technologies for genetic diagnostic testing and identifying the molecular mechanisms behind chromosomal instability and rearrangements. His laboratory has been analyzing the sequences of those with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome with the goal of learning more about the causes of phenotypic variability.