Prof. Irina Spacova is an assistant professor at the Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, where she co-leads the Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMB). She has more than 12 years of experience in microbiome research, gained at universities and research institutes in Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Her research investigates microorganisms at the interface between the human body and the urban environment, and how these contribute to human health. A central aim is to develop sustainable, microbiome-based solutions for urban health challenges, including immune and respiratory diseases.
Prof. Spacova leads the BUGS (Benefits of Urban Green Spaces) project, a citizen science initiative studying how urban parks and their microbial communities benefit the health of city dwellers. She also coordinated the microbiome analyses in the B@SEBALL project (Biodiversity at School Environments Benefits for ALL), which examined biodiversity and health outcomes at green school playgrounds across Belgium. In addition to her research, she teaches in the interuniversity Master of Bioscience Engineering: Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering (SUBE).