Richard Ducatelle is emeritus professor in veterinary pathology at Ghent University. His research is mainly on intestinal health and on interactions of zoonotic agents with the animal host reservoir, with a focus on poultry (necrotic enteritis, dysbacteriosis, Salmonella). He served as President of the Belgian Branch of the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) from 1991 to 2024. He has published more than 600 papers in peer reviewed international scientific journals. He was an invited speaker at more than 80 national and international congresses and symposia.