Petra De Sutter
Lecturer
Professor Petra De Sutter has been rector of Ghent University since October 2025. She has had an impressive career as a doctor and professor of reproductive medicine and is a leading figure in both science and public service.
After obtaining her PhD in biomedical sciences at Ghent University in 1991, she completed postdoctoral training at the Illinois Masonic Medical Centre in Chicago. She specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology, with a focus on reproductive medicine, and has been a professor at Ghent University since 2000. From 2008 to 2019, she headed the fertility clinic at Ghent University Hospital.
Her academic career is characterised by a unique integration of clinical practice, teaching and research. She has made extensive contributions to both fundamental research in human embryology and stem cell biology and applied research in reproductive medicine. For ten years (2005-2015), she held a mandate for fundamental clinical research from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO).
In addition to her scientific work, Professor De Sutter has played an active role in the field of ethics and policy as a member of the Superior Health Council, the Ethics Committee of Ghent University Hospital and the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. She has held leadership positions at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and has served on the boards of directors of Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital.
Her political career began in 2014 with positions as senator (2014-2019), member of the European Parliament (2019-2020) and Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium (2020-2025), where she was responsible for public administration, state-owned enterprises, telecommunications and postal services.
In recognition of her contributions to science, ethics and society, she was appointed Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold in 2024.
She is assisted as rector by Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert.
