A full professor at the University of Bologna since 2016, he conducts his research in the field of food safety. His research interests focus on the traceability of microorganisms responsible for foodborne illnesses using molecular techniques (PFGE, MLVA, and real-time PCR) and genomic sequencing techniques. His recent research has focused on the study of antibiotic resistance in zoonotic bacteria and risk assessment in artisanal food products. Engaged in international research projects, he collaborates with several European institutions. He is the author of over 120 publications in indexed international journals.
Education
Professor Gerardo Manfreda graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bologna in 1986. He earned a PhD in "Increase, Hygiene, Health, and Quality of Animal Production" (III cycle) from the University of Perugia in 1990.
Academic Career
Researcher in Veterinary Pathology and Inspection of Foods of Animal Origin at the University of Bologna from 1991 to 2010. Associate Professor at the University of Bologna from 2010 to 2015. He obtained his scientific qualification for the full professorship - competitive examination sector 07/H2 during the 2012 session. Since 2016, he has been a Full Professor of Inspection of Foods of Animal Origin at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna.
Teaching Activities
He currently teaches four courses at the University of Bologna, specifically: 1) FOOD-BORNE DISEASE RISK ANALYSIS IN THE GASTRONOMY SECTOR, within the Bachelor's Degree in Gastronomy and Culture; 2) HYGIENE AND SAFETY IN LIVESTOCK FARMS, within the Bachelor's Degree in Animal Production; 3) INSPECTION AND HYGIENE OF FOOD OF ANIMAL ORIGIN, within the Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology; and 4) BACTERIAL TRACEABILITY AND FOOD SAFETY, within the Master's Degree in Food Science and Technology. From the academic year 2020-2021 to 2023-2024 he held the course of FOODBORNE RISK TRACEABILITY at the inter-university master's degree course in Food Safety and Food Risk Management.
Scientific Activity
He is the head of the Food Safety Laboratory at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies of the University of Bologna, located at Via del Florio 2, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO).
He has more than 35 years of experience in food safety and environmental microbiology, with over 120 scientific publications in high-impact journals (h-index 26 and total citations of 2,750 to date).
His research has addressed various issues in the poultry, swine, and dairy sectors, with particular emphasis on the following:
- Assessment of the risk of food poisoning by Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Innovative methodologies for improving food safety. Problems related to the control of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis in poultry.
- Use of traditional and molecular methods for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Genetic characterization of food-borne pathogens for epidemiological purposes and for source attribution.
- Characterization of antibiotic resistance.
- Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella, Campylobacter spp., E. coli, Helicobacter pullorum, and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Effect of vitamin E on the immune response of poultry.
International activities.
From 1994 to 1999, he was the Italian representative of Working Group 4 "Monitoring procedures, rapid detection methods, and techniques" within the framework of the European COST Action 97 project "Pathogenic Microorganism in Poultry and Eggs." From 2001 to 2006, he was the Italian representative in the Working Group. 2 “New and emerging foodborne pathogens” of the European project COST Action 920 “Foodborne zoonosis: a co-ordinated food chain approach.
Institutional and Academic activities
He served on the teaching staff of the PhD program in Food Science, the PhD program in Analytical Methodologies in Food Technology and Inspection of Foods of Origin, and the PhD program in Food Science and Biotechnology at the University of Bologna.
Editor in Chief of the Italian Journal of Food Safety
Referee for the following scientific journals: Poultry Science, Italian Journal of Animal Science, International Journal of Food Microbiology, Current Microbiology, Food Control, Veterinary Microbiology, Italian Journal of Food Safety, Frontiers Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Member of several scientific communities, including the Italian Association of Veterinary Hygienists (AIVI), the Italian Society of Veterinary Sciences (SISVET), the Poultry Science Association (PSA), the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA), the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA), the Italian Society of Avian Pathology (SIPA), and the Scientific Association of Poultry.
Participation in EU-funded international research projects.
Member of the Research Unit coordinated by Prof. Achille Franchini as part of a European Union-funded project (Contract No. QLK1 CT 2002 02201) entitled "Improved physiological, immunological, and molecular tools for the recovery and identification of emerging Campylobacteraceae in the food and water chain (CAMPYCHECK)".
Scientific leader of Working Group 2 (Traditional and newly emerging food-borne pathogens and digestive troubles in European poultry farms: effect of various factors [production systems, management, etc.] and possible reduction) as part of the European Union-funded research project (Contract No. FOOD-CT-2005-007076) entitled "Control of the intestinal flora ecology in poultry to ensure product safety for human consumers (POULTRYFLORGUT)".
Member of the Research Unit coordinated by Prof. Franchini within a project funded by the European Union (Contract No. FOOD-CT-2006-36018) entitled "Reducing egg susceptibility to contaminants in avian production in Europe" (RESCAPE).
Coordinator of a large collaborative project within the European Union's 7th Framework Programme entitled "Selection and improving fit-for-purpose sampling procedures for specific foods and risks," acronym: BASELINE.
Scientific leader of the University of Bologna Unit within the European project entitled "Decision support tools to ensure safe, tasty, and nutritious advanced ready-to-eat foods for healthy and vulnerable consumers," acronym: STARTEC.
Scientific leader of the University of Bologna Unit within the European project entitled "Collaborative Management Platform for detection and analysis of (Re-) emerging and foodborne diseases." Outbreaks in Europe" (Compare).
Scientific leader of the University of Bologna's Research Unit for the European project "Innovative Bio-interventions and Risk Modeling Approaches for Ensuring Microbial Safety and Quality of Mediterranean Artisanal Fermented Foods (ArtiSaneFood)" (European coordinator: Prof. U. G. Barron; PRIMA Section 2 2018 Call. Topic 1.3.2: Food safety in Local Chains).
Member of the local research unit for the project "Controlling mIcRobiomes CircuLations for bEtter food Systems" (CIRCLES) (European coordinator: Prof. M. Candela, Grant agreement ID: 818290);
Member of the local research unit for the project "Rethinking Of Antimicrobial Decision-systems in the Management of Animal Production" (ROADMAP) (European coordinator: N. Fortané, INRA, Grant agreement ID: 817626);
Member of the local research unit for the project "Bioconversion of underutilized resources into next-generation proteins for food and feed (NextGenProteins)" (European coordinator: G. Stefánsson, MATIS, Grant agreement ID: 862704);
Member of the local research unit for the project "Versatile emerging infectious disease observatory" (VEO) (European coordinator: Prof. Marion Koopmans, Grant agreement No. 874735).
He has been coordinator of a FP7 EU funded large scale integrated project on “selection and improving of fit-for-purpose sampling plans for specific foods and risks” BASELINE (Grant Agreement 222738).
He participated as responsible of UNIBO partner to other EU projects: CAMPYCHECK within Framework program 5; POULTRYFLORGUT and RESCAPE within Framework program 6; STARTEC within Framework program 7.
Actually as responsible of UNIBO is participating to EU project titled Collaborative Management Platform for Detection and Analyses of (Re-) emerging and foodborne outbreaks in Europe (COMPARE) within Horizon 2020.
He is scientific responsible for the University of Bologna within the European project entitled "Innovative Bio-interventions and Risk Modeling Approaches for Ensuring Microbial Safety and Quality of Mediterranean Artisanal Fermented Foods (ArtiSaneFood) (European Coordinator: Prof. U. G. Barron; Local Coordinator Prof. Gerardo Manfreda) (Call PRIMA Section 2 2018. Topic 1.3.2: Food safety in Local Chains.
He is a member of the local research unit within the following 3 European projects: 1) Controlling mIcRobiomes CircuLations for bEtter food Systems (CIRCLES) (European Coordinator Prof. M. Candela, Grant agreement ID: 818290; 2) Rethinking Of Antimicrobial Decision-systems in the Management of Animal Production (ROADMAP) (European Coordinator N. Fortané INRA Grant agreement ID: 817626); 3) Bioconversion of underutilized resources into next generation proteins for food and feed (NextGenProteins) (European coordinator G. Stefánsson, MATIS. Grant agreement ID: 862704)
