He coordinates several EU funded projects, such as the Platform for European Preparedness Against (Re-)emerging Epidemics (PREPARE), the Rapid European COVID-19 Emergency Research response (RECOVER), and European Clinical Research Alliance for Infectious Diseases (ECRAID).
In 2008 he received the Methusalem award of the Flemish government. In 2020, he was nominated for the 'Star of Europe' prize for his contribution to the fight against antibiotic resistance. His professional goal is to bridge the gap between basic and clinical research, with a major focus on antibiotic resistance, to enhance the standard of healthcare, public health and professional standards, for the good of the public in large. His vision is to build a sustainable infrastructure for clinical research on infectious diseases in Europe. He is a popular resource person and opinion leader, much sought after by local and international media for views on matters related to public health and infectious diseases