Rector
Professor Petra De Sutter has served as Rector of Ghent University since October 2025. She brings to the role a distinguished career as physician, professor of reproductive medicine, and is a prominent figure in both science and public service.
After earning her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Ghent University in 1991, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. She specialized in obstetrics and gynaecology, with a focus on reproductive medicine, and has been affiliated with Ghent University since 2000 as professor. From 2008 to 2019, she headed the fertility clinic at Ghent University Hospital.
Her academic career is marked by a unique integration of clinical practice, teaching, and research. She has contributed extensively to both fundamental research in human embryology and stem cell biology, and applied research in reproductive medicine. She held a fundamental clinical research mandate from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) for a decade (2005-2015).
Beyond her scientific work, Professor De Sutter has played an active role in ethics and policy, serving on the High Health Council, the Ethics Committee of Ghent University Hospital, and the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. She has held leadership positions in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and served on the boards of Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital.
Her political career started in 2014 with roles 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 and she will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Amsterdam in January 2026.
She is assisted in her role as rector by Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert.
Contact
Rector's Office
Campus Ufo, Rectorate
Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25
T.+32 (0)9 264 30 01
rector@ugent.be