Prof. Baltasar Escriche

Prof. Dr. Baltasar Escriche is a Professor of Genetics at the University of Valencia (Spain) and currently serves as the Director of the Master in Research in Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Faculty of Biology. He studied Biology at the University of Valencia and completed his postdoctoral work at the University of Limburg (Belgium) funded by a European Union grant. He obtained a tenure track at the U. of Valencia funded with the prestigious “Ramon y Cajal” Spanish program in 2002. He actively participates in the scientific societies of SEEA, SIP, and SEBBM. He has worked on different aspects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins, namely, discovery, production, and application from his Ph.D. in 1990 because of its relevance as an environmentally friendly pesticide. It is worthwhile to remark that his notable contributions include studies on Cry protein binding sites and insect resistance, as well as pre- and post-binding mechanisms. He is also exploring new topics related to non-conventional Bt proteins and their effects on nematodes. He has a strong interest in developing countries and has collaborated with African research initiatives funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is currently involved in the EU PRIMA program. At present, he leads competitive research projects funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, and the European Union.