Natalie Leys

Dr. Natalie Leys is Manager of Microbial Biotechnology Research and Coordinator of Space Life Sciences Research at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium). She holds a Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering ( KULeuven) and a PhD in Environmental Biotechnology (Ghent University). Over the past two decades, she has built an internationally recognized research career at the interface of microbiology, biotechnology, nuclear sciences, and space exploration. Her research focuses on understanding how microorganisms survive, adapt, and function under extreme conditions, ranging from deep subsurface environments and nuclear installations to the radiation environments encountered during radiotherapy and spaceflight. Through studies on microbial adaptation, radiation responses, microbe–metal interactions, microbiomes, and biotechnological applications, her work contributes both to the advancement of nuclear medicine and radioligand therapies for cancer treatment on Earth and to the development of life-support technologies for future human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Dr. Leys has played leading roles in numerous European and international research initiatives, including pioneering spaceflight experiments investigating the use of microbes for air revitalization, water recycling, and sustainable food production during long-duration space missions. More recently, her research has expanded into microbial biotechnology for nuclear medicine, exploring microbial proteins and biological scaffolds as innovative platforms for the development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals and precision radionuclide therapies. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Leys has authored over 120 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has presented her work extensively at international conferences and through public outreach and media engagements. She serves regularly as an expert evaluator and reviewer for universities, scientific journals, funding agencies, European research programs, and has held advisory roles in several professional organizations, including the Belgian Society for Microbiology, the Vlaamse Ruimtevaart Industrie, the ESA-MELiSSA program, and the National Committee for Microbiology.

Microbes thrive where human life is impossible and are pioneers in resilience and adaptability. As such, microbes help us to answer ‘limits of life’ questions and inspire innovations, on Earth and in Space. Our research in radiation biology, microbiome science and nuclear biotechnology, explores how microbes can support deep space exploration, sustainable nuclear waste management, and new approaches in nuclear medicine. In this talk I will give a few examples of the important role of microbes in underground geological waste repositories, regenerative life-support systems for future Moon and Mars missions, and radio(ligand)therapy for cancer treatment. This work exemplifies how microbes continue to expand our understanding of what life can do and continue to push the limits of our world and life itself.