Xavier Saelens (born 1965) is a Belgian scientist and currently his main research interest is finding a universal influenza vaccine.
Saelens obtained a bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Ghent in 1985, and a master's degree in Biotechnology and also a PhD in Biotechnology (1990).
Saelens worked as a Postdoc at the University of Ghent from 1990 until 2004 and he is VIB Project Leader since 2005.
His current research focuses on the development and characterisation of novel influenza A and B vaccines.
Together with Walter Fiers and their team, he works on the development of an M2e-based vaccine.