Jan Willems, MD, PhD is an expert in the field of pharmacology and toxicology, and was a professor of environmental health (now retired) at the University of Ghent Medical School. His scientific work in pharmacology and toxicology included clinical management of organophosphorus pesticide intoxications and mustard gas casualties. Among other investigations, he served as an expert in a 1988 investigation of the alleged use of mustard gas against Iraqi Kurds by their then-govenrment.
Dr. Willems has served as an independent medical chemical weapons expert for the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM, Iraq, 1991), the United Nations (UN chemical fact-finding mission Azerbaijan, 1992), and the medical department of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.