Accurate diagnostic testing currently performed central laboratories often take a long time to process, leading to delays in receiving results. This has driven the demand for rapid decentralized PCR testing, performed in satellite laboratories at the point of care or in locations where there is a need for on-demand testing, like airports, large corporations, UCI / ED settings in hospitals etc.
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About
The company is spun out of imec, the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and a research collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, the leading US research and medical center.
Our proprietary silicon chip and reader require only a small sample volume. The sample moves through the PCR card using capillary forces alone.
The silicon chip is used to perform liquid handling steps completely passively and to support an efficient PCR reaction. The results with lab-quality sensitivity and specificity are visualized on a connected device in a user-friendly user interface.
Management Team
The team at miDiagnostics is experienced and dedicated, bringing together research expertise and business acumen, and is united by a desire to see diagnostic systems transform worldwide.
Katleen Verleysen PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Katleen Verleysen joined miDiagnostics as CEO in May 2021. She has been active in the Life Sciences sector for over 20 years and has held various CEO, Senior Management positions and Board roles across the sector.
This includes CEO roles at Pronota (Belgium), CellSeeQ (Belgium) and DNameIT (Belgium). She has also held / holds BOD positions at ImmunExpress (USA), PharmaFluidics (Belgium), and the Center for Medical Innovation (Belgium). She has successfully completed multiple rounds of funding for many of these companies during her tenure. She started her career in the US and was one of the founding scientists of Serenex (USA).
Just prior to joining miDiagnostics, she was responsible for fine-tuning imec’s healthcare strategy, as well as enabling strategic partnerships. She is currently a Board member of Immunexpress, a Seattle based diagnostics company, representing the Janssen Family Office. Katleen holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, from the University of Ghent, Belgium. Katleen also received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Medical Center of Duke University (NC, USA).
Frank Hazevoets
Chief Financial Officer
Frank Hazevoets joined the company as CFO in October 2023. He brings more than 30 years of experience in shaping and executing a company’s strategy and in building value for its shareholders.
After spending 10 years in the banking (corporate finance) sector, he has worked for more than 20 years in the fast moving consumer goods and life sciences industries, of which 15 years were in CFO roles.
Notably, Frank was a director of strategy and external growth at AB InBev from 2001 to 2006 and had since then CFO roles in TiGenix, Promethera Biosciences, ASIT Biotech and Cell Matters (acquired by Cryoport). He holds a Master of Engineering and a Master of Business Economics from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
Ben Chambers
COO
Ben Chambers joined the miDiagnostics team in February 2019. He is responsible for the development and execution of the Regulatory and Quality Strategies for miDiagnostics and its product platform.
Ben has worked in various operations, regulatory and research roles within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries for over 25 years, with companies such as Merck, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Ethicon, LifeScan, and DePuy.
During his career, Ben has had leadership positions within Project Management, Quality Assurance, Operations, Regulatory Affairs and R&D, leading variety of process improvements, product approvals and launches across Europe, the USA and the Far East.
Ben has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nottingham and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Bradford.
Mireille Maenhoudt PhD
VP Research
Mireille joined miDiagnostics in November 2020. She brings experience in innovation and R&D management in nano-electronics and measurement systems technology.
Mireille worked at imec for 17 years where she held different positions in R&D, program and people management in the Silicon process technology division. After imec, she served as Executive Vice-President R&D at Heraeus Electro-Nite, where she led a global team developing automated measurement systems and sensors for the molten metal industry.
Mireille Holds a PhD in Physics from the KU Leuven.
Tom Willshare
VP Product Development
Tom joined miDiagnostics in April 2020 to lead System Architecture on the Complete Blood Count product, in May 2021 he took up the role of VP Product Development.
He has extensive experience successfully developing products for markets across a range of industries. Tom is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, holds a master’s degree in Mechanical and Design Engineering from University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and is a Fellow of the IMechE. Prior to miDiagnostics Tom was System Development Lead for a point-of-care diagnostic instrument with QuantuMDx, and led a global New Product Development team with National Oilwell Varco.
Vesna Kostanjevecki PhD
VP Clinical Development & Regulatory Affairs
Vesna joined miDiagnostics as Vice-President Clinical Development & Regulatory Affairs in June 2021. She brings experience in research, IVD product development and product life cycle management.
Vesna was recently working at Imec R&D Project One on the Development RT qPCR device for COVID 19. Before this she has worked at Innogenetics/Fujirebio for more than 19 years and held different positions, the latest of which being R&D Director.
Vesna holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Ghent.
Olivier Desmarets
VP Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Olivier Desmarets joined miDiagnostics as VP Manufacturing & Supply Chain in September 2021. Olivier brings 20 years’ experience in end-to-end supply chain management in Medical Device industries including 10 years in Diagnostics.
Prior to joining miDiagnostics, Olivier worked at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics where he held various senior supply chain & operations roles and was actively engaged in significant transitions of the company from its carve out from J&J through its IPO in 2021.
Olivier holds a MSc in Business Engineer from UCL in Louvain-La-Neuve.
Board of Directors
We are pleased to have a Board of Directors with a proven track record in the healthcare sector.
Ir. Urbain Vandeurzen PhD
Board Chairman
Urbain Vandeurzen is a serial entrepreneur and co-chairs miDiagnostics’ Board. He is also the founder and chairman of Smile Invest, a private equity fund focused on supporting innovative growth companies. He is a chairman or member of the board of a number of technology, industrial and financial services companies.
Previously he was co-founder, Chairman and CEO of LMS, The Engineering Innovation Partner of the Global Top 500 manufacturing companies, which was successfully sold to Siemens in 2012. He was board member at Gimv for 12 years, 5 years of which he served as Chairman. He is honorary chairman of VOKA, the Flemish Employers Organization and Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2012, he has been a member of the board of directors at KU Leuven and became chairman of the KULeuven “Opening the Future” fundraising campaign. He is also chairman of the Strategic Research Center of the Manufacturing Industries, Flanders Make, as well as the Strategic Research Institute on Neurodegenerative Disease, Mission Lucidity.
Michel Akkermans
Non-Executive Director
Michel Akkermans is a serial entrepreneur, private investor, advisor and board member, serving on the boards of public and private companies and private equity funds.
He was co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Clear2Pay, a finance technology company focused on global payment solutions, before it was acquired by FIS in 2014. Before Clear2Pay, Michel was founder, CEO and Chairman of FICS, a fintech company specializing in online banking and compliance reporting. In 1999, FICS merged with Security First Technologies, creating S1 Corporation, where he was appointed Chairman. He also was executive chairman of Data4S, a data analytics specialist, focusing on anti-money laundering applications.
Michel holds a Masters in electronic engineering and computer sciences and a degree in economics and finance from the University of Leuven, Belgium. More information on www.pamica.be
Willem van den Bruinhorst, MBA
Non-Executive Director
Since 2020 Willem is active as consultant and board member in the healthcare industry with his own company VDBMC bv.
He has been active in the healthcare industry for over 30 years.
He started as a plant manager at Gobuplast and 6 year later became a Managing Director. In 2002 Willem was appointed as CEO of Medisize Medical group. Under private equity ownership Willem managed the expansion of the company and was appointed by Ratos private equity as CEO of Medisize Oy Group in 2008. In 2011 he managed the merger with Phillips Plastics and took the role of President Phillips-Medisize Europe, reporting to the CEO of Phillips-Medisize. In this role he was responsible for the business in Europe including sales, engineering, operations, quality, HR, finance and managed 5 production sites with 900 people.
During his time at Phillips-Medisize, Willem was heavily involved in developing and implementing the strategy including M&A. He has managed significant growth with high volume drug delivery device programs and developed solid customer relationships at executive level.
Willem holds a BSc degree in Marine Engineering, MBA from Business School Netherlands and followed Management Trainings at IMD Business School in Lausanne.
Els Degroote
Non-Executive Director
Els Degroote is an Investment Principal at Alychlo NV, the investment firm of Belgian entrepreneur Marc Coucke.
Prior to joining Alychlo, Els has been active as M&A Partner at EY for ca 6 years mainly focusing on large Private Equity transactions and before that she has worked 16 years at KBC Securities Corporate Finance where she advised many Belgian companies with their Equity Capital Market and M&A transactions. During her 22 years as Corporate Finance and M&A advisor, she has supported many Belgian shareholders and management teams in public and private capital increases as well as IPOs. In addition she advised many Belgian companies in various M&A and strategic projects in a broad variety of sectors and differents size of companies going from start-up to large listed companies.
She holds a Master Degree in Commercial Engineering and has an MBA Financial Management at Vlerick Leuven Ghent Management School. She also is board member at Greenyard.
Stuart C. Ray, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Non-Executive Director
Stuart C. Ray serves as Vice Chair of Medicine for Data Integrity and Analytics and is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, with a secondary appointment in Oncology, all within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he is also Assistant Dean for Research.
He co-chairs research for the Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) Data Trust Council, is an Associate Director of JHM in Health, and directs a virology laboratory where he studies the interplay of viral evolution and human immunology. He is a faculty member of the Graduate Immunology program, the Graduate Pharmacology program, and of the Janeway Firm of the Osler Medical Service.
He received his MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1990 then did his clinical training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins.
Peter Verhaeghe
Non-Executive Director
As Managing Partner of VVGB Advocaten-Avocats, Peter Verhaeghe represents major European, American and Asian multinationals, medium-size enterprises and start-ups in all sectors of the economy.
He has significant corporate, corporate finance and tax experience advising clients active in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, hi-tech and assisting and consumer products sector throughout Europe.
Peter has held a wide range of board positions. He is currently Chairman of the Board of argenx SE (the Netherlands), a Euronext and NASDAQ listed company, a member of the Board of Directors of Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV) (Belgium), Chairman of the Board of Directors of Haretis SA (Luxembourg) and Chairman of the Limited Partners and of the advisory committee of Bioqube Factory Fund I.
Peter received his J.D. from KULeuven and his Masters Degree in Law from Harvard Law School.
Ludo Deferm
Non-Executive Director
Ludo Deferm received the Electrical Engineering Degree in Electronics and Mechanics in 1982. From 1982 till 1984 he was active as a device development engineer, doing research and teaching at the university of Leuven (KUL).
End of 1984 imec was founded by the Flemish Government and as the team of process technology moved to imec, he also became an employee of the new research center on micro-electronics. In imec, in collaboration with the KUL, he started his PhD work on parasitic bipolars in a CMOS technology and related to that on the latch-up phenomena in CMOS circuits. He received his PhD degree in 1989 from the University of Leuven, Belgium.
In imec he was involved in the development of CMOS processes, new devices and process integration. He became head of Si Process Integration and proceeded his career as adjunct Vice-President of the Silicon Technology and Device Integration division. His major activities where focused on the development of BICMOS processes and scaling CMOS processes, with emphasis of using solid state physics to understand the behavior of scaled down CMOS and memory devices.
In 2000 he was appointed as Executive Vice-President of Corporate Business, IP, Corporate Communication, Venturing and Public Affairs. The most important part of this job was to strengthen business development and corporate communication at imec, investigating and implementing new business models, creating a new group for increasing participation in Flemish and European public funded projects, and setting up new schemes for spin-off creation. In function of time, he became responsible for setting up governance structures and compliance activities.
He was board member of more than 5 spin-off companies of imec (Ansem, Xenics,Trinean, Indigo,….), helping them grow and preparing and realizing exit scenario’s together with the other board members.
He is also board member of the imec legal entities in Flanders, the Netherlands, Florida, Taiwan, China, and India, but this will fade out as today he is only part time active in imec.
Furthermore, in the Netherlands he is still board member of Foundation One Planet, a legal entity formed by University of Wageningen, Radboudt and imec and of HOLST in Eindhoven, a legal entity created by TNO and imec.
In Flanders he is board member of Health House, RVO-Society, Campus EnergyVille nv and Foundation EnergyVille.
He is also active in the steering committee of Solliance in the Netherlands, of Neuron research collaboration with KUL and VIB (NERF) and of a steering committee in Florida, a collaboration between BRIDG, Osceola County and imec Florida.
Piet Wigerinck PhD
Non-Executive Director
Piet Wigerinck is a pharmacist and holds a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the KU Leuven. He has over 30 years of R&D experience in the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology with extensive experience in anti-infective, autoimmune and anti-fibrotic disease research.
He has been a key driver of the research and development programs of 4 approved medicines: PrezistaTM, OlysioTM, JyselecaTM and RekambysTM. He started his career at Janssen Research Labs, next moved to Tibotec-Virco, where he was Vice President, Drug Discovery, Early Development and CM&C and most recently he was Chief Scientific Officer at Galapagos where under his leadership a pipeline of first-in class medicines was built out, that drove the growth of the company to a top European biotech player.
In May 2018, Dr. Wigerinck was elected as independent board member of Ipsen SA, France and as of September 2021 he joined the miDiagnostics board.
Wim Ottevaere
Non-Executive Director
Wim has a career of about 30 years in biotech as CFO.
Started in 1992 at Innogenetics (now Fujirebio Europe) a diagnostic biotech company. From 2006 until September 2018, he was CFO at Ablynx, a Belgian biopharmaceutical company.
Ablynx was listed on Euronext Brussels and Nasdaq and was acquired by Sanofi in June 2018. From July 2020 to June 2023, he also served as CFO of NV Biotalys. He has advised several companies in biotech since 2018 and is a member of the board of directors of NV Sequana Medical. Wim holds a master’s degree in business economics from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Timothy Ian Still
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Still is currently Chairman and CEO of TSTILL Enterprises LLC, and an Operating Partner with REVIVAL Healthcare, where he is involved in evaluating and managing compelling investment opportunities in medical technology.
An accomplished executive with a career spanning over 34 years in medical diagnostics, devices and digital health, his background includes extensive experience in raising capital as well as designing and implementing highly focused commercial / business development strategies within both large and small companies. Tim has been directly responsible for building the commercial viability at all of his previous companies – many of which have been successfully acquired.
His most recent operating role was President and CEO of Sense Biodetection. Early in 2023, Sense Bio was merged with Sherlock Biosciences to create a leading point of care diagnostics company serving the consumer diagnostics market. Prior to Sense Biodetection, Mr. Still has been a CEO and Board member at numerous medical technology companies: Myoscience, MDx Health (Board member), Gold Standard Diagnostics (Executive Chairman), Global Kinetics, Xagenic and Accumetrics. Earlier in his career, Tim also held senior leadership roles at HemoSense, Cholestech, Boehringer Mannheim & Roche.
Mr. Still has a master’s degree in business administration (Dean’s Scholar) from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science degree (Highest Honors) from the University of California at Davis.
Partnerships
miDiagnostics’ nanoFluidic Processor technology was initially developed by imec, the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, together with the expertise of Johns Hopkins University, the leading US research and medical center.
Strategic partnerships will continue to be at the heart of our business model.
“We’re very grateful to our partners, Brussels Airport Company, Ecolog, UZ Leuven, KU Leuven and Eurofins, who are making it possible to test our COVID-19 PCR Test in real life settings.”
Our partnership with Galapagos focuses on the development of a closed-flow, ultra-rapid PCR sterility test for CAR-T batch release in a decentralized manufacturing setting, in compliance with regulatory requirements. In short: fast and automated PCR testing, close to patients.
We collaborate with Encephalitis International to raise awareness of the need for early and accurate diagnosis of viral encephalitis. Together we strive to create a world without death and disability from encephalitis.
Partner with us. Please get in touch to explore business, research and commercial opportunities.
Careers.
Are you innovative and creative? Passionate about the interplay of technology and science? Want to play a part in transforming diagnostics and its role in the global healthcare system?
Then come and join our growing team in Leuven, Belgium.
We pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive culture of innovation, where anybody at any level in the organization can contribute to the success of our technology and its applications.
For further information, and details on current vacancies, please visit our Careers Portal.
Careers Portal
“miDiagnostics has the potential to disrupt and transform the industry by making diagnostic information available to clinician and patient alike.”
“Its easy-to-use and cost-efficient test will revolutionize point-of-care testing by directly engaging with patients and enabling speedy intervention.”
“Proud to be leading a top team and together with our numerous partners to make a significant contribution to healthcare in general.”
“As a Non-Executive Director on miDiagnostics’ Board, I have been privileged to witness its continued development. I am very proud to see many years of hard work coming to fruition and providing value, facilitating the return to a normal way of life, with potential to move high quality testing closer to the patient.”
“This technology could aid the management of outbreaks in challenging settings, such as nursing homes and home care environments, allowing healthcare professionals to adjust their management decisions at the point of care. ”
