Directors

With a background in oncology and immunology, Dr. Brichard’s work has been focused since 1986 on the appealing project of educating our natural defenses – those that protect us from infectious diseases – to recognize and kill cancer cells.
He holds an M.D., a specialized master's degree in Internal Medicine and Oncology, and a Ph.D. from Louvain University, Brussels. He further holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Dr. Brichard participated actively in the pioneering work done at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Brussels Branch), under the leadership of Thierry Boon, where he identified several tumor antigens and started the first trials in humans with MAGE antigens. He spent several years at the Institut Curie (Paris), one of Europe's best-known cancer centers, where he set up a cancer immunotherapy platform. In 2002 he joined GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, where he was Senior Vice-President and had responsibility for the Immunotherapeutics Business Unit, which covered a broad, integrated approach to immunotherapy – from bench discovery through clinical development and operations to regulatory and commercial activities. In addition to this position, he served as a member of the Board of Directors at GSK Biologicals (annual sales ca. £ 3.5 bn). Based on his experience, translated by more than 90 primary research publications and reviews, he decided to set up his own consulting firm, ViaNova, aiming to provide support to companies, organizations, institutions and individuals in the fields of immuno-oncology and vaccines. Vincent is Venture Partner with LSP since 2015, active mainly in the LSP 5 and 6 funds.

Denis Bedoret joined Imcyse in September 2020 as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Imcyse, Denis was Chief Executive Officer at MaSTherCell SA, Belgium and President of MaSTherCell Global Inc., U.S. for four years. Under his leadership, the Company expanded significantly growing from 60 to 260 employees and positioning as a leader in the field of CDMO’s dedicated to Cell and Gene therapies products. Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. acquired MaSTherCell and Denis managed the transition period. Prior to his position at MaSTherCell, Denis held the position of Chief Operations Officer at Quality Assistance S.A. a leading European analytical CRO where he was also a member of the Board of Directors. Before that, Denis served as engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, focusing on life science projects. Through these experiences, Denis has gained strong expertise in the global development of innovative human medical products with a focus on biologicals as well as in corporate strategy development and implementation. Denis holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine, a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of Liège and a postdoc in Immunology from Harvard Medical School.

Christina Franssen joined the Board of Imcyse in 2019. She is Investment Manager – Life Sciences Innovation at S.R.I.W. (Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie). Christina has over 15 years’ experience in innovation and research. Prior to being appointed to her current position, she was business development Manager and then Director of state-of-the-art technology platforms at GIGA (University of Liège). Christina began her career as a research scientist at the University of Liège, where she experienced a full cycle of entrepreneurship from the founding of a spin-off company to its exit. Christina holds a Master degree in Biology and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Liège.

Thomas Taapken joined Imcyse as Chairman of the Board in 2019 steering the Company’s transition period after its Series B financing and successful reorganization of the management team. Thomas has over 25 years of experience in senior management positions within the life sciences sector and as a venture investor. Thomas has been CFO of lnflaRx since 2020 and has previously held positions as CFO of Medigene AG (publicly listed in Germany), as CEO and CFO of Epigenomics AG (publicly listed in Germany), where he led the company's efforts in gaining regulatory approval for the company's lead product with the FDA and oversaw its subsequent introduction into the US market, and as CFO at Biotie Therapies (Turku, Finland) and its predecessor companies. Before that he was a venture investor for 7 years with Deutsche Venture Capital (DVC) and Burrill & Co. in the US. Thomas started his career at Hoechst AG (now Sanofi). He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Technical University of Berlin and also studied economics, chemistry and physics at the University of Göttingen. Thomas is a Board member of Scibase AB since 2017 and Board member at Memo Therapeutics AG since 2021.

Stijn Van Rompay joined the Board of Imcyse in 2012. He is an investor with over 20 years’ experience in the private equity and life sciences sectors at senior management and board levels. Stijn co-founded and was CEO of Alter Pharma, a high-growth pharmaceutical company focused on the development of complex generics and pharmacy-related product sales. He was also co-CEO of Uteron Pharma, a company focused on innovative female healthcare products.
Prior to these positions, Stijn was CFO and later, CEO of Docpharma (formerly quoted on Euronext Brussels) a generics and medical-device company. Under his leadership, the companies recorded strong growth and value creation. He also holds several non-executive director positions in the biotech sector, and acts as an advisor to venture capital investors. Stijn holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp.

Hughes Wallemacq joined the Board of Imcyse in 2020. He has been an Investment Manager at Noshaq since 2020. Hugues has broad experience in the medical field ranging from research and development to commercialization of innovative vaccines and diagnostic applications. He is experienced in innovation within the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Hugues has served at executive management and board positions for several companies including GSK Vaccines, Unisensor, Osivax, MagniSense and PDC*Line. He is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Liège.

Stefan Yee joined the Board of Imcyse in 2019. He has more than 30 years of experience in audit, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investment banking and private equity in companies such as KPMG, Linklaters, The Flemish investment bank Lessius, the Belgian Corporation for International Investment (SBI/BMI), Beluga (Euronext Brussels) and as the founder and CEO of the PE Group, a Belgian privately held private equity firm. Stefan is, and has been an investor and/or board member of several listed and private companies such as, amongst others, Beluga, Encare group (Mensura), AXI, The Reference, Alro Holdings, Loomans Group, United Brands, Capco, Faseas International (Spacewell), HD Partners (Dekabo group), AED Rent, UnifiedPost Group, NRG New Generation, Axiles Bionics, including, besides Imcyse, several healthcare companies (Docpharma (formerly Euronext Brussels), Uteron Pharma and Hyloris Pharmaceuticals). Stefan holds a Master’s degrees in Law and Business Management from the Universities of Brussels (VUB and ULB Solvay Business School) and the University of Chicago (as BAEF Fellow).