Healixia Clinical Conference 2026
Join us for a full day - including lunch, coffee breaks and networking reception - where we touch upon different 'hot topics' in Clinical Research.
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Aneta Tyszkiewicz
Aneta is Director, Science & Regulatory at the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), representing the R&D-based pharmaceutical industry in Europe. She leads EFPIA’s policy and advocacy on data, real-world evidence, and emerging technologies, including biotechnologies.
Her work focuses on advancing the digital transformation of healthcare in Europe to enable the development of innovative, trusted solutions that deliver tangible benefits for patients.
Aneta previously held roles at the Council of European Dentists, the International Diabetes Federation, and in consulting.
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Anne Lenaers
Anne Lenaers is a pharmacist and regulatory expert at the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP/AFMPS). Working within the R&D Division of DG PRE, she acts as Belgium's National Contact Point for the Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) and contributes to European regulatory collaboration as a member of the Clinical Trials Coordination Group (CTCG).
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Christophe Deben
Professor Tumor Biology and Organoids | Group Leader Tumoroid Screening Lab | Head DrugVision.AI Screening Platform and UZA/UAntwerp Tumor Organoid Biobank | Co-founder Orbits Oncology and Sightera Biosciences
As head of the Tumoroid Screening lab at the University of Antwerp, I combine my passion for cancer research with my interest in new technologies to develop more advanced 3D cancer models and automated drug screening assays.
My team applies a multidisciplinary approach that combines cancer biology, live-cell imaging, and data science to find new combination strategies that target cancer cells more efficiently and to improve the prediction of a clinical response from ex vivo tumoroid drug screenings. In addition, we offer proprietary drug screenings assays to academic and industry partners using our own patient-derived tumoroid biobank.
As co-founder of Orbits Oncology, my goal is to make advanced live-cell image analysis more accessible to academic researchers and facilitate the implementation of patient-derived tumoroid models to support the next breakthroughs in cancer research. For industry, we can develop custom solutions for live-cell image data management and compression, image analysis and downstream data visualisation. More info on www.orbits-oncology.com. -
Denis Lacombe
Denis Lacombe graduated with his MD from the University of Marseilles (France) in 1988 and obtained a Master Post-Doctoral Fellowship at The Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY USA) for research in pharmacology and pharmacokinetics from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he worked as a Clinical Research Advisor in charge of the development of a new drug in oncology in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr Lacombe joined the EORTC in 1993 as a research fellow and quickly became a very active and productive Clinical Research Physician involved in the conduct of clinical research from protocol development through publication for a number of oncology indications from phase I to phase III. Dr Lacombe contributed to the strategic evolution of the EORTC pan-European clinical and translational research infrastructure as well as developing partnerships with multiple stakeholders.
Dr Lacombe rose to the position of Director EORTC Headquarters in 2010, was appointed Director General in April 2015 and Chief Executive Officer in June 2021. In his current position, Denis Lacombe leads all activities promoting the EORTC as a major European organization in Cancer Clinical and Translational Research, including scientific activities, public relations and medium-term strategies as defined by the EORTC Board as well as internal and external communications. -
Frank Van Gelder
Frank Van Gelder is a healthcare supply-chain strategist and educator best known for building bridges between life-science innovation, academia and global logistics, with a strong focus on ensuring that increasingly complex therapies can ultimately reach the patient.
Frank is a leader in healthcare, ATMPs, and life sciences supply chains, driving innovation in critical logistics, IT healthcare solutions, and medical education. With 15+ years in organ and cell transplantation and clinical research, he now optimizes high-value, sensitive medical supply chains through cutting-edge innovations.
As Secretary General of Pharma.Aero VZW, he fosters global collaboration in healthcare, pharmaceutical and MedTech logistics.
Frank collaborates with Antwerp Management School, the University of Antwerp, and Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, where he lectures, and co-founded the Pharma Logistics Masterclass. Passionate about disruptive innovation, he drives immersive learning and the acceleration of human skills to transform the industry. -
Ingrid Klingmann
Chairman at EFGCP, President at EUFEMED, Vice-President at PharmaTrain Federation asbl, Managing Director at Pharmaplex bv
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Jade Verrept
Program Manager @ POM Antwerpen / Science Park University of Antwerp
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Mieke Tempels
Director of Operations with extensive experience leading clinical and operational programs within the medical device CRO industry. Passionate about building high-performing teams, optimizing processes, and delivering efficient, compliant solutions that support innovation in healthcare. Focused on operational excellence, strategic growth, and strong client partnerships across complex clinical environments.
15+ years experience in clinical trials.
Background in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Hasselt, Liège and Leuven, Belgium.
Archer Research is a CRO specialized in clinical studies with medical devices. Helped the company and the team grow to where we are today. A valued company, setting up and managing clinical studies in Europe, supporting our clients from clinical evaluation to clinical investigation. -
Thomas Van der Plaetsen
Back on Track Foundation