Meet Our Board of Directors
Experienced minds helping us move forward.
Our board brings together decades of leadership across science, healthcare, business, and innovation. Their collective experience helps shape our long-term strategy, ensures sound governance, and keeps us aligned with our mission: advancing health through smarter, evidence-driven R&D.
More than just oversight, our board plays an active role in shaping the future of healthy aging and supporting our ambition to drive meaningful change through collaboration, innovation, and impact.
Benedikt Van Nieuwenhove
CEO and Board President
Benedikt has 30 years of experience in the CRO field. He obtained his master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences (1991) and his PhD (1997) from the University of Ghent.
In 2000, he founded the “European Centre for Clinical Research Training” (ECCRT) and has been the Managing Director of ECCRT ever since. From 2008-2011 he acted as the VP Global Operations of the Harrison Clinical Research group for which he became the CEO from 2011 to 2014, until the merger with Synteract.
Since 2016, he has been lecturing “Management of Clinical Research” at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ghent. In 2020, he got elected as President of the Belgian Association of CROs (BeCRO).
Hélène Sabatel
Board Member
Hélène Sabatel, PhD, is a distinguished member of the Artialis Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of expertise in molecular biology, technology transfer, and life sciences investment. Dr. Sabatel earned her doctorate in molecular biology, focusing her research on the signaling pathways activated in response to chemotherapeutic treatments in cancer cells. Complementing her scientific background, she also holds a master’s degree in management, equipping her with a unique blend of scientific and business acumen.
Her professional journey includes over eight years at the technology transfer office of the University of Liège, where she managed intellectual property, negotiated collaboration and license agreements, and supported the establishment of spin-offs. This role underscored her commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications.
Currently, she serves as an Investment Manager at Noshaq, a prominent investment firm in Belgium. In this capacity, she oversees several of Noshaq’s holdings in biotech companies, providing strategic guidance and support. Her role extends to board positions at various life sciences companies, including Amyl Therapeutics and Allegro.bio, where she contributes to shaping the future of biotech innovations.
Dr. Sabatel’s extensive experience and dedication to advancing life sciences make her an invaluable asset to Artialis, where she continues to contribute to the company’s strategic direction and growth.
Nathalie Benoît
Board Member
Nathalie Benoît is a seasoned executive in technology transfer and innovation management, serving on the Board of Directors at Artialis since its inception in 2010. As the permanent representative of Venture Coaching SCRL, she has been instrumental in guiding the company’s strategic direction.
In addition to her role at Artialis, Ms. Benoît is the Managing Director of Gesval SA, the technology transfer company of the University of Liège. Gesval oversees the management of intellectual property, supports the creation of spin-offs, and facilitates the commercialization of research outcomes.
Ms. Benoît also holds board positions at Phasya SA, a company specializing in technologies for detecting drowsiness and measuring eye movements, and has been involved with multiple innovation-driven organizations across Belgium. Her extensive experience in bridging academia and industry makes her a valuable asset to Artialis, contributing to its growth and success in the life sciences sector.
Henk Joos
Board Member
Henk Joos, PhD, is a seasoned life sciences executive and member of the Board of Directors at Artialis. With over 30 years of experience, he has held senior roles across Europe and Asia, blending scientific expertise with business strategy.
He began his career at Plant Genetic Systems, later joining AgrEvo, Aventis CropScience, and Bayer CropScience, where he led initiatives in plant biotechnology and hybrid crop development. Transitioning to bioenergy, he served as CEO of Quinvita and later became Managing Director of FlandersBio, transforming it into a globally recognized life sciences cluster.
Currently, Dr. Joos leads Silver Arrow, a consultancy for biotech and medtech ventures, and teaches in the Advanced Master in Biotech & MedTech Ventures program at Solvay Brussels School. Dr. Joos brings to Artialis a strategic vision grounded in deep industry insight and international experience.
Philippe Vanderhofstadt
Board Member
Philippe Vanderhofstadt is an industrial pharmacist and pharmaceutical engineer, educated at UCL. With over 30 years of experience in clinical research and pharmaceutical logistics, Philippe brings deep industry knowledge and a strong entrepreneurial background to the Artialis Scientific Committee.
He spent 15 years working in central laboratories before co-founding B&C Group, a clinical trial logistics company with operations in Europe and the U.S. Under his leadership, B&C grew significantly before merging with CSM in 2017 and was later acquired by Clinigen in 2018.
Today, Philippe serves on several boards, including MLM Medical Labs (EU/US), White Raven (a Belgian CDMO start-up), and the Advisory Board of U.S. private equity firm Great Point Partners. He’s also played key roles in industry associations, having co-founded BeCRO and held leadership roles at EUCROF and UPIP-VAPI.
Beyond his professional life, Philippe is committed to social impact. He founded Sailability Belgium and 2GO VZW, organizations dedicated to inclusive sailing and supporting underprivileged youth.
Benedikt Van Nieuwenhove
CEO and Board President
Benedikt has 30 years of experience in the CRO field. He obtained his master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences (1991) and his PhD (1997) from the University of Ghent.
In 2000, he founded the “European Centre for Clinical Research Training” (ECCRT) and has been the Managing Director of ECCRT ever since. From 2008-2011 he acted as the VP Global Operations of the Harrison Clinical Research group for which he became the CEO from 2011 to 2014, until the merger with Synteract.
Since 2016, he has been lecturing “Management of Clinical Research” at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ghent. In 2020, he got elected as President of the Belgian Association of CROs (BeCRO).
Hélène Sabatel
Board Member
Hélène Sabatel, PhD, is a distinguished member of the Artialis Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of expertise in molecular biology, technology transfer, and life sciences investment. Dr. Sabatel earned her doctorate in molecular biology, focusing her research on the signaling pathways activated in response to chemotherapeutic treatments in cancer cells. Complementing her scientific background, she also holds a master’s degree in management, equipping her with a unique blend of scientific and business acumen.
Her professional journey includes over eight years at the technology transfer office of the University of Liège, where she managed intellectual property, negotiated collaboration and license agreements, and supported the establishment of spin-offs. This role underscored her commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications.
Currently, she serves as an Investment Manager at Noshaq, a prominent investment firm in Belgium. In this capacity, she oversees several of Noshaq’s holdings in biotech companies, providing strategic guidance and support. Her role extends to board positions at various life sciences companies, including Amyl Therapeutics and Allegro.bio, where she contributes to shaping the future of biotech innovations.
Dr. Sabatel’s extensive experience and dedication to advancing life sciences make her an invaluable asset to Artialis, where she continues to contribute to the company’s strategic direction and growth.
Nathalie Benoît
Board Member
Nathalie Benoît is a seasoned executive in technology transfer and innovation management, serving on the Board of Directors at Artialis since its inception in 2010. As the permanent representative of Venture Coaching SCRL, she has been instrumental in guiding the company’s strategic direction.
In addition to her role at Artialis, Ms. Benoît is the Managing Director of Gesval SA, the technology transfer company of the University of Liège. Gesval oversees the management of intellectual property, supports the creation of spin-offs, and facilitates the commercialization of research outcomes.
Ms. Benoît also holds board positions at Phasya SA, a company specializing in technologies for detecting drowsiness and measuring eye movements, and has been involved with multiple innovation-driven organizations across Belgium. Her extensive experience in bridging academia and industry makes her a valuable asset to Artialis, contributing to its growth and success in the life sciences sector.
Henk Joos
Board Member
Henk Joos, PhD, is a seasoned life sciences executive and member of the Board of Directors at Artialis. With over 30 years of experience, he has held senior roles across Europe and Asia, blending scientific expertise with business strategy.
He began his career at Plant Genetic Systems, later joining AgrEvo, Aventis CropScience, and Bayer CropScience, where he led initiatives in plant biotechnology and hybrid crop development. Transitioning to bioenergy, he served as CEO of Quinvita and later became Managing Director of FlandersBio, transforming it into a globally recognized life sciences cluster.
Currently, Dr. Joos leads Silver Arrow, a consultancy for biotech and medtech ventures, and teaches in the Advanced Master in Biotech & MedTech Ventures program at Solvay Brussels School. Dr. Joos brings to Artialis a strategic vision grounded in deep industry insight and international experience.
Philippe Vanderhofstadt
Board Member
Philippe Vanderhofstadt is an industrial pharmacist and pharmaceutical engineer, educated at UCL. With over 30 years of experience in clinical research and pharmaceutical logistics, Philippe brings deep industry knowledge and a strong entrepreneurial background to the Artialis Scientific Committee.
He spent 15 years working in central laboratories before co-founding B&C Group, a clinical trial logistics company with operations in Europe and the U.S. Under his leadership, B&C grew significantly before merging with CSM in 2017 and was later acquired by Clinigen in 2018.
Today, Philippe serves on several boards, including MLM Medical Labs (EU/US), White Raven (a Belgian CDMO start-up), and the Advisory Board of U.S. private equity firm Great Point Partners. He’s also played key roles in industry associations, having co-founded BeCRO and held leadership roles at EUCROF and UPIP-VAPI.
Beyond his professional life, Philippe is committed to social impact. He founded Sailability Belgium and 2GO VZW, organizations dedicated to inclusive sailing and supporting underprivileged youth.
Let’s talk.
Tell us about your next project.
Let’s develop your healthcare products together.
Email us at
bd@artialis.com
Let’s talk.
Tell us about your next project.
Let’s develop your healthcare products together.
Email us at
bd@artialis.com