Creating autologous blood vessels within 28 days with no foreign material left in the body
Vacis, simplified
VACIS’ technology uses a synthetic rod, which is inserted under the skin and induces the formation of a new, fully functional blood vessel. After approximately 28 days implantation, the rod-like device is removed leaving in place an in-situ formed vessel of fibrocollagenous tissue with a high burst pressure.
Team
Johan van den Arend Schmidt
Founder
With VACIS since spin off in 2016 and experienced international CEO with extensive biotech knowledge and experience Previous/current held positions at: CEO CapGemini Consulting Partner PwC UK Founder/investor several biotechs Executive Director Severn Trent The Boston Consulting Group Education: Master Biochemical Technology Delft University Master Business Administration Rotterdam Erasmus University
Ken Messier
Chief Operating Officer & Regulatory
Joined VACIS in 2018 with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology and medical device industry for 35 years in US and EU. Previous positions at: DSM Biomedical B.V. Genzyme Corporation Focal, Inc. CytoTherapeutics, Inc. Johnson & Johnson, Inc. Pfizer, Inc. Education: M.S. Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute B.S. Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Josephine Brackman
Chief Science Officer
Joined VACIS in 2018 with a history of leading innovation in polymeric materials, managerial experience in IP and research, with 33 years of professional experience Previous positions at: DSM Research B.V. DSM Patents& trademarks B.V. DSM Engineering Plastics B.V. and Dyneema B.V. Education Master in Chemistry, University of Groningen, cum laude PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry, University of Groningen
Dominik Klump
Chief Technology Officer & Production Manager
With VACIS since 2016 with laboratory experience in biopharmaceutical and chemical applications Previous/current held positions at: Coriolis Pharma PTRL Europe System Pharmacology Leiden Acadamic Centre for Drug Research Education: Biopharmaceutical Sciences Leiden University B.S. Bioprocess Engineering Technical University Munich
Anneke Minnema
Chief Financial Officer
With VACIS since 2016 as CFO and office manager Previous/current held positions at: ASM Partners Citigroup investment banking Salomon Brothers investment banking ABN Amro bank corporate finance Education: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA, passed 1/2/3) Master Financial Economy VU University Bachelor Business Administration Nijenrode University
Benedict Doorschodt
Interim CMO
Joined VACIS in 2019 with a demonstrated history of working in the medical device industry for 20 years. Previous positions at: TX Innovations B.V. University Clinic RWTH-Aachen University Amsterdam University Medical Center Doorzand Medical Innovations B.V. Education: M.S. Human Medicine
About us
- VACIS is the leading tissue engineering company for body-own blood vessels
- VACIS develops in situ tissue engineered blood vessels providing novel therapeutic options for vascular surgery. Prosthetic vascular graft failure is a frequent complication in vascular surgery with substantial morbidity and health care costs. VACIS provides patients autologous graft vessels, with sustained patency and fewer complications requiring less corrective interventions.
- Vascular grafts are needed in many areas of medicine. VACIS initially focuses on vascular access in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Other indications will follow after clinical validation of the technology in hemodialysis. Such other indications include peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
- VACIS provides an advantage over other therapeutic options in the hemodialysis access market. Current solutions have a low patency: many arteriovasculair fistulas fail to mature or no adequate vein is available; the foreign material in synthetic grafts lead to infection, stenosis, thrombosis etc. and the synthetic material does not heal after cannulation.
Contact Information
Rothuizen TC, Damanik FF, Lavrijsen T, Visser MJ, Hamming JF, Lalai RA, Duijs JM, van
Zonneveld AJ, Hoefer IE, van Blitterswijk CA, Rabelink TJ, Moroni L, Rotmans JI. Biomaterials.
2015 Oct 19;75:82-90.
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vascular tissue engineering. Rothuizen TC, Damanik F, Rotmans JI et al.Tissue Engineering Part C 2014 Oct 22.
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body response: tailoring the surface properties of biomaterials to modulate extracellular matrix. Damanik F, Rothuizen TC, Rotmans JI et al.
Sci. Rep. 4, 6325
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