A night at The Atomium
June 12, 2025 | Brussels, Belgium
Advancing microphysiological systems for drug discovery and personalized medicine
Join us for an inspiring evening dedicated to life sciences innovation and microphysiological systems (MPS) at The Atomium in Brussels–a historic Belgian landmark, and tribute to scientific progress. This exclusive event, held after a full day at the MPS World Summit, will bring together industry leaders, researchers, and partners to explore how imec’s advanced MPS program and silicon platform technologies are accelerating drug research, personalized medicine, and disease modeling.
Why attend?
This exclusive event offers a rare chance to engage with leading experts, gain firsthand insights into groundbreaking MPS technologies, and build connections in a fitting scientific setting.
- Hear from industry and research leaders, including how Merck is advancing gut modeling with microphysiological sytems to improve in vitro safety testing, as well as the latest directions in research.
- Learn how imec’s technologies and platforms are driving life sciences innovation, advancing in vitro modeling, and supporting personalized medicine through scalable, silicon-based MPS solutions.
- Understand how imec collaborates with industry leaders to accelerate the development of cutting-edge microphysiological systems.
- Expand your professional network and engage with imec’s ecosystem partners while enjoying live jazz and fine dining at The Atomium!
About
Microphysiological systems (MPS), or organ-on-a-chip technologies, are transforming in vitro modeling by enhancing physiological relevance and reducing the need for animal testing. Imec’s silicon-based MPS platform integrates advanced microfluidics, biosensing, multi-electrode arrays, and data analytics to enable precise, scalable, and high-throughput biological modeling. Silicon-based platforms enable the use of patient-specific biology and mutations, supporting advancements in personalized medicine. Their scalable production has the potential to significantly accelerate drug screening and development.
Agenda
- 18:30 – Arrival
- 19:00 – Opening remarks by Charlotte D'Hulst, Portfolio Manager, Life Sciences at imec
- 19:10 – Bringing the power of semiconductor technologies to the life sciences by Dries Braeken, Scientific Director at imec
- 19:30 – Harnessing “bioconvergence” to transform drug discovery and development while reducing reliance on animal testing by Phil Hewitt, Global Head of Early Investigative Toxicology at Merck
- 19:50 – Patient-specific human brain networks on high density multielectrode arrays to map neurodegenerative disease with AI-powered analysis pipelines by Patrik Verstreken, Scientific Director at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
- 23:00 – End of reception
Speakers
Charlotte D'Hulst – Portfolio Manager, Life Sciences, imec
Charlotte D'Hulst is Portfolio Manager at imec, where she shapes the strategy for technologies focused on life sciences. She is an experienced entrepreneur with a background in genetic engineering and biomedical sciences. Charlotte co-founded Yesse Technologies, a start-up focused on decoding the sense of smell, where she raised over $10M and built key partnerships, including with imec and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. In 2021, she oversaw the company's wind-down. Charlotte holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and completed post-doctoral training in molecular biology at the City University of New York. She now leads imec’s organ-on-chip program, focusing on semiconductor-based microphysiological platforms for biomedical applications.
Dries Braeken – Scientific Director, imec
Dries Braeken is Scientific Director for Life Science Technologies at imec. He obtained his MSc in Biomedical Sciences in 2003, and Ph.D. in Medical Sciences in 2009, both from KU Leuven. Since 2017, he has been a group leader at imec, where his research focuses on the development and validation of silicon technologies for cell and tissue interfacing in healthcare applications. Dries has authored over 80 international peer-reviewed publications and holds 13 granted and pending patents.
Phil Hewitt – Global Head of Early Investigative Toxicology, Merck
Phil Hewitt is the Global Head of Early Investigative Toxicology at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. With a strong passion for understanding toxicity mechanisms and optimizing early detection of human risks, he joined Merck in 1998. Over the course of 20 years, he established and led a Molecular Toxicology group in the Non-Clinical Safety department, opening new laboratories, hiring specialist staff, and introducing tissue culture and molecular biology techniques. Phil now leads the Early Investigative Toxicology practice, contributing to the advancement of safety science in drug development.
Patrik Verstreken – Scientific Director, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
Patrik Verstreken is a group leader at VIB and a Scientific Director at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. He studied Bioengineering at the University of Brussels and completed his PhD and postdoc at the Medical Center in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Patrik has received several honors, including the AstraZeneca Award and the IBRO-Kemali Prize in Neuroscience, and he is an EMBO member. With the support of four ERC grants, including a recent Advanced Grant, his lab is developing new tools and insights to counteract disease-induced dysfunction, leading to numerous publications, patents, and the foundation of a biotech startup.
Location
The Atomium (Room – Prigogine)
Place de l'Atomium 1 / Atomiumplein 1
1020 Brussels, Belgium
Registration
Please complete the form below to register your interest. Due to limited capacity, confirmation emails will be sent at a later date.