Bart Roucourt

Background

About Bart Roucourt

I’m an experienced business developer focused on preclinical biotech with a strong scientific background. Apart from BD, my experiences include operational management, team leadership, guiding research and development activities, quality assurance, and quality control. I’m fascinated by the process of turning biomedical and biotechnological discoveries into successful applications. By supporting these processes, I want to contribute to the development of innovative medicines and technologies that make a difference for patients, and to leverage these discoveries and technology platforms to sustainably grow a business. One of my main professional interests is to improve in vitro-in vivo translatability of research models and promote their use. Throughout my career, I’ve been using various preclinical in vitro and in vivo research models to support my clients in studying the mechanism of action and predicting the impact of therapeutics on human health. Translation of preclinical findings into clinical applications is a cornerstone of the development of new therapeutics and products improving health. After graduating as a Bioscience engineer, I was involved as a scientist in several research projects First, as a Ph.D. student in the Lab of Gene Technology at the KU Leuven identifying novel targets for antibiotics and later on as a Postdoc at the VIB studying the role of extracellular matrix proteins in tumor progression and the mechanism underlying exosome biogenesis. Following this exciting period, I started as Quality & HSE manager at reMYND, a biotech spin-off of Leuven University focusing on Neurodegenerative disorders. This role was mainly focused on quality control and improving the quality of preclinical research through CAPAs, implementing a quality system, improving assay quality, SOPs, standardization, harmonization or training procedures, etc. Soon afterward, I started as Head of Contract research division reMYND. I had the opportunity to work with pharma and biotech companies, and support them in investigating preclinical efficacy/PoC for their novel therapeutics to combat Alzheimer’s disease, Tauopathies, and other neurodegenerative disorders. In this role, I was responsible for the business development, sales, operational organization, leadership, and R&D activities. In 2021, I started as Director of Business Development and Sales at ProDigest, leading a team of 4 sales reps. Apart from supporting my clients in the development of their therapeutics for the microbiome, I’m involved in setting strategic course and partnerships.