Strategically located in the US, Belgium, China, and Singapore, Medpace’s central laboratories have the global reach and capability to conduct studies, assist with regulatory requirements, and deliver custom solutions specific to the Sponsor’s needs. Our labs are wholly-owned and purpose-built with state-of-the-art infrastructure. They have the same testing instrumentation, follow global operating procedures, and utilize a global laboratory information system, ensuring a perfect harmonization of global data.
As part of our efforts to expand laboratory services and capabilities, Medpace’s recently completed Belgium lab expansion includes a new modern laboratory building and services at the Leuven facility.
Highlights of the Belgium Lab Expansion
- New laboratory building
- Expanded onsite PhD Team
- New Molecular Suite
- Flow Cytometry Services Grow
- Biorepository Updates
- Logistics/Kit Building Capacity Doubles
New Laboratory Building
Completed in September 2019, the new four-story building is equipped with brand new, top-of-the-line laboratory instrumentation. The addition allows for increased testing capacity across all methodologies, including biomarker development, immunology, molecular/genomics, and flow cytometry.
Building Features
- 2,300 square meters (300% increase from the old lab)
- Includes three-room 85.0 square meters molecular suite
- Cell culture room
Expanding Our Onsite PhD Team
As part of the growth at our Belgium laboratory, the scientific leadership in Belgium continues to grow by PhD scientists to an already strong scientific staff. Our scientists have diversified backgrounds in clinical research and specialties including flow cytometry, molecular techniques (e.g. Real-time PCR, sequencing), mucosal immunology, hematology, virology, and chemotherapy.
Goele Bosmans, PhD
Scientist, Clinical Laboratory, Belgium
Dr. Bosmans is a PhD scientist specialized in mucosal immunology and clinical research.
Experience Summary
- Well-versed in laboratory operations including the collection and analyzation of scientific data
- Specialized experience investigating neuroimmune interactions in the gastrointestinal tract
- Well-published in several scientific journals and posters
- Holds a Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Association certificate
- Previously worked with Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium as a Project Engineer Data Integrity, Microbiological Lab
Education Summary
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
- Master of Science in Biochemistry & Biotechnology, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Biotechnology, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
Fary Diop, PhD
Scientist, Belgium
Dr. Diop is a PhD scientist with specialized experience in hematology and clinical research.
Experience Summary
- Well-versed in laboratory operations ensuring accurate, precise, and medically reliable data
- Extensive experience researching activities on hematological diseases through a next generation sequencing approach
- Previous experience with diagnostic activities on hematological diseases using molecular biology techniques
- Well-published in several scientific journals and posters
Education Summary
- Doctor of Philosophy in Science and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Eastern Piedmont – Novara, Italy
- Master of Science in Medical Biotechnologies, University of Eastern Piedmont – Novara, Italy
- Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont – Alessandria, Italy
Dean Franckaert, PhD
Associate Director, Clinical Laboratory, Belgium
Dr. Franckaert is a PhD scientist with specialized experience in translational immunology, clinical research and analytical assay development using flow cytometry.
Experience Summary
- Well-versed in directing research and development for central laboratories
- Strong background in molecular and cellular immunology in translational contexts
- Biomarker validation lead in GCP/GCLP environments
- Previous experience in vaccine development
- Several years’ experience with designing, optimizing and maintaining Flow Cytometry assays for immunomonitoring during clinical and pre-clinical projects
- Well-published in several scientific journals
- and posters
Education Summary
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
- Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
Victor Van Puyenbroeck, PhD
Scientist, Belgium
Dr. Van Puyenbroeck is an experienced PhD scientist specialized in virology and chemotherapy clinical research.
Experience Summary
- Well-versed in laboratory operations to verify that accurate, precise, and medically reliable data are being generated
- Experienced in conducting DNA vaccine method development and validation, upscaling throughput of antiviral drug screening methods
- Previously worked at KU Leuven in the Translational Research Laboratory for Virology and Chemotherapy
- Well-published in several scientific journals and posters
Education Summary
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
- Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering/Cell and Gene Technology, KU Leuven – Leuven, Belgium
New Molecular Suite
The new molecular area, including a three-room suite, is designed with engineering and procedural controls to minimize the risk of reagent and sample contamination including private access, directional airflow / pressure control, and environmental monitoring system. The laboratory is equipped with the capability for DNA / RNA extraction / amplification, and viral load quantification.
The Belgium lab continues to expand its capabilities providing clients with companion diagnostics, pharmacogenomics testing, custom and comprehensive cancer panels for both solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and new biomarkers to predict response to immuno-therapy. Additionally, Medpace will continue to work with Sponsors on developing assays for novel biomarkers.
Expanded Assays Capabilities Molecular Suite
- Cell and Tissue Culture
- Sanger sequencing
- Next generation sequencing
- Real-Time PCR
- HLA genotyping
- Chimerism testing
- PBMC isolation
Flow Cytometry
Medpace offers global flow cytometry capabilities, with flow cytometry departments located at our US, Belgium, and Singapore central lab locations. Notably, the Belgium lab now has a dedicated flow cytometry bay with 4C and RT working capacity and dual-cytometer platforms. Key instrumentation includes state of the art BD FACSLyric IVD 10-color cytometers with automated high-throughput samplers. Whether a custom panel needs to be developed or a method needs to be transferred to our laboratory to support a global clinical trial, Medpace has the experience to quickly validate and implement flow cytometry testing.
Expanded Flow Cytometry Assays Capabilities
- Absolute cell enumeration
- CAR-T cell analysis
- Custom cell-mediated assays
- Epigenetic profiling of immune subsets
- Fetal hemoglobin assays
- Immunophenotyping
- In vitro stimulation assays
- Intracellular Staining Assays (ICS)
- MACS based cell separation with purity report
- PNH Type III analysis
- Rare event enumeration
- Receptor Occupancy Assays
- Stem cell enumeration
- T cell, NK cell activations panels
Biorepository Expansion
To keep pace with our Sponsor’s needs for biomaterial storage, the Belgium biorepository increased ten-fold from 86 square meters to 800 square meters. Storage temperate capabilities include ambient, refrigerated, ultra-freezers, and nitrogen storage. The biorepository is secure and continuously monitored housing serum, plasma, whole blood, FFPE biopsy blocks, slides, urine, extracted DNA/RNA, and PBMC samples.
Logistics Expansion
With the completion of the new laboratory building, the existing Medpace building has been remodeled with improved office space and expanded logistics areas. The logistics warehouse doubled from 450 square meters to 891 square meters.
Key Logistics Features
- New dry ice packing machine that will automate the process of dry ice shipments
- 600 Sqm warehouse space
- A conveyor belt to automate and expedite movements and shipments
- New high bay racking & platform, optimized our space and maximized our storage capacity
About Medpace’s central laboratories
Medpace provides customized, high-quality central laboratory services to pharmaceutical and biotech clinical development industries. Our four wholly-owned laboratories offer full-service support to six continents for phase I-IV studies. We have extensive experience from small and simple clinical trials to those that are large, global, and complex.
Our wholly-owned global laboratory facilities, standardized testing platforms, comprehensive test menu, and stellar project management teams allow Medpace to set up fully customized projects for our clients. Combined with Medpace Clinical Research Organization expertise, we provide a fully integrated solution for your clinical development needs.
Learn more about Medpace’s central laboratories