About CASC8
CASC8 is a Belgian regenerative medicine company developing the first autologous cardiac
stem-cell therapy designed to regenerate heart tissue damaged by cardiovascular disease.
​​Founded in 2016 by Prof. Dr. Marc Hendrikx —
senior cardiac surgeon and professor of regenerative medicine at UHasselt —
he company builds on more than two decades of clinical and scientific expertise supported by peer-reviewed publications and public research funding.
To date, over €5 million has been invested into the development of CASC technology through CEO funding and VLAIO grants.
The therapy is protected under EU Patent EP2258833B1.
Our Science
With over a decade of research and 100+ validated preclinical models, CASC therapy has demonstrated the ability to:
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Improve heart function
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Reduce infarct size
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Regenerate functional, beating cardiac cells
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Promote vascular repair
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Enhance survival
Our Approach
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100% autologous — no risk of immune rejection
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Minimally invasive cell harvesting
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Clinically feasible and GMP-ready
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Supported by robust preclinical data
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Our goal: to advance this therapy into first-in-human trials, bringing true cardiac regeneration closer to patients worldwide.
Our Team
Marc Hendrikx — CEO
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Professor of Regenerative Medicine (UHasselt), Member of the COS Research Group
Karen Hensen, PhD —
Program Manager
Expert in Cell Therapy,
Quality & Regulatory Affairs
Marc De Keersmaeker — CFO
Business Strategy,
Financial Management,
Business Development
Ellen Heeren, MSc —
Cell Biologist
Specializing in Cardiac Regenerative Medicine
Dirk Groenewegen — CSO
Immuno-oncology,
IP Valuation & Licensing
Caroline De Bouver —
Scientific Researcher
Expert in GMP Production
CASC8 brings together a multidisciplinary team with over a century of combined experience in cardiology, regenerative medicine, biomedical R&D, surgery, cell therapy,
financial management and strategic business development.
The CASC8 World-Class
Scientific Advisory Board
Our team is guided by leaders in cardiology,
ensuring scientific rigor, ethical standards, and clinical excellence.