News

Kevin Braeckmans, co‑founder and scientific driving force behind our LumiPore® technology, has been appointed CEO of Trince. Kevin has played a central role in building our technological foundation and translating it into impactful solutions for customers and partners around the world.

In his new role, Kevin will focus on executing Trince’s long‑term strategy, leading the team, driving commercial growth, and strengthening partnerships with customers, investors, and industry stakeholders.

At the same time, Philip Mathuis, co‑founder and CEO since the company’s inception, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. As Executive Chairman, Philip will focus on shaping Trince’s long‑term vision, guiding corporate strategy, leading board governance, and strengthening high‑level relationships with investors and strategic partners.

With Kevin driving operational leadership and Philip guiding long‑term strategic direction, Trince is strongly positioned for its next phase of innovation and global expansion.

We are excited about what lies ahead as we continue advancing our technology and bringing impactful solutions to our partners and customers.

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine

Additionally, it serves as a powerful tool for reprogramming somatic cells and engineering stem cells, whether through genome editing techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 or by modulating gene expression at the RNA level using RNA interference (RNAi).

An attractive solution is Trince’s LumiPore® transfection platform, which combines efficiency with gentleness. It combines laser exposure with photothermal nanoparticles to transiently permeabilize the cellular plasma membrane, allowing external cargo molecules to penetrate the cells.

By joining forces with Meiwafosis, we aim to expand our commercial footprint and provide Japanese researchers with access to our innovative cell transfection technologies. This collaboration will make cell engineering more gentle and effective, empowering groundbreaking advancements in the field.

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey together!

This award, which is awarded globally, recognizes spin-offs that translate original, high-quality scientific research into products and services that address market problems and have a positive impact on society. In the final, Trince eventually beat two American and one British opponent.

Trince received this award from the Nature jury for its groundbreaking research into photoporation, a new and safer method for introducing DNA and other molecules into cells. This new method can play a key role in the future of cell and gene therapy in the treatment of cancer and genetic diseases, and therefore has the potential to save many lives.

Fotoporatie is een nieuwe en veilige methode om moleculen van buitenaf in cellen te plaatsen, met als doel die genetisch te wijzigen. Zo kunnen bijvoorbeeld immuuncellen, eens teruggebracht in de patiënt, beter ziektes zoals kanker bestrijden. Eos sprak met professor Kevin Braeckmans, hoofd van de onderzoeksgroep biofotonica aan de Universiteit Gent en bedenker van het innovatieve proces.

The Nature Spinoff Prize focuses on spin-offs that translate research in the life sciences or physical sciences into practical applications with added value for society. It offers academic entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to present their research to an international audience. The four finalists, including Trince, will present their innovative research live to a jury during the Curious2024 – Future Insight™ conference on July 10 in Mainz, Germany. The final winner will be announced on July 11.

Trince, founded in 2021 with support from UGent TechTransfer and the Industrial Research Fund (IOF), is committed to the development of photoporation. This innovative process was conceived by Professor Kevin Braeckmans, head of the biophotonics research group at Ghent University, and was awarded an EIC Grant from Horizon Europe earlier this year. At Trince, CSO Kevin Braeckmans, CEO Philip Mathuis and VP of Business Development Jan Van Hauwermeiren are supported by a Board of Directors, a Scientific Advisory Board and a dedicated team of researchers.

Trince stands for TRansfer INto CElls, and is engaged in the development and commercialization of a new technology within the biomedical/pharmaceutical sciences, better known as: photoporation. In this method of introducing external molecules into cells, the cells are first mixed with photothermal nanoparticles, which are then irradiated with laser light. The nanoparticles heat up locally due to the irradiation and create temporary pores in the membrane of the cells through which molecules can penetrate the cells. This approach minimizes internal cell damage, unlike current techniques such as electroporation.

Trince’s technology makes it possible, among other things, to genetically manipulate immune cells from the blood of cancer patients. These cells are modified to fight cancer cells after reintroduction into the patient’s body. The technology has the potential to save millions of lives in this way. Research into photoporation is currently focused on three key applications: the genetic modification of immune cells for cancer therapy, the genetic modification of stem cells, and live cell imaging.