About us
Flindr is building a pipeline of first-in-class small molecule inhibitors for the precision treatment of cancer. We are doing this using our ImmunoGram Drug Discovery Engine, which enables us to discover novel targets in both cancer cells and immune cells.
Flindr was founded in 2020 by the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Oncode Institute, which are both internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer research. The Company’s strong scientific foundations are based on the seminal work of its founders Prof. Daniel Peeper, Prof. Christian Blank and Maarten Ligtenberg, who are experts in functional genomics and immunotherapy.
In 2024, Flindr entered into a collaboration with Vlaams Institute voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and the lab of Prof. Rudi Beyaert, a highly-regarded immunologist at the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research. Prof. Beyaert is a world expert on the pathway biology of our lead program, RNF31. VIB also became a shareholder in Flindr. The NCI, the Oncode Institute and the VIB bring well-established expertise in target discovery and validation, deep cancer biology insight and translation of research in new treatment paradigms to Flindr.
Flindr Labs – Our subsidiary in Ghent
Flindr Labs is the experimental core of our organization, where our in-house team of experienced scientists drives discovery and innovation. Located in Ghent, one of Europe’s leading biotech clusters, we operate within a highly collaborative ecosystem of top-tier research institutes, talent, and industry expertise. Through our partnership with VIB, we have access to world-class scientific expertise, advanced technology platforms, and state-of-the-art facilities that enable efficient and high-quality experimental research. Together with key opinion leaders in the field, we translate cutting-edge science into robust and validated therapeutic programs.
Leadership
Maarten Ligtenberg
Founder / Chief Executive OfficerMaarten Ligtenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Flindr and has more than 10 years of experience in the oncology field, in particular immuno-oncology and cancer target identification. Flindr (formerly Immagene) was spun out of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and Oncode Institute in 2020, by founders Prof Daniel Peeper, Prof Christian Blank and Dr Maarten Ligtenberg and joined forces with Professor Rudi Beyaert of VIB in 2023. Flindr utilizes the “ImmunoGram Drug Discovery Engine” to build a pipeline of first-in-class, small molecule inhibitors for treatment of cancer. Flindr’s lead program is a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of RNF31 (also known as HOIP), a protein-stabilizing E3 ubiquitin ligase which is aberrantly activated in solid and hematological malignancies.
Maarten completed his doctoral degree at the Karolinska Institutet in the Kiessling lab and was as postdoctoral fellow in the Peeper lab at the NKI.
Jac Wijkmans
Chief Scientific OfficerJac joined Flindr in 2020 to lead drug discovery and strategy. Jac brings over 25 years of pharma experience in leading R&D operations and managing complex multidisciplinary innovation projects and processes. He held multiple senior management positions spanning the full spectrum of the industry from academic spin-offs (Oxford Asymmetry, Griffin Discoveries) and mid-size biotech (British Biotech, OSI Pharmaceuticals) to Big Pharma (Merck & Co, Schering-Plough, Organon). Jac is a medicinal chemist by training and under his leadership, multiple small-molecule drug candidates were identified, optimized and selected for pre-clinical and clinical studies. Jac has a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from Leiden University.
Sally Ross
Chief Development OfficerSally Ross joined Flindr in 2025 as Chief Development Officer and brings over 25 years of experience in global drug development, with deep expertise in oncology and immune-oncology. She has a proven track record of leading assets end-to-end, from early research through clinical development, and advising on portfolio strategy, investment decisions, and governance.
Her previous roles include Vice President and Program Head at iTeos Therapeutics, Sally operated as an “Asset CEO,” overseeing global development strategy, cross-functional execution, and supporting Executive and Board-level decision-making; Clinical Development Officer at Evgen Pharma and senior leadership positions at Chiltern International and AstraZeneca, where she managed complex global programs and contributed to the development of innovative therapies.
Sally brings a strong combination of scientific expertise, strategic insight, and commercial awareness, alongside experience in investor engagement, risk management, and driving effective governance.
Sally has a Master of Science in Oncology from the University of Nottingham and a Bachelor of Science with Honors from the University of St Andrews.
Supervisory Board
Bernard Couli
ChairmanBernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A. is President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant Therapeutics and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Flindr Therapeutics. He brings over 25 years of experience in drug development and senior leadership within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. He was co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of ActoGeniX, which was acquired by Intrexon in 2015. At ActoGeniX, he played a key role in advancing a novel platform for the oral delivery of biologics from early discovery through Phase 2 clinical studies.
Prior to this, Bernard held positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, where he led programs in internal medicine across gastrointestinal, metabolic and inflammatory diseases, spanning early discovery through clinical development.
Bernard previously served as a director of Biogazelle, a director of Myoscience, a director and Chairman of Calypso Biotech, and director and Chairman of SQZ Biotechnologies. Bernard is currently serving as a director and Chairman of Atisama Therapeutics, and as a director of Septerna. He also serves as a director at the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.
Earlier in his career, Bernard was a staff physician in gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Medical School.
Cédric Van Nevel
Board MemberCédric Van Nevel is partner at Qbic, the Belgian inter-university venture capital fund. He started his career as a strategic consultant at Boston Consulting Group, before building further experience in the energy sector through a number of management positions at Fluxys (ranging from M&A to construction). Prior to joining Qbic, Cédric was responsible for the venturing activities of Bekaert, actively scouting for relevant technologies, setting up collaborations and holding a number of advisory board positions in international funds.
He holds a MSc in Electronics from the University of Ghent.
Chris de Jonghe
Board MemberAs Valorization Director Chris De Jonghe is co-leading Oncode Institute, an independent research institute that unites over 900 top researchers in oncology throughout the Netherlands with the aim to accelerate breakthrough discoveries and speed up their translation into new diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer patients.
Chris has a multi-disciplinary experience in the life sciences sector. She was trained as a biochemist and obtained a PhD in the field of neurodegeneration. In addition, she holds a law degree. She was active for more than 12 years in technology transfer at the VIB (Flanders’ Institute for Biotechnology) in Belgium. Subsequently she managed a 200 M€ evergreen lifesciences VC fund at PMV. She was in that capacity board member in several innovative life sciences companies, investment funds and cluster organizations.
Christina Takke
Board MemberChristina Takke co-founded V-Bio Ventures in 2015 and is currently a Managing Partner of the firm.
Her prime focus and responsibility within V-Bio Ventures is creating new ventures and investing in young innovative biotech companies as well as the general management of the firm.
Before launching V-Bio Ventures, Christina was a partner at Forbion Capital Partners (previously ABN AMRO Capital) were she led and managed a series of successful investments in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies.
As an undergraduate Christina studied Molecular Biology / Biochemistry at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Université de Bordeaux and at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Montpellier. She holds a PhD in Developmental Biology, which she obtained under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Campos-Ortega at the Institute of Development Biology of the University of Cologne.
After her studies, she gained experience in working with biotech start-up companies at Bio-Gen-Tec-NRW in Cologne, Germany, a regional development organization for the biotechnology industry.
Tine Bekaert
Board MemberTine Bekaert is a senior investment manager at PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen), where she focuses on the financing of start-ups active in the life sciences & care sector. Currently, Tine is a member of the Board of Directors of Flamingo Therapeutics, Dualyx, Nobi and reMYND. Tine holds a PhD in Biotechnology from Ghent University (Belgium) and has been involved in different European research infrastructure programs in the life science sector. Prior to PMV, Tine worked as a senior manager at Deloitte, where she managed a team responsible for strategic advice on grants and tax incentives for R&D and innovation.
Fiona MacLaughlin
Board MemberFiona is a Senior Director, Venture Investments, at Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc., the strategic venture arm of Johnson & Johnson). Prior to joining JJDC, Fiona was a Director at Inkef Capital, where she led both pharma and MedTech investments and held board seats in a number of portfolio companies. As a qualified pharmacist, Fiona is passionate about helping early-stage companies establish a value-building trajectory by engaging and challenging management and creating optimal development plans. Fiona began her career in biotech focusing on the development of non-viral gene therapy and other novel delivery solutions. A fundamental interest in philanthropy led her to the Wellcome Trust and a focus on translational funding, including establishing a fund to support the development of affordable healthcare technologies in India. Fiona’s transition to venture investing began with a move to Advent Life Sciences, where she was involved in helping shape and build a number of early-stage companies, including Arrakis Therapeutics. Fiona is a pharmacist by training and has a Ph.D. in drug delivery from Nottingham University.
Gary B. Gordon
Board MemberGary B. Gordon is an accomplished pharmaceutical executive and strategic business leader with extensive experience in drug development from first-in-human studies through to approval and commercialization, with a strong focus on oncology.
He previously served as Vice President, Oncology at AbbVie, where he oversaw the development of the company’s oncology portfolio and played a key role in building its oncology franchise. His contributions include the development and approval of venetoclax, as well as multiple strategic collaborations and acquisitions. He was part of the AbbVie–Genentech team that received the 2017 Prix Galien Award for Best Pharmaceutical Product. Prior to AbbVie, Gary was Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Ovation Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to bringing multiple products to market.
Gary entered the pharmaceutical industry in 1995 at the G.D. Searle division of Monsanto (later Pharmacia), where he worked on programs in oncology, including COX-2 inhibitors, angiogenesis, and cancer immunotherapy.
Gary holds an M.D. and Ph.D. and is a trained physician-scientist with a long-standing commitment to advancing innovative therapies for patients with serious diseases.
Simon Sturge
Board MemberSimon Sturge is a highly experienced life sciences executive with more than 30 years of international leadership experience across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. He brings deep expertise in global strategy, commercial operations and company building.
He held senior leadership roles at Merck KGaA, including Chief Operating Officer of Merck Healthcare and Executive Vice President for Global Strategy, Business Development and Operations, where he was responsible for global commercial and manufacturing activities and key product launches. Prior to this, Simon was Corporate Senior Vice President, Biopharmaceuticals at Boehringer Ingelheim. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Kymab and held CEO positions at several biotechnology companies, including Celltech Biologics and Vernalis, as well as founding Ribotargets.
Simon currently serves as Chairman and board member of several biotechnology companies, contributing his experience to the development and growth of innovative therapeutics.
Advisory Board
Christian Blank
FounderChristian Blank obtained his MD from the Medical School of the Technical University Munich, Germany, where he also completed his Doctoral thesis (summa cum laude) at the Department for Medical Microbiology in 1997. As a Junior House Officer (1997–1998) Dr Blank held four positions at the Departments of Cardiology and of Radiology at the University Clinic Munich Rechts der Isar, Munich, the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the University of Birmingham, England, UK.
He went on to attain the position of Physician at the Department of Haematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg, Germany (1998–2001). During 2001–2003, Dr Blank held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the lab of Professor Thomas Gajewski, University of Chicago, IL, USA. Subsequently he was appointed as Physician and Research Group Leader at the Department of Haematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg, Germany (2003–2007). Dr Blank has obtained two Specialist Degrees in Internal Medicine (2007) and in Haematology/Oncology (2009).
Since 2007, he has been appointed Staff Member at the Department of Medical Oncology, and a Group Leader at the Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (NKI-AVL), Amsterdam. In 2010, Dr Blank became University Lecturer (Privatdozent) at the University of Regensburg. In addition to his academic background, Dr Blank obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA), from the University of Warwick, England, UK (2006). Dr Blank is committed to teaching, lecturing on medical courses at the NKI-AVL and the Medical School of the University of Regensburg, where he was appointed Professor in 2015. He is a member of several prestigious societies, including ESMO and ASCO. Dr Blank has been an invited speaker at more than 200 national and international congresses and is the author of more than 200 publications. His research interests broadly include neoadjuvant immunotherapies, targeted and biological response modifiers, and prognostic markers for cancer immunotherapies.
Daniel Peeper
Founder / SAB ChairmanDaniel Peeper heads the Department of Molecular Oncology & Immunology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). He holds a professorship in Functional Oncogenomics at the VU University Amsterdam (since 2008) and is a member of Oncode (since 2017). At the NKI, he chaired the Research Faculty Council (2012-2024) and the Translational Research Board (2014-2019).
Peeper studied Medical Biology at the VU University Amsterdam (1988) and received his PhD in the laboratory of Alex van der Eb (Leiden, 1994) for his work on adenovirus oncoproteins and cell cycle proteins. He did his postdoctoral work in the lab of Mark Ewen (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1994-1995) and subsequently in the lab of René Bernards (NKI, till 2000).
His laboratory uses function-based genomic approaches to identify critical cancer and immune genes. They were the first to discover Oncogene-Induced cellular Senescence (OIS) as a tumor suppressor mechanism in humans, and dissected the underlying mechanism. Other discoveries include AXL as a target for therapy-resistant cancers and the mechanism of cancer drug addiction. More recently, his laboratory focused on immunotherapy resistance, to develop rational cancer treatments combining tumor and immune cell interventions. His team uncovered mechanisms causing immunotherapy resistance, and identified several therapeutic targets, both in cancer cells and in T cells. Many of the team’s findings were published in top-tier journals including Nature, Cancer Cell and Cell. The successful identification of new therapeutic IO targets led him to co-found an NKI/Oncode spin-off company in immuno-oncology (Flindr Tx, previously Immagene).
Peeper has received several awards, including a KWF Queen Wilhelmina Award and Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) Junior researcher and Outstanding researcher Awards. He is a Member of Oncode, EMBO and Academia Europaea, and has been serving on the Board of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) from 2012-2022, and on several CRUK review panels including the Discovery Research Committee. His lab received many prestigious grants, including ERC.
Keith T. Flaherty
SAB MemberKeith Flaherty is Director of Clinical Research at the Massachusetts General Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is a leading physician-scientist with extensive experience in oncology drug development, particularly in targeted therapies and precision medicine.
His research has focused on understanding oncogenic pathways in melanoma and translating these insights into effective therapies for patients. He has pioneered the development of targeted treatments matched to the genetic characteristics of tumors and led early clinical trials of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, contributing to the development of multiple FDA-approved therapies for melanoma.
Keith has held numerous leadership roles in the oncology community, including serving on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and being appointed President. He has authored hundreds of scientific publications and continues to play a central role in advancing translational cancer research.
Keith obtained his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University and completed his clinical training in internal medicine and oncology in leading academic medical centers in the United States.
Mike Briskin
SAB MemberMike Briskin is an experienced biotechnology executive and immunologist with more than 30 years of experience in drug discovery, spanning molecular biology, immunology, oncology and inflammation. He has a strong track record in leading discovery research and advancing innovative therapeutics.
He was a founder and led discovery research at Jounce Therapeutics, a company focused on developing immuno-oncology therapies. Prior to this, Mike held senior roles at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, where he led immunology and translational research programs, and at LeukoSite and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. His early discovery work contributed to the development and approval of the T cell homing inhibitor vedolizumab (Entyvio®) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Dr Briskin was also a founding scientist and current chair of the SAB at Obsidian Therapeutics, a company using regulated cytokine to improve cell therapy responses in solid tumors. Dr. Briskin is also a co-founder and advisor to Phenomic AI, which is developing therapies that target the tumor stroma in solid cancers. He also the Associate Editor of the Reviews section for the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC).
Mike holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed postdoctoral training in immunology at Stanford University.
Daniel Rauh
SAB MemberDaniel Rauh is Professor and Chair of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology at TU Dortmund University. He is an internationally recognized expert in medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery, with a particular focus on the structure-guided development of targeted approaches for the treatment of cancer.
His research spans the discovery and optimization of small-molecule therapeutics, including covalent and allosteric inhibitors, directed against key oncogenic signaling pathways. By integrating structural biology, protein X-ray crystallography, and translational pharmacology, his work aims to transform mechanistic insights into innovative therapeutic strategies, with a special emphasis on overcoming acquired drug resistance in cancer.
Prior to joining TU Dortmund University, Daniel served as an independent group leader at the Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society and conducted postdoctoral research at Halle University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He has extensive experience at the interface of academia and biotechnology and has co-founded several biotech companies, including PearlRiver Bio, which was acquired by Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and KyDo Therapeutics, both focused on the development of next-generation targeted cancer therapies.
Daniel holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Philipps University of Marburg and a degree in Pharmacy from University of Greifswald.
Investors
This operation benefits the support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund.
This operation benefits the support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund.
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