The Story Behind 4Tissue: A Vision for Natural Breast Reconstruction

At 4Tissue, we believe in the power of innovation to transform lives. Our journey began with a critical question: How can we create a truly natural, long-lasting solution for breast reconstruction that uses the body's own materials? This challenge brought together a team of experts from diverse fields—each with a deep commitment to women's health and regenerative medicine.

In 2017, world-renowned plastic surgeon Prof. Phillip Blondeel approached Prof. Dr. Sandra Van Vlierberghe, a leading expert in polymer chemistry, with an ambitious goal: to develop a tissue mimic technology that would overcome the limitations of traditional implants, grafts and lipofilling. Driven by this shared vision, our interdisciplinary team began developing a groundbreaking hydrogel platform that supports natural tissue regeneration and feels, looks, and integrates seamlessly with the body.

By 2020, Prof. Van Vlierberghe and her team had engineered an innovative polymer platform, and Dr. Lana Van Damme invented an injectable hydrogel. Dr. An Van Den Bulcke was involved from the start in the role of Business Developer, securing patent filings, developing the business case, and securing grants to fund further development and build a strong, multidisciplinary team, including plastic surgeon Bernard Depypere, as 5th cofounder.

In March 2023, 4Tissue was officially incorporated. After that Dr. Benoit Moreaux had joined as CEO and Els Hubloux as CFO, bringing fresh leadership and focus to the mission.

Every step of our journey reflects the dedication of an exceptional team committed to revolutionizing breast reconstruction. With an interdisciplinary approach and the invaluable support of our investors, 4Tissue is now accelerating the clinical development of a solution designed to provide safe, long-lasting, and fully natural reconstruction options for women.

We're proud of how far we've come and excited for the journey ahead. Thank you to everyone supporting us in shaping the future of regenerative medicine.