PRESS RELEASE
AMSTERDAM, 25 NOVEMBER 2025 | Optics11 Life, the commercial-stage company pioneering mechanobiology instrumentation, today announced the appointment of Jacquelien ten Dam as Chief Executive Officer. Jacquelien has a unique combination of commercial expertise and life sciences knowledge to lead the company’s next growth phase.
“Jacquelien is exactly what we need at this stage: proven commercial leadership combined with a deep understanding of the pharma and life sciences ecosystem,” said Hans Brouwer, founder and interim CEO of Optics11 Life. “Her track record spans capital market advisory for life sciences companies at Van Lanschot Kempen, disruptive scaling at Picnic Technologies, and driving commercial growth at organ-on-a-chip market pioneer MIMETAS. She knows how to bring enabling technologies to market.”
Jacquelien’s appointment comes as mechanobiology gains recognition as a crucial factor in understanding disease progression and drug response, and the pharmaceutical industry increasingly moves towards new alternative methods (NAMs). Mechanobiology studies the physical properties of cells and tissues, such as stiffness, elasticity, and contractility. These mechanical properties provide insights that complement traditional molecular and imaging approaches.
To address this need, Optics11 Life’s mission is to unlock the power of mechanical properties of cells and tissues. Its product portfolio consists of nanoindentation and muscle contractility instruments, allowing measurements in near-physiological conditions. These instruments are used by global pharma, biotech, and academic institutions to provide insights into applications where mechanobiology plays a critical role, such as fibrosis, skin aging, and muscular dystrophies.
“Optics11 Life has built something game-changing: high-precision instrumentation that measures the direct biological effect as one would see in the human body,” said ten Dam. “The mechanobiology field is reaching an inflection point, and our technology is positioned to become an essential tool across multiple therapeutic areas. I’m excited to help scale this impact.”
Under Jacquelien ten Dam’s leadership, Optics11 Life will accelerate its commercial growth in key markets while building strategic partnerships to extend the reach and impact of mechanobiology.
About Optics11 Life
Optics11 Life is a global provider of high-precision mechanobiology instruments, supporting biotech, pharma, and leading academic institutes in more than 25 countries. Based in Amsterdam, our mission is to equip researchers with mechanically relevant, reproducible data that accelerate the development of new therapies and advanced 3D in vitro models. By enabling quantitative mechanical insights at scale, Optics11 Life helps innovators validate, optimize, and translate their discoveries with greater confidence, bringing meaningful treatments to patients faster.
For more information, please contact:
Kristian Windahl
Marketing Manager | Optics11 Life
kristian.windahl@optics11life.com
