Jan H. Spaas

Jan H. Spaas (born January 6, 1986, in Bilzen, Belgium) is a Belgian veterinarian and researcher in veterinary science.

Early life and education Jan H. Spaas was born into a family with a strong background in equestrian activities.

Spaas pursued his high school education at Biotechnicum Bocholt and Sint-Augustinus Institute Bree, where he majored in Latin and Mathematics. He studied Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, earning his master's degree in 2010.

Career In 2012, Jan Spaas co-founded Global Stem Cell Technology (GST) alongside his wife, veterinarian Sarah Broeckx. GST focused on developing regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal injuries in animals. The company quickly gained recognition, ranking among the top 10 global startups in animal health in 2018 and winning the Animal Pharm Award for Best Start-Up of the Year. Spaas also founded Pell Cell Medicals in 2013, which specialized in stem cell treatments for skin wounds in mammals. Both GST and Pell Cell Medicals were acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2020, marking a significant milestone in Spaas' career. He raised millions for stem cell research, and secured EU marketing authorization for two medicinal products developed under his leadership.

In 2020, Spaas was recognized as one of the top 30 entrepreneurs under 30 by Trends magazine and was appointed visiting professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University. He has served as a promotor for several PhD students and is the inventor of over 50 patents and authored more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

In 2022, Spaas was appointed Director of Global Innovation Development at Boehringer Ingelheim in Athens, Georgia, and later as Global Head of Research for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in Germany in 2023.

In 2024, Spaas returned to Belgium, where he became chairman of the Board of Animab, a veterinary biotech company,

Personal life Jan Spaas is married to veterinarian Sarah Broeckx, with whom he has two daughters, Julie (born in 2016) and Charlotte (born in 2018).

Publications

Spaas JH, Chiers K, Burvenich C, Van de Walle GR (2012). "The influence of lactation on equine mammary stem/progenitor cells." Stem Cells and Development, 21(16):3055-3067. Broeckx S, Deprez P, Govaere J, Spaas JH, Christiaens J, Maes D (2011). Relationship between the housing of and physical health deficiencies in horses: a survey of horse owners and their perception. Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 80: 240–247.